Definition of Kingdom of God
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Javier Navarro, in Nov. 2015
From the perspective religious, especially Christianity and Judaism in their different versions, the concept of the Kingdom of God is an idea that expresses the eternity of God. At the same time, it refers to the place where God dwells, the kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, it also means the power of God over the world.
The concept of the Kingdom of God is eminently spiritual, since it cannot be equated to any kingdom of humanity. In other words, the Kingdom of God is used to communicate the presence of the Creator among men. It must be remembered that in the prayer of the Our Father mention is made of the I long of Christians that the kingdom of God comes to earth ("your Kingdom come, your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven"). In other words, our Father is a request to the Creator to bring his goodness, a goodness that already inhabits the skies.
Considerations on the Kingdom of God
Theologians and scholars of sacred texts contribute various reflections in relation to the concept we are analyzing. In the first place they indicate that the term Kingdom comes from the Greek word Basileia, which means power or maximum
authority. In this way, the Kingdom of God remembers that there is a Creator who has the highest authority, since he is the Almighty.On the other hand, it is appreciated that there is a uniqueness in the concept, since there is a Kingdom of God but it is invisible to humans. His perception it belongs to the order of faith and it would not make sense to understand it from rationality.
In Judaism the idea is expressed that the Kingdom of God will come true one day, which means that it will be visible and for all men.
Believers must aspire to be part of the Kingdom of God and to achieve this the first step consists to submit to his power humbly and through faith in Jesus Christ in the case of the Christians.
In the Bible there are several mentions of the Kingdom of God. Thus, the prophets remember that when the Kingdom of God arrives, a government that it will last forever and will rule all men equally. When this happens, human governments will disappear (as detailed in Daniel's prophecy). Finally, when the Kingdom of God prevails among men, human suffering in all its manifestations will cease to exist.
The concept of the Kingdom of God is subject to a permanent debate by scholars of sacred texts. Questions are raised about the difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God or doubts about how Christians should incorporate the message of Jesus Christ regarding the Kingdom of God.
Photos: iStock - grace21 / Horst Gerlach
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