Page 25 - TH130 Kingdom of God A4 Final

Historical Approaches to the Kingdom

How the kingdom of God has been viewed throughout church history
is summarized in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1—Historical Teachings on the Kingdom of God

Teaching Contributing Ef ect
Cause

Early Post-Apostolic The Kingdom is only Persecution Withdrew from the world
Church in the future.

Church After The Kingdom and Privileged status Viewed the earthly reign of
Constantine the church are the the Pope or Caesar as the
same. Kingdom

Medieval Church The Kingdom is the Augustine’s The The Crusades
visible church. City of God
Reformation Church The Kingdom is the Reaction against Little interest in
invisible church. Catholic teachings evangelism
Albert Ritschl The Kingdom is Darwin’s theory No longer waited for
th
(18 and 19 Century) evolving. of evolution Christ’s second coming
th
Weiss and Schweitzer The Kingdom is only Reaction against Little effect on society
(20 Century) in the future. Ritschl
th
Dodd The Kingdom is only Critical views of Little effect on church or
th
(20 Century) present, not future. the Bible society
Evangelicals The Kingdom is The writings of Advanced the Kingdom
both present and Ridderbos, Ladd, through missions
future. and others

Early Pentecostals The Kingdom is Dispensationalism Preached often about the
mainly in the future. second coming of Christ
Contemporary The Kingdom is Adaptation of the Emphasized the Spirit’s
Pentecostals both present and evangelical view empowerment to advance
future. the Kingdom
Kingdom Now The Kingdom is The teachings of Focused on political and
Theology present now. Earl Paulk and social action to make
others society Christian

Conclusion

Throughout history, the church has held different views concerning the
kingdom of God. What lessons can be learned from understanding this
truth? How one views the kingdom of God greatly influences how he or
she views the mission of the church. If Christians see the kingdom of God
as only future, as did the post-apostolic church, they tend to withdraw

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