The kingdom of God : the message of Jesus today

The fruit of many decades of study and teaching, 'The Kingdom of God' provides an impressive, systematic treatment of the doctrine of the Kingdom of God. It is a comprehensive review of this crucial symbol, as well as a careful analysis of its meaning, and a creative interpretation of the Kingdom motif for the church and Christians in our age. 'The Kingdom of God begins by analyzing the background of this idea in Hebrew scripture and tradition, and in the preaching of Jesus. Fuellenbach explores how this elusive phrase presents a specific, comprehensive view of reality, and a goal for transforming the world. In Fuellenbach's reading, the Kingdom forms the core of Christian faith and the reference point of all theology, spirituality, and apostolic activity. Fuellenbach pays special attention to the relationships among Kingdom, Church, and World, arguing that with the Kingdom, Jesus proclaimed a vision that embraces God, humankind, and the whole of creation in the single most comprehensive vision of reality imaginable. 'The Kingdom of God' is balanced and nuanced in its scholarship, but also vigorous and courageous in taking positions sure to provoke debate. For example, Fuellenbach argues that the word Kingdom is to be preferred over the word Reign, despite critiques that find the word problematic in its patriarchal connotations. Designed for and tested in classrooms worldwide, The Kingdom of God will be particularly useful in both scripture and theology courses. It holds much food for thought for religious educators, pastoral workers, clergy, and others who wish for a clear, systematic understanding of Jesus' vision of the Kingdom now and to come. Introduction: The Challenge Of Jesus' Message Today -- A Return To The Original Message -- The Need For A Religious Symbol -- The World In Which We Live -- The Need For A Vision -- The Church As Agent Of The Kingdom -- The Main Areas Of Concern -- The Discovery Of The Bible As The Prayer Book Of Ordinary People -- Solidarity With The Poor: The Issues Of Justice, Peace, Liberation, And The Integrity Of Creation -- The Immense Problem Of Refugees And Migration -- Inculturation And Dialogue With Other Religions And Worldviews -- The Process Of Secularization. [part I.] The Kingdom Before Jesus -- Introduction -- Chapter 1. The National-political Expectation -- The Notion Of Kingdom In The Old Testament -- God Is King Over All Creation -- God Is King Over Israel -- The Experience Of The Monarchy -- Eschatological Hope For God's Rule -- The Societal Reality Of The Coming Kingdom -- The Kingdom In Later Judaism -- The Kingdom In The Apocrypha And In The Qumran Community -- Theological Interpretation -- The Purpose Of Israel's Election -- The Emergence Of Eschatological Hope -- How New Is The New? -- Chapter 2. The Apocalyptic Expectation -- Characteristics Of Apocalyptic Literature And Worldviews -- Dualism -- Present And Future As Unrelated -- Pessimism -- Determinism -- The Positive Contribution Of Apocalyptic. Chapter 3. The Ethical Expectation -- The Yoke Of The Kingdom -- Kingdom As Present And Future -- Chapter 4. The Emerging Content Of The Kingdom -- A Religious Experience -- The Sabbatical Jubilee Tradition -- Summary Of The Triple Expectation -- Chapter 5. The Kingdom Of God In Contemporary Exegesis -- Kingdom As Concept -- Kingdom As Symbol -- Kingdom As Liberation -- The Historical Background -- The Hermeneutical Approach -- The Proposed Solution -- Model As Hermeneutical Key To The Kingdom -- What Is A Model? -- Models Of The Kingdom -- Summary. [part Ii.] The Kingdom Message Of Jesus -- Introduction -- Chapter 6. The Language Of The Kingdom -- Parables In The Teaching Of Jesus -- Parables As Jesus' Characteristic Teaching Choice -- Scholarly Views Of Parables -- The Parables In Everyday Life Situations -- Conclusions -- Chapter 7. The Basic Characteristics Of Jesus' Kingdom Message -- Eschatological: The Kingdom Is At Hand -- Apocalyptic: The Kingdom Will Come -- The Present Age And The Age To Come -- The Power Of Evil: Individual And Social Sin -- The Visibility Of The Kingdom -- The Experience Of The Kingdom -- The Kingdom Of God As Gift And Task -- Chapter 8. The Future Of Evil And The Question Of Eternal Punishment -- The Present Discussion -- The Traditional Perception -- Incompatibility With The Image Of God In Revelation -- The Psychological Argument -- Possible Explanations Of Hell -- Hell As Annihilation -- Hell As Mere Possibility -- Hell As State Of Anomaly -- Conclusion. Chapter 9. The Sermon On The Mount And The Kingdom Of God -- Interpretations Of The Sermon On The Mount -- The Perfectionist Conception -- The Theory Of The Impossible Ideal -- The Interim Ethic -- The Imminent Kingdom And The Sermon On The Mount -- Chapter 10. The Religious And Political Character Of The Kingdom -- The Traditional Approach -- A New Approach -- Seeking Light From The Social Sciences -- Two Views Of A Politically Involved Jesus -- Juan Luis Segundo -- Albert Nolan -- Synthesis -- Chapter 11. Salvation And The Kingdom Of God -- The Salvation Aspect -- The Kingdom As Universal -- The Poor -- The Sinners And Outcast -- Jesus' Example -- Chapter 12. Salvation Outside The Church -- Before Vatican Ii -- Vatican Ii -- Today. Chapter 13. Defining The Kingdom -- Overview -- Justice -- Justice And Worship -- Justice As A Gift From God -- Justice In The New Testament -- Justice And The Integrity Of Creation -- Peace -- Peace In The Old Testament -- Peace In The New Testament -- Joy -- Justice, Peace, And Joy In The Holy Spirit -- Chapter 14. The Challenge Of The Kingdom -- Jesus' Image Of God -- Jesus' View Of Reality: The Compassion Of God -- The Kingdom As God's Unconditional Love -- The Kingdom As A Call To Conversion -- Turn Around: Let It Into Your Life -- Well Up: Let It Well Up From Within You -- Becoming A Child -- To Become Christlike: Let Christ Make His Home In You -- Think Differently: To Look At Reality With The Eyes Of Jesus -- Commitment To The Values Of The Kingdom -- The Kingdom As Trust And Belief -- The Kingdom As Commitment To The Person Of Jesus -- Summary. Chapter 15. The Kingdom Of God -- Already And Not Yet -- Interpretation -- Otherworldly And Future -- This-worldly And Present -- This-worldly But Future -- The Current Discussion -- The Not Yet Position -- The Already Position -- Conclusion. [part Iii.] The Kingdom And Jesus Christ -- The Kingdom Of God And The Person Of Jesus -- Introduction -- God's Design For Creation -- Creation And The Fall -- God's Re-creation: The Covenant With Israel -- God's Intention In Jesus -- Jesus In The Context Of The Covenant -- The Origin Of Jesus' Message Of The Kingdom -- God's Ultimate Offer Of Salvation -- The Death Of Jesus And The Final Coming Of The Kingdom -- The Death Of Jesus: God's Ultimate Revelation -- Summary -- Chapter 17. The Kingdom And The Holy Spirit -- The Messianic Gift Of The End-time -- The Spirit's Link To Creation And Life -- The Spirit Of Prophesy And Revelation -- The Spirit Of The Messiah -- Jesus And The Holy Spirit -- The Earthly Jesus And The Holy Spirit -- The Glorified Christ And The Holy Spirit -- The Present Kingdom And The Holy Spirit -- Conclusion. Chapter 18. The Kingdom And The Church -- Introduction -- The Image Of The Church In Vatican Ii -- The New People Of God -- Body Of Christ -- Church As Sacrament -- Creation Of The Holy Spirit -- The Church In The Context Of The Kingdom Of God -- The Church Is Not The Kingdom Of God Now -- The Kingdom Of God As Present In The Church -- The Three-fold Mission Of The Church -- Chapter 19. The Lord's Prayer As A Summary Of The Kingdom Message -- Introduction -- A Jewish Prayer -- An Eschatological Prayer -- Difficulties With The Lord's Prayer -- The Lord's Prayer In The Ancient Church -- The Earliest Texts Of The Lord's Prayer -- What Is The Original Form? -- The Meaning Of The Lord's Prayer -- Conclusion -- Notes. John Fuellenbach. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 319-328) And Indexes. "The fruit of many decades of study and teaching, The Kingdom of God provides an impressive, systematic treatment of the doctrine of the Kingdom of God. It is a comprehensive review of this crucial symbol, as well as a careful analysis of its meaning, and a creative intepretation of the Kingdom motif for the church and Christians in our age. The Kingdom of God begins by analyzing the background of this idea in Hebrew scripture and tradition, and in the preaching of Jesus. Fuellenbach explores how this elusive phrase presents a specific, comprehensive view of reality, and a goal for transforming the world. In Fuellenbach's reading, the Kingdom forms the core of Christian faith and the reference point of all theology, spirituality, and apostolic activity. Fuellenbach pays special attention to the relationships among Kingdom, Church, and World, arguing that with the Kingdom, Jesus proclaimed a vision that embraces God, humankind, and the whole of creation in the single most comprehensive vision of reality imaginable. The Kingdom of God is balanced and nuanced in its scholarship, but also vigorous and courageous in taking positions sure to provoke debate. For example, Fuellenbach argues that the word 'Kingdom' is to be preferred over the word 'Reign', despite critiques that find the word problematic in its patriarchial connotations. Designed for and tested in classrooms worldwide, The Kingdom of God will be particularly useful in both scripture and theology courses. It holds much food for thought for religious educators, pastoral workers, clergy and others who wish a clear, systematic understanding of Jesus' vision of the Kingdom now and to come"--Page 4 of cover THE KINGDOM OF GOD Contents Foreword Introduction Part 1 THE KINGDOM BEFORE JESUS Introduction 1 The National-Political Expectation 2 The Apocalyptic Expectation 3 The Ethical Expectation 4 The Emerging Content of the Kingdom 5 The Kingdom of Godin Contemporary Exegesis Part 2 TH E KINGDOM MESSAGE OF JESUS Introduction 6 The Language of the Kingdom 7 The Basic Characteristics of Jesus’ Kingdom Message 8 The Future of Evil and the Question of Eternal Punishment 9 The Sermon on the Mount and the Kingdom of God 10 The Religious and Political Character of the Kingdom 11 Salvation and the Kingdom of God 12 Salvation Outside the Church 13 Defining the Kingdom 14 The Challenge of the Kingdom 15 The Kingdom of God—Already and Not Yet Part 3 TH E KINGDOM AND JESUS CHRIST 16 The Kingdom of God and the Person of Jesus 17 The Kingdom and the Holy Spirit 18 The Kingdom and the Church 19 The Lord’s Prayer as a Summary of the Kingdom Message Notes Bibliography Index Scripture Index