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The Gospel of the Kingdom
George Eldon Ladd presents a practical and devotional scriptural study of the many aspects of the kingdom, based on the parables, the Sermon on the Mount, and other key passages.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1959
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About the author
George Eldon Ladd
57 books56 followersGeorge Eldon Ladd (1911–1982) was a Baptist minister and professor of New Testament exegesis and theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.
Ladd was ordained in 1933 and pastored in New England from 1936 to 1945. He served as an instructor at Gordon College of Theology and Missions (now Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary), Wenham, Massachusetts from 1942–45. He was an associate professor of New Testament and Greek from 1946–50, and head of the department of New Testament from 1946–49. In 1950–52 he was an associate professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif, becoming professor of biblical theology in 1952.
Ladd's best-known work, A Theology of the New Testament, has been used by thousands of seminary students since its publication in 1974. This work was enhanced and updated by Donald A. Hagner in 1993.
Ladd was a notable, modern proponent of Historic Premillennialism, and often criticized dispensationalist views. His writings regarding the Kingdom of God (especially his view of inaugurated eschatology) have become a cornerstone of Kingdom theology. His perspective is expressed in The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views, R. G. Clouse, editor (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1977) and the shorter and more accessible The Gospel of the Kingdom (Paternoster, 1959).
Ladd was ordained in 1933 and pastored in New England from 1936 to 1945. He served as an instructor at Gordon College of Theology and Missions (now Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary), Wenham, Massachusetts from 1942–45. He was an associate professor of New Testament and Greek from 1946–50, and head of the department of New Testament from 1946–49. In 1950–52 he was an associate professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif, becoming professor of biblical theology in 1952.
Ladd's best-known work, A Theology of the New Testament, has been used by thousands of seminary students since its publication in 1974. This work was enhanced and updated by Donald A. Hagner in 1993.
Ladd was a notable, modern proponent of Historic Premillennialism, and often criticized dispensationalist views. His writings regarding the Kingdom of God (especially his view of inaugurated eschatology) have become a cornerstone of Kingdom theology. His perspective is expressed in The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views, R. G. Clouse, editor (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1977) and the shorter and more accessible The Gospel of the Kingdom (Paternoster, 1959).
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August 4, 2013
I am reading this book in conjunction my sermon series on the KINGDOM. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! He connects the biblical dots in a simple and exciting way! Below are my notes as I am reading the book:
WHAT IS THE KINGDOM?
- Jesus came to show us how to enter the K (Matt 5:20; 7:21, p. 14)
- Kingdom = "authority to rule" (p. 19)
- Seek first his kingdom = seek his reign in our lives. Thy kingdom come = prayer for God to be King over all the world (p. 21)
THE KINGDOM IS TOMORROW
- Church: glory of Christ concealed
- Millennium: glory of Christ manifest
- Age to come: Christ hands authority over to the Father
- "There will be two stages in the resurrection of the dead and two stages in the defeat of Satan. There is one resurrection at the beginning of the Millennium (Rev. 20:4-5) and a second resurrection at its end (vv. 12-13).
THE KINGDOM IS TODAY
- Now we experience an appetizer of what is to come. We are delivered from the present evil age (Gal 1:4) and not conformed to this age (Rom 12:2) because "the Kingdom of God has invaded this evil Age that men may know something of its blessings even while the evil Age goes on" (p. 41).
- "The Kingdom of God therefore is the reign of God through Christ destroying the enemies of God's reign" (p. 43) and the last enemy is death (1 Cor 15:26).
- Christ's resurrection started the Final Resurrection (pp. 43-44)
- Matt 12:28 - the Kingdom has penetrated this evil Age (p. 49).
- "The blessings of the Messianic Age are now available to thsoe who embrace the Kingdom of God. We may already enjoy the blessings resulting from this initial defeat of Satan" (p. 50).
THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM
- Mystery = "something which has been kept secret through times eternal but is now disclosed" (p. 52).
- The mystery of the kingdom is that it has not come with the persuasive power many expected - yet. It is small now (mustard seed) but it is of inestimable value (costly pearl).
- Great treatment of parables in Matt 13.
THE LIFE OF THE KINGDOM
- Eternal life is future but we enjoy it now. It consists of:
1. The knowledge of God (John 17:3) - partial knowledge now but full fellowship one day.
2. God's Spirit dwelling within us. We do not have our inheritance yet, but we have the HS as a down payment.
- "Already we have within us the life of heaven.... We already participate in the life that belongs to God's futuer Kingdom; not indeed in its fulness, but nevertheless in reality" (p. 76). "The future has already begun" (p. 78).
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE KINGDOM
- Matt 5:20 - "The Sermon on the Mount outlines the conditions of entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven" (p. 79).
- Great exposition of Matt 5: the law of purity, honesty, love and forgiveness.
- "The righteousness which God's Kingdom demands, God's Kingdom must give. It must be of grace or I am lost.... The righteousness of the Sermon on the Mount is the righteousness of the man who has experienced the reign of God in his life" (p. 93).
THE DEMAND OF THE KINGDOM
- "The Kingdom makes one fundamental demand: the demand for decision" (p. 96). Repent. Take up the cross.
THE KINGDOM, ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH
- The kingdom no longer works through Israel, but through the church. "The Church is a kingdom because it shares Christ's rule" (p. 117, Rev 1:6).
WHEN WILL THE KINGDOM COME?
- Great treatment of Matt 24:14
1. The message: "The Gospel of the Kingdom is the announcement of what God has done and will do. It is H is victory over His enemies. It is the Good News that Christ is coming again to destroy for ever His enemies. It is a gospel of hope" (p. 130).
2. The mission: Great philosophy of history
3. The motive: When we finish the task of world evangelism, then the Lord will return.
WHAT IS THE KINGDOM?
- Jesus came to show us how to enter the K (Matt 5:20; 7:21, p. 14)
- Kingdom = "authority to rule" (p. 19)
- Seek first his kingdom = seek his reign in our lives. Thy kingdom come = prayer for God to be King over all the world (p. 21)
THE KINGDOM IS TOMORROW
- Church: glory of Christ concealed
- Millennium: glory of Christ manifest
- Age to come: Christ hands authority over to the Father
- "There will be two stages in the resurrection of the dead and two stages in the defeat of Satan. There is one resurrection at the beginning of the Millennium (Rev. 20:4-5) and a second resurrection at its end (vv. 12-13).
THE KINGDOM IS TODAY
- Now we experience an appetizer of what is to come. We are delivered from the present evil age (Gal 1:4) and not conformed to this age (Rom 12:2) because "the Kingdom of God has invaded this evil Age that men may know something of its blessings even while the evil Age goes on" (p. 41).
- "The Kingdom of God therefore is the reign of God through Christ destroying the enemies of God's reign" (p. 43) and the last enemy is death (1 Cor 15:26).
- Christ's resurrection started the Final Resurrection (pp. 43-44)
- Matt 12:28 - the Kingdom has penetrated this evil Age (p. 49).
- "The blessings of the Messianic Age are now available to thsoe who embrace the Kingdom of God. We may already enjoy the blessings resulting from this initial defeat of Satan" (p. 50).
THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM
- Mystery = "something which has been kept secret through times eternal but is now disclosed" (p. 52).
- The mystery of the kingdom is that it has not come with the persuasive power many expected - yet. It is small now (mustard seed) but it is of inestimable value (costly pearl).
- Great treatment of parables in Matt 13.
THE LIFE OF THE KINGDOM
- Eternal life is future but we enjoy it now. It consists of:
1. The knowledge of God (John 17:3) - partial knowledge now but full fellowship one day.
2. God's Spirit dwelling within us. We do not have our inheritance yet, but we have the HS as a down payment.
- "Already we have within us the life of heaven.... We already participate in the life that belongs to God's futuer Kingdom; not indeed in its fulness, but nevertheless in reality" (p. 76). "The future has already begun" (p. 78).
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE KINGDOM
- Matt 5:20 - "The Sermon on the Mount outlines the conditions of entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven" (p. 79).
- Great exposition of Matt 5: the law of purity, honesty, love and forgiveness.
- "The righteousness which God's Kingdom demands, God's Kingdom must give. It must be of grace or I am lost.... The righteousness of the Sermon on the Mount is the righteousness of the man who has experienced the reign of God in his life" (p. 93).
THE DEMAND OF THE KINGDOM
- "The Kingdom makes one fundamental demand: the demand for decision" (p. 96). Repent. Take up the cross.
THE KINGDOM, ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH
- The kingdom no longer works through Israel, but through the church. "The Church is a kingdom because it shares Christ's rule" (p. 117, Rev 1:6).
WHEN WILL THE KINGDOM COME?
- Great treatment of Matt 24:14
1. The message: "The Gospel of the Kingdom is the announcement of what God has done and will do. It is H is victory over His enemies. It is the Good News that Christ is coming again to destroy for ever His enemies. It is a gospel of hope" (p. 130).
2. The mission: Great philosophy of history
3. The motive: When we finish the task of world evangelism, then the Lord will return.
February 6, 2012
Ladd's book has significantly shaped my understanding of the Kingdom of God. For years, the term "kingdom of God" had been very ambiguous and difficult to wrap my hand around. He carefully and clearly explains his understanding of Kingdom theology in this little volume. Ladd's thesis is that the Kingdom of God is the rule, the reign, and the government of God in this age in the hearts and lives of those who yield themselves to Him, and in the next age over the entire world.
Below, I have added my outline of this book. Excellent work and I would recommend it to every Christian.
INTRODUCTION:
Oswald Smith notes the exemplary nature of Ladd’s volume on the Kingdom of God.
According to Smith, Ladd’s interpretation of the parables and the Sermon on the Mount are clear and very informative. He recommends the volume to ministers, students, and all Christians everywhere.
CHAPTER 1:WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The meaning of the Kingdom of God can be hermeneutically ambiguous; however, the foundation for the idiomatic expression “Kingdom of God” should be understood as “God’s Rule or Reign.”
Question 1: What is the Kingdom of God?
1. Adolf von Harnack reduced the Kingdom of God to the subjective realm or personal experience of an individual in relation to God.
2. Albert Schweitzer defined the Kingdom of God, as an apocalyptic realm that would be inaugurated by Jesus’ return and that would begin a
heavenly existence.
3. Christian tradition associates the Kingdom of God with the Church. As the Church grows, the Kingdom grows. The influence of the Church of Christ infiltrates human existence on every level. Ladd notes, “The Gospel of redeeming grace has the power to save the social, economic, and political orders as well as the souls of individual believers” (16).
4. Others identify the Kingdom of God as a pattern for human society.
5. The Kingdom of God is a present spiritual reality (Rom 14:17).
6. The Kingdom of God is an inheritance, which God will give to His people (Matt 24:34).
7. The Kingdom of God is a realm into which followers of Jesus have entered (Col 1:13).
8. The Kingdom of God is a future realm, which Christians will enter when Jesus returns (2 Pet 1:11).
9. The Parables metaphorically describe the realities of the Kingdom.
10. The Kingdom of God is complex. While it is a present spiritual reality, it is also a realm into which Christians have entered and will fully enter
when Jesus returns.
Question 2: What is the meaning of “kingdom?
1. Contemporary Dictionary- A state or monarch the head of which is a king; dominion; realm. ‘Kingdom’ also refers to the people who are ruled by
a king.
2. The idiom’s meaning in the OT and NT refers to the rank, authority, and sovereignty exercised by a king. Kingdom is the authority to rule, the
sovereignty of the king.
3. Illustration: Herod traveled to Rom in order to gain the authority to reign as King in Israel in 63 BC.
Threefold Understanding of “Kingdom”
1. God’s Reign
2. The realm into which Christians may now enter to experience the blessings of His reign.
3. A future realm, which will come only with the return of Jesus Christ into which all Christians will enter and experience the fullness of his reign.
CHAPTER 2: THE KINGDOM IS TOMORROW
God’s Kingdom will only be fully realized at the Return of Jesus, which will begin the Age to Come where humanity will experience the complete blessing of living under his reign.
The Current Age and the Age to Come
1. Popular Christianity contrasts this life with the life to come with the words earth and heaven.
2. The Biblical concept of eternity does not preclude the reality of time.
3. The terms aion and kosmos are not interchangeable and must be understood in their original sense.
4. The two ages are separated by the return of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead.
The Contrast of the Two Ages
1. The Current Age is dominated by evil, wickedness, and rebellion against the will of God.
2. The Age to Come is the age of God’s sovereign rule over all things.
3. The Current Age is hostile of the Gospel, and men often conform to this Age instead of surrendering to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
The God of this Age
1. God has permitted Satan to exercise authority and power throughout the duration of this Age.
2. The root of evil in this Age: blindness, darkness, and unbelief.
3. Satan’s primary method of influencing humanity is to blind them to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus.
Differing Levels: The Current Age and the Age to Come
1. The Current Age and the Age to Come are not on equal levels. The current Age is evil and the Age to Come will witness the fullness of God’s
Kingdom, His perfect reign.
2. Humanity will never experience the full blessing of God’s Kingdom in This Age.
3. There will be no world wide conversion prior to the Return of Jesus
4. People will suffer because they no longer belong to the Current Age and are now subject to its hostility.
5. The Kingdom of God will never be fully realized apart from the personal, glorious, and victorious Return of Jesus Christ.
CHAPTER 3: THE KINGDOM IS TODAY
The transition from this Current Age to the Age to Come will not be at one single point. The Ages overlap between the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Second Resurrection of the Dead.
The Arrival of the Kingdom of God in the Current Age
1. The Power of the Age to Come has penetrated the Current Evil Age
2. The current overlapping of the Ages forces believers to live “between the times.” They are caught up in the conflict of the ages.
3. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the beginning of the final resurrection, which establishes hope for the coming of the Kingdom of God.
4. The Kingdom of God means the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ until all His enemies are put under His feet (1 Cor 15:23).
5. The reality of God’s Kingdom in the Current Age is put on display by the binding of Satan (i.e. exorcism, healing, Satan’s authority/blinding
undermined)
God’s Kingdom Means the Divine Conquest Over His Enemies
1. God has invaded the realm of Satan
2. The blessings of the Messianic Age are now available to those who embrace the Kingdom of God.
CHAPTER 4: THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM
The mystery of the Kingdom: Before the end of the age, God has entered into history in the person of Christ to work among men, to bring to them the life and blessings of His Kingdom.
Mystery Defined
1. Something, which has been kept secret through, times eternal but is now disclosed.
2. The Parables of Jesus display the newly revealed mystery of God’s Kingdom
Matthew 13: Kingdom Parables
1. The Kingdom of God is here but not with irresistible power.
2. The Kingdom of God has come to people and yet people can reject it.
3. There will be a day of judgment that will bring the final separation between the righteous and the wicked.
4. The Kingdom of God is present among humanity but in a form not previously revealed.
5. The Kingdom of God is here among humanity, but in a form that was never expected.
6. The Kingdom of God may seem insignificant or small, but it will eventually fill the earth.
7. The Kingdom is a gift that cannot be earned and it is extremely costly.
8. The Kingdom of God has come in an unexpected manner, but it will bring about the Age to Come and the judgment.
CHAPTER 5: THE LIFE OF THE KINGDOM
Eternal life belongs to the future Kingdom of glory and to the Age to Come, yet this eternal life has become available to man in the present evil age. Life is the Kingdom of God means going about every day in the present evil Age living the life of heaven. It means living in fellowship with God under His rule.
Life Now & Life Eternal
Future
1. The example of Jesus’ conversation with the rich young man demonstrates that eternal life is connected with the Age to Come.
2. Paul writes about his longing for a house not made by human hands, which displays his futuristic understanding of eternal life.
3. The Book of Revelation describes the beauty and source of eternal life; namely, the life of God disseminated from the throne.
Now
1. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life” (John 3:36).
2. Eternal life belongs to the Kingdom of God, to the Age to Come; but it, too, has entered into the present evil Age that men may experience
eternal life in the midst of death and decay.
What is Eternal Life?
1. Eternal life means the knowledge of God (John 17:3).
a. Knowledge connotes a personal relationship.
2. Life eternal means that we have already been brought into a personal relationship with God here and now. Life eternal means that we have
already been introduced to God. Life eternal means that God has become our God and we have become His people, and that we have begun to
share a fellowship with Him; we have begun to share His life.
3. The Knowledge of Go includes both intellectual understanding and personal application (a doing of the truth).
4. During this period of time, believers know dimly, but in the Age to Come they will know as God knows them. (1 Cor 13).
5. In the Age to Come, believers will have a perfected body—a spiritual body. It is a body whose life, whose energy is derived from Spirit—God’s
Spirit.
6. The indwelling presence of the Spirit of God is a down payment to the promise of eternal life.
7. The Resurrection of Jesus will renovate the whole structure of human existence.
CHAPTER 6: THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE KINGDOM
The righteousness of the Kingdom is a manifestation of the life of the Kingdom. The righteousness of the Kingdom has been imparted to the sons of the Kingdom through Christ and the Holy Spirit.
False Righteousness
1. “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. (Matt 5:20).
2. Pharisees were notorious for their self-discipline and meticulous rule keeping. They were the professional religious people of their day and this
statement of Jesus would have caused great panic in the hearts of his hearers.
3. Through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes it obvious that it is not the outward act which is the all-important thing, but the attitude of a
man’s heart.
Kingdom Righteousness
1. Kingdom Righteousness says what you are is more important that what you do.
2. The righteousness that God demands, He must give to us, or we are lost. The only life, which can be made pure, is the life, which knows the
power of God’s Kingdom, His rule.
CHAPTER 7: THE DEMAND OF THE KINGDOM
The Kingdom has come here and now. It demands a response from all those it encounters—it demands “repentance.”
The Context of the Demand
1. Every person’s life is made of various decisions.
2. The essence of the repentance determines the quality of present life and future destiny.
3. The most basic demand of the Kingdom is a response of man’s will. People must submit to the rule of God and turn away from their own
perceived kingships.
The Decisions
A Radical Decision
1. Some decisions are easily made, but making a decision for the Kingdom of God can be difficult and require great energy (Matt 11:12).
2. The violence of the Kingdom is experienced through the personal subjugation that takes place in submitting to God’s rule (Mark 9:47; Matt
10:34; Luke 14:26).
3. The Kingdom demands that followers of Jesus deny self.
An Eternal Decision
1. This decision determines a person’s future destiny.
2. Jesus will deny those who have denied him and he will confess love for those before his father who have confessed their love for him on earth.
CHAPTER 8: THE KINGDOM, ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH
God’s Kingdom is at work in the world and is engaged in a mortal struggle with evil. The Church is the community of the Kingdom of God and is to press the struggle against satanic evil in the world.
The Kingdom of God & Israel
1. The relationship between the Kingdom of God, Israel, and the Church is not explicitly discussed in the Bible.
2. It must be understood that Jesus did offer the Kingdom of God to the Nation of Israel, but they rejected His reign.
3. In the Kingdom of God, a personal invitation to receive the blessing is offered to all who will accept God’s rule in their lives.
4. In the Old Testament, God had dealt with Israel primarily as a family and a nation.
5. Jesus’ offer of the Kingdom to Israel was not a political or militarily proposition. Therefore, they refused to recognize his Kingdom.
6. The inner circle of Jesus’ disciples eventually realized the nature of Jesus’ Kingdom. This is apparent in Peter’s great confession (Matt 16:16).
The Kingdom of God & the Church
1. Jesus’ purpose was not to restore Israel to her former glory, but rather to create a new people.
2. Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom of God to the Church. (The powers to open or close the doors, which give forth the blessings of the Age to
Come, were given to the Apostles/Church).
3. The Kingdom of God, as the redemptive activity and rule of God in Christ, created the Church and works through the Church in the world.
4. The Kingdom of God is working in the world through the disciples of Jesus. Those who have submitted to him now constitute the Church. The
Kingdom of God has invaded the realm of Satan in the person and mission of Christ to deliver men from sin and darkness; and the conflict
between the Kingdom of God and the powers of darkness.
CHPATER 9. WHEN WILL THE END COME?
Jesus Christ will return after the Church has fulfilled her divinely appointed mission—the evangelization of the world.
Discussion of Matthew 24:14
Question by the Disciples
1. “When will the end come?”
2. This question continues to be the driving question for many Christians.
3. The disciples wanted to know when the end would come and when Jesus would establish His kingdom.
Answer by Jesus
1. Jesus describes the trajectory of this Age down to the end.
2. It will always be hostile to the Gospel and to the Church.
3. Wars, famines, earthquakes, etc… will continue right to the end of the Age.
4. The Love of man will grow cold.
Message, Mission, & Motive
1. Message
a. The message is the Gospel of the Kingdom, this Good news about the Kingdom of God.
b. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is the reign of God in the person of His son, Jesus Christ, for the purpose of putting His enemies under His
feet.
2. Mission
a. The Good News of the Kingdom of God must be preached throughout the entire world for a witness to all nations.
b. Humanity’s purpose is wrapped up in this mission.
c. The ultimate meaning of history between the Ascension of Jesus and His return is found in the propagation and witness of the Gospel to the
world.
3. Motive
a. Christ will return when the church has accomplished her task of taking the Gospel to the entire world.
b. The Church’s responsibility is not to save the world, but the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom is powerful and transformative.
Below, I have added my outline of this book. Excellent work and I would recommend it to every Christian.
INTRODUCTION:
Oswald Smith notes the exemplary nature of Ladd’s volume on the Kingdom of God.
According to Smith, Ladd’s interpretation of the parables and the Sermon on the Mount are clear and very informative. He recommends the volume to ministers, students, and all Christians everywhere.
CHAPTER 1:WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The meaning of the Kingdom of God can be hermeneutically ambiguous; however, the foundation for the idiomatic expression “Kingdom of God” should be understood as “God’s Rule or Reign.”
Question 1: What is the Kingdom of God?
1. Adolf von Harnack reduced the Kingdom of God to the subjective realm or personal experience of an individual in relation to God.
2. Albert Schweitzer defined the Kingdom of God, as an apocalyptic realm that would be inaugurated by Jesus’ return and that would begin a
heavenly existence.
3. Christian tradition associates the Kingdom of God with the Church. As the Church grows, the Kingdom grows. The influence of the Church of Christ infiltrates human existence on every level. Ladd notes, “The Gospel of redeeming grace has the power to save the social, economic, and political orders as well as the souls of individual believers” (16).
4. Others identify the Kingdom of God as a pattern for human society.
5. The Kingdom of God is a present spiritual reality (Rom 14:17).
6. The Kingdom of God is an inheritance, which God will give to His people (Matt 24:34).
7. The Kingdom of God is a realm into which followers of Jesus have entered (Col 1:13).
8. The Kingdom of God is a future realm, which Christians will enter when Jesus returns (2 Pet 1:11).
9. The Parables metaphorically describe the realities of the Kingdom.
10. The Kingdom of God is complex. While it is a present spiritual reality, it is also a realm into which Christians have entered and will fully enter
when Jesus returns.
Question 2: What is the meaning of “kingdom?
1. Contemporary Dictionary- A state or monarch the head of which is a king; dominion; realm. ‘Kingdom’ also refers to the people who are ruled by
a king.
2. The idiom’s meaning in the OT and NT refers to the rank, authority, and sovereignty exercised by a king. Kingdom is the authority to rule, the
sovereignty of the king.
3. Illustration: Herod traveled to Rom in order to gain the authority to reign as King in Israel in 63 BC.
Threefold Understanding of “Kingdom”
1. God’s Reign
2. The realm into which Christians may now enter to experience the blessings of His reign.
3. A future realm, which will come only with the return of Jesus Christ into which all Christians will enter and experience the fullness of his reign.
CHAPTER 2: THE KINGDOM IS TOMORROW
God’s Kingdom will only be fully realized at the Return of Jesus, which will begin the Age to Come where humanity will experience the complete blessing of living under his reign.
The Current Age and the Age to Come
1. Popular Christianity contrasts this life with the life to come with the words earth and heaven.
2. The Biblical concept of eternity does not preclude the reality of time.
3. The terms aion and kosmos are not interchangeable and must be understood in their original sense.
4. The two ages are separated by the return of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead.
The Contrast of the Two Ages
1. The Current Age is dominated by evil, wickedness, and rebellion against the will of God.
2. The Age to Come is the age of God’s sovereign rule over all things.
3. The Current Age is hostile of the Gospel, and men often conform to this Age instead of surrendering to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
The God of this Age
1. God has permitted Satan to exercise authority and power throughout the duration of this Age.
2. The root of evil in this Age: blindness, darkness, and unbelief.
3. Satan’s primary method of influencing humanity is to blind them to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus.
Differing Levels: The Current Age and the Age to Come
1. The Current Age and the Age to Come are not on equal levels. The current Age is evil and the Age to Come will witness the fullness of God’s
Kingdom, His perfect reign.
2. Humanity will never experience the full blessing of God’s Kingdom in This Age.
3. There will be no world wide conversion prior to the Return of Jesus
4. People will suffer because they no longer belong to the Current Age and are now subject to its hostility.
5. The Kingdom of God will never be fully realized apart from the personal, glorious, and victorious Return of Jesus Christ.
CHAPTER 3: THE KINGDOM IS TODAY
The transition from this Current Age to the Age to Come will not be at one single point. The Ages overlap between the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Second Resurrection of the Dead.
The Arrival of the Kingdom of God in the Current Age
1. The Power of the Age to Come has penetrated the Current Evil Age
2. The current overlapping of the Ages forces believers to live “between the times.” They are caught up in the conflict of the ages.
3. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the beginning of the final resurrection, which establishes hope for the coming of the Kingdom of God.
4. The Kingdom of God means the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ until all His enemies are put under His feet (1 Cor 15:23).
5. The reality of God’s Kingdom in the Current Age is put on display by the binding of Satan (i.e. exorcism, healing, Satan’s authority/blinding
undermined)
God’s Kingdom Means the Divine Conquest Over His Enemies
1. God has invaded the realm of Satan
2. The blessings of the Messianic Age are now available to those who embrace the Kingdom of God.
CHAPTER 4: THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM
The mystery of the Kingdom: Before the end of the age, God has entered into history in the person of Christ to work among men, to bring to them the life and blessings of His Kingdom.
Mystery Defined
1. Something, which has been kept secret through, times eternal but is now disclosed.
2. The Parables of Jesus display the newly revealed mystery of God’s Kingdom
Matthew 13: Kingdom Parables
1. The Kingdom of God is here but not with irresistible power.
2. The Kingdom of God has come to people and yet people can reject it.
3. There will be a day of judgment that will bring the final separation between the righteous and the wicked.
4. The Kingdom of God is present among humanity but in a form not previously revealed.
5. The Kingdom of God is here among humanity, but in a form that was never expected.
6. The Kingdom of God may seem insignificant or small, but it will eventually fill the earth.
7. The Kingdom is a gift that cannot be earned and it is extremely costly.
8. The Kingdom of God has come in an unexpected manner, but it will bring about the Age to Come and the judgment.
CHAPTER 5: THE LIFE OF THE KINGDOM
Eternal life belongs to the future Kingdom of glory and to the Age to Come, yet this eternal life has become available to man in the present evil age. Life is the Kingdom of God means going about every day in the present evil Age living the life of heaven. It means living in fellowship with God under His rule.
Life Now & Life Eternal
Future
1. The example of Jesus’ conversation with the rich young man demonstrates that eternal life is connected with the Age to Come.
2. Paul writes about his longing for a house not made by human hands, which displays his futuristic understanding of eternal life.
3. The Book of Revelation describes the beauty and source of eternal life; namely, the life of God disseminated from the throne.
Now
1. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life” (John 3:36).
2. Eternal life belongs to the Kingdom of God, to the Age to Come; but it, too, has entered into the present evil Age that men may experience
eternal life in the midst of death and decay.
What is Eternal Life?
1. Eternal life means the knowledge of God (John 17:3).
a. Knowledge connotes a personal relationship.
2. Life eternal means that we have already been brought into a personal relationship with God here and now. Life eternal means that we have
already been introduced to God. Life eternal means that God has become our God and we have become His people, and that we have begun to
share a fellowship with Him; we have begun to share His life.
3. The Knowledge of Go includes both intellectual understanding and personal application (a doing of the truth).
4. During this period of time, believers know dimly, but in the Age to Come they will know as God knows them. (1 Cor 13).
5. In the Age to Come, believers will have a perfected body—a spiritual body. It is a body whose life, whose energy is derived from Spirit—God’s
Spirit.
6. The indwelling presence of the Spirit of God is a down payment to the promise of eternal life.
7. The Resurrection of Jesus will renovate the whole structure of human existence.
CHAPTER 6: THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE KINGDOM
The righteousness of the Kingdom is a manifestation of the life of the Kingdom. The righteousness of the Kingdom has been imparted to the sons of the Kingdom through Christ and the Holy Spirit.
False Righteousness
1. “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. (Matt 5:20).
2. Pharisees were notorious for their self-discipline and meticulous rule keeping. They were the professional religious people of their day and this
statement of Jesus would have caused great panic in the hearts of his hearers.
3. Through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes it obvious that it is not the outward act which is the all-important thing, but the attitude of a
man’s heart.
Kingdom Righteousness
1. Kingdom Righteousness says what you are is more important that what you do.
2. The righteousness that God demands, He must give to us, or we are lost. The only life, which can be made pure, is the life, which knows the
power of God’s Kingdom, His rule.
CHAPTER 7: THE DEMAND OF THE KINGDOM
The Kingdom has come here and now. It demands a response from all those it encounters—it demands “repentance.”
The Context of the Demand
1. Every person’s life is made of various decisions.
2. The essence of the repentance determines the quality of present life and future destiny.
3. The most basic demand of the Kingdom is a response of man’s will. People must submit to the rule of God and turn away from their own
perceived kingships.
The Decisions
A Radical Decision
1. Some decisions are easily made, but making a decision for the Kingdom of God can be difficult and require great energy (Matt 11:12).
2. The violence of the Kingdom is experienced through the personal subjugation that takes place in submitting to God’s rule (Mark 9:47; Matt
10:34; Luke 14:26).
3. The Kingdom demands that followers of Jesus deny self.
An Eternal Decision
1. This decision determines a person’s future destiny.
2. Jesus will deny those who have denied him and he will confess love for those before his father who have confessed their love for him on earth.
CHAPTER 8: THE KINGDOM, ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH
God’s Kingdom is at work in the world and is engaged in a mortal struggle with evil. The Church is the community of the Kingdom of God and is to press the struggle against satanic evil in the world.
The Kingdom of God & Israel
1. The relationship between the Kingdom of God, Israel, and the Church is not explicitly discussed in the Bible.
2. It must be understood that Jesus did offer the Kingdom of God to the Nation of Israel, but they rejected His reign.
3. In the Kingdom of God, a personal invitation to receive the blessing is offered to all who will accept God’s rule in their lives.
4. In the Old Testament, God had dealt with Israel primarily as a family and a nation.
5. Jesus’ offer of the Kingdom to Israel was not a political or militarily proposition. Therefore, they refused to recognize his Kingdom.
6. The inner circle of Jesus’ disciples eventually realized the nature of Jesus’ Kingdom. This is apparent in Peter’s great confession (Matt 16:16).
The Kingdom of God & the Church
1. Jesus’ purpose was not to restore Israel to her former glory, but rather to create a new people.
2. Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom of God to the Church. (The powers to open or close the doors, which give forth the blessings of the Age to
Come, were given to the Apostles/Church).
3. The Kingdom of God, as the redemptive activity and rule of God in Christ, created the Church and works through the Church in the world.
4. The Kingdom of God is working in the world through the disciples of Jesus. Those who have submitted to him now constitute the Church. The
Kingdom of God has invaded the realm of Satan in the person and mission of Christ to deliver men from sin and darkness; and the conflict
between the Kingdom of God and the powers of darkness.
CHPATER 9. WHEN WILL THE END COME?
Jesus Christ will return after the Church has fulfilled her divinely appointed mission—the evangelization of the world.
Discussion of Matthew 24:14
Question by the Disciples
1. “When will the end come?”
2. This question continues to be the driving question for many Christians.
3. The disciples wanted to know when the end would come and when Jesus would establish His kingdom.
Answer by Jesus
1. Jesus describes the trajectory of this Age down to the end.
2. It will always be hostile to the Gospel and to the Church.
3. Wars, famines, earthquakes, etc… will continue right to the end of the Age.
4. The Love of man will grow cold.
Message, Mission, & Motive
1. Message
a. The message is the Gospel of the Kingdom, this Good news about the Kingdom of God.
b. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is the reign of God in the person of His son, Jesus Christ, for the purpose of putting His enemies under His
feet.
2. Mission
a. The Good News of the Kingdom of God must be preached throughout the entire world for a witness to all nations.
b. Humanity’s purpose is wrapped up in this mission.
c. The ultimate meaning of history between the Ascension of Jesus and His return is found in the propagation and witness of the Gospel to the
world.
3. Motive
a. Christ will return when the church has accomplished her task of taking the Gospel to the entire world.
b. The Church’s responsibility is not to save the world, but the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom is powerful and transformative.
May 17, 2018
This exploration of Jesus' teaching of Kingdom of God is written with great clarity and very easy to navigate through, and is such an important subject because its teaching needs to be pieced together and properly interpreted to be properly understood. G.E Ladd really does an excellent job of that, but I also found his exploration to be really convicting. Certain chapters really had quite a profound effect on my thinking, as I realized the inadequacy of my own understanding and application. My only real complaint is that I would have enjoyed an even fuller and more in-depth exploration that what is given, but what is given is very good and very helpful indeed.
July 8, 2025
I randomly came across this book a few years ago, not realizing how much I had benefited from Ladd’s *already-not-yet* theology of the Kingdom.
He defines the Kingdom of God (God’s redemptive reign); its present-invading nature and future consummation; the mystery of its coming (not in political power) and form (seemingly insignificant like a mustard seed); our participation it it through the Holy Spirit.
This book was compelling, easily digestible for a lay-person (aside from some of the millennium discourse), and full of good news!!
He defines the Kingdom of God (God’s redemptive reign); its present-invading nature and future consummation; the mystery of its coming (not in political power) and form (seemingly insignificant like a mustard seed); our participation it it through the Holy Spirit.
This book was compelling, easily digestible for a lay-person (aside from some of the millennium discourse), and full of good news!!
December 1, 2025
An indispensable primer on the Kingdom of God; it is no wonder this is often the first starting point in other works on the Kingdom of God. Ladd is heavy-handed at times with his dispensational (i.e. discontinuity) framework, but the majority of the book (especially his exposition of the Sermon on the Mount and discussion of missions and the Kingdom) is excellent.
November 30, 2020
Espectacular, otro libro muy clave para todo hijo de Dios. George Ladd logra un increíble recorrido sobre lo que Palabra de Dios dice sobre el reino y sobre nuestra responsabilidad en llevarlo y que significa. Es un libro que derrumba muchos velos y activa esta pasión del corazón de Dios en sus lectores junto con un fuego por llevar su Reino. Se lo recomiendo a cada hijo de Dios que quiera llevar su reino a donde quiera que vaya y que quiera que el Rey vuelva pronto. Un libro hermoso y muy clave, Muchas gracias Jesús y a cada persona implicada.
October 26, 2019
I disagreed with a lot in this book and came to realize the problem with it is a foundational hermeneutical issue. Ladd held to a re-interpretation of Old Testament texts by the New Testament, so later revelation changed the contextual meaning of prior revelation. Though he tried to maintain some sort of continuity of the kingdom from the Old to the New Testament, he ended up with a discontinuity in the nature of the kingdom as revealed in the Old and New Testaments.
He spiritualized and generalized the kingdom to where at times he made it synonymous with salvation, eternal life, etc. He conflated conceptions of the universal lordship of Christ and the mediatorial kingdom of men on the earth. He ended up with a supersession of Israel and reformulation of the people of God to the point that his vision for the restoration of Israel fell short of the promises/covenants made to the fathers, which necessarily included a geo-political, ethnic, and territorial kingdom with Jesus Christ on the throne of his father David in Jerusalem ruling over the twelve tribes united on the land promised to Abraham.
It was an interesting read historically, but I can't recommend it as helpful.
He spiritualized and generalized the kingdom to where at times he made it synonymous with salvation, eternal life, etc. He conflated conceptions of the universal lordship of Christ and the mediatorial kingdom of men on the earth. He ended up with a supersession of Israel and reformulation of the people of God to the point that his vision for the restoration of Israel fell short of the promises/covenants made to the fathers, which necessarily included a geo-political, ethnic, and territorial kingdom with Jesus Christ on the throne of his father David in Jerusalem ruling over the twelve tribes united on the land promised to Abraham.
It was an interesting read historically, but I can't recommend it as helpful.
January 14, 2015
As one who leans toward amillennialism, I must admit that Ladd forces me to respect the historic pre-mil position even more by showing how it might fit within the two-age model of history.
March 13, 2023
Phenomenal!
Ladd clearly articulates the “message, mission, and motive” of the gospel of God’s present and future Kingdom as proclaimed by Jesus throughout the Gospels.
“Apart from the Gospel of the Kingdom, death is the mighty conqueror before whom we are all helpless….
But the Good News is this: death has been defeated; our conqueror has been conquered. In the face of the power of the Kingdom of God in Christ, death was helpless. It could not hold Him, death has been defeated: life and immortality have been brought to light. An empty tomb in Jerusalem is proof of it. This is the Gospel of the Kingdom.”
Ladd clearly articulates the “message, mission, and motive” of the gospel of God’s present and future Kingdom as proclaimed by Jesus throughout the Gospels.
“Apart from the Gospel of the Kingdom, death is the mighty conqueror before whom we are all helpless….
But the Good News is this: death has been defeated; our conqueror has been conquered. In the face of the power of the Kingdom of God in Christ, death was helpless. It could not hold Him, death has been defeated: life and immortality have been brought to light. An empty tomb in Jerusalem is proof of it. This is the Gospel of the Kingdom.”
May 17, 2018
Subtitled 'Scriptural Studies in the Kingdom of God," Dr. Ladd gives a clear and practical explanation of the central message of Jesus' ministry: The Kingdom of God is at hand. If you are familiar with the concept of the Kingdom is both "already\not yet," this is the book that started it all. It is both an excellent study of a difficult doctrine to define and a wonderful devotional on the second coming of Christ. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book and look forward to re-reading it.
April 20, 2022
A very good introduction to Kingdom Theology. It covers all the major bases, repeats key lines about what the Kingdom is, and gives repeated missional calls. It's not just theology in a descriptive sense, but also prescriptive. The Kingdom, in Ladd's language, has moved from the future into the present in the person and work of Jesus, and our invitation is to participate in the Kingdom.
Great read, approachable read.
Great read, approachable read.
September 15, 2025
Great book!
“This must be the spirit of our mission in This evil Age. We are not rosy optimists, expecting the Gospel to conquer the world and establish the Kingdom of God. Neither are we despairing pessimists who feel that our task is hopeless in the face of the evil of This Age. We are realists, Biblical realists, who recognize the terrible power of evil and yet who go forth in a mission of worldwide evangelization to win victories for God's Kingdom until Christ returns in glory to accomplish the last and greatest victory.” (p. 139)
“This must be the spirit of our mission in This evil Age. We are not rosy optimists, expecting the Gospel to conquer the world and establish the Kingdom of God. Neither are we despairing pessimists who feel that our task is hopeless in the face of the evil of This Age. We are realists, Biblical realists, who recognize the terrible power of evil and yet who go forth in a mission of worldwide evangelization to win victories for God's Kingdom until Christ returns in glory to accomplish the last and greatest victory.” (p. 139)
March 17, 2022
Ladd's book is an excellent introduction to the Kingdom of God as announced by Jesus and the apostles. It is both accessible and profound. Each chapter considers a different facet of the Kingdom of God. His primary scheme is that the Kingdom is the inbreaking of the Age to Come into the present age. Thus, the Kingdom is already and not yet. Though I disagree with his Premillennial reading of the New Testament, Ladd has one of the soundest presentations of Premillennialism I have read. Ultimately, this book is commendable because it relates believers to the center of Jesus' message on earth, "the Kingdom of God has drawn near." We often forget this central biblical-theological theme of our Lord's ministry and Ladd helps us understand how Jesus' message relates to the Bible and to our lives.
May 18, 2022
Definitely putting this on my “all-time favorites” list! Clearly walks through what the Bible has to say about the Kingdom of God in an engaging way. I learned much! A must-read and must-own!
November 30, 2022
Ladd gives a great perspective on the theme of the Kingdom of God. His book explores several aspects of the theme.
Ladd writes a lot of powerful insights in the front half of the book. I found the first 50 pages to be the most insightful personally.
Ladd writes a lot of powerful insights in the front half of the book. I found the first 50 pages to be the most insightful personally.
December 29, 2023
Very good and easy to read. Chapters on the life of the kingdom and the demand of the kingdom were highlights. Also really handy was the way he built up the idea of the Kingdom in the first few chapters.
"The Gospel of the Kingdom is the announcement of what God has done and will do. It is His victory over His enemies. It is the Good News that Christ is coming again to destroy for ever His enemies. It is a gospel of hope. It is also the Good News of what God has already done. He has already broken the power of death, defeated Satan, and overthrown the rule of sin."
"The Gospel of the Kingdom is the announcement of what God has done and will do. It is His victory over His enemies. It is the Good News that Christ is coming again to destroy for ever His enemies. It is a gospel of hope. It is also the Good News of what God has already done. He has already broken the power of death, defeated Satan, and overthrown the rule of sin."
March 20, 2024
Readable, and thoroughly biblical. Historic premillenial perspective.
June 28, 2024
Let’s go
November 13, 2017
What is the kingdom of God? How does it relate to the Church?
I found this book and had heard it was influential when it was written a few decades back. Ladd argued that the Kingdom of God is both present and future - Jesus inaugurated the kingdom while there is more yet to come. This is, as I said, influential for I have read and believed this view in many New Testament scholars such as NT Wright. Thus, to some degree, this book was kind of a letdown.
I most appreciated his discussion of kingdom and church. He argues that God has always been building a kingdom and the church is the instrument now of the expansion of the kingdom. So the church is not the kingdom (as some have said) but the church builds the kingdom. The kingdom is greater than the church. The church began at Pentecost. We might say than that people prior to Jesus were/are in the kingdom though not the church and those of us in the church are also being ushered into the kingdom.
I do not buy into his view of the millennium. On one hand, I appreciate he rejects dispensationalism in favor of a more historic premilleniallism. On the other hand, I still find taking the millennium in Revelation 20 as symbolic of the entire time of the church makes the most sense. On the third hand, I realize as I write this how tribal such debates are - does anyone outside Christian circles really care? Haha.
Overall, this is a good little book on some important aspects of New Testament theology. Preachers and interested Christians who stumble upon it at a used bookstores may want to pick it up. I imagine most preachers who have been to seminary recently, or read people like NT Wright, have picked up on the best ideas found here already.
I found this book and had heard it was influential when it was written a few decades back. Ladd argued that the Kingdom of God is both present and future - Jesus inaugurated the kingdom while there is more yet to come. This is, as I said, influential for I have read and believed this view in many New Testament scholars such as NT Wright. Thus, to some degree, this book was kind of a letdown.
I most appreciated his discussion of kingdom and church. He argues that God has always been building a kingdom and the church is the instrument now of the expansion of the kingdom. So the church is not the kingdom (as some have said) but the church builds the kingdom. The kingdom is greater than the church. The church began at Pentecost. We might say than that people prior to Jesus were/are in the kingdom though not the church and those of us in the church are also being ushered into the kingdom.
I do not buy into his view of the millennium. On one hand, I appreciate he rejects dispensationalism in favor of a more historic premilleniallism. On the other hand, I still find taking the millennium in Revelation 20 as symbolic of the entire time of the church makes the most sense. On the third hand, I realize as I write this how tribal such debates are - does anyone outside Christian circles really care? Haha.
Overall, this is a good little book on some important aspects of New Testament theology. Preachers and interested Christians who stumble upon it at a used bookstores may want to pick it up. I imagine most preachers who have been to seminary recently, or read people like NT Wright, have picked up on the best ideas found here already.
December 21, 2022
There is a lot of really good material in this book about what Scripture says about the Kingdom. Ladd's points about the Kingdom being a realm in the here and now, and a realm in the age to come is really helpful. His discussion about the word which is translated "age" in the New Testament is particularly helpful.
That said, Ladd is clearly a product of his time: late 1950's, still in the post-war fear of Communism. While he does concede that the Kingdom of God is in the present, he spends far more time talking about being prepared for the Kingdom to come. If you read it, being aware of that helps.
That said, Ladd is clearly a product of his time: late 1950's, still in the post-war fear of Communism. While he does concede that the Kingdom of God is in the present, he spends far more time talking about being prepared for the Kingdom to come. If you read it, being aware of that helps.
December 30, 2016
Definitely should have read this book years ago. Ladd traces the "kingdom" theme in story of Scripture, defining it as the rule and reign of God. He demonstrates that the mystery of the kingdom for the Jews involved the already/not yet aspects of the kingdom (among other things). Along the way, he shows how these themes are developed in the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, and Paul's letters. The chapters were originally lectures, so they are a little wordy at times, but still well worth the time for someone who wants to understand the storyline of the Scripture.
June 17, 2012
In the wake of all the sensationalism generated by the dispensationalist and pietist views of the kingdom, George Eldon Ladd was ahead of his time in drawing our minds to focus on both "The kingdom now, and the kingdom to come". Brilliant groundwork. Read NT Wright if you want to know more on the subject.
May 30, 2008
Una presentación clara, sencilla pero sólida, amena y bastante completa de lo que representa el Reino de Dios.
A very clear, simple but solid, interesting and fairly complete about what is the Kingdom of God
A very clear, simple but solid, interesting and fairly complete about what is the Kingdom of God
July 25, 2020
Livro espatácular, onde traz um visão diferenciada, onde o Reino de Deus, é tanto futuro quanto presente. Acredito que o escritor é Pós milenismo, onde mostra que estamos vivendo a benção do milênio nessa era atual, que será o ápice dessas bençãos na era porvir.
February 26, 2021
Excelente livro. Aprendi muito sobre escatologia lendo ele.
Livro compacto, com um modo de leitura que ajuda muito no entendimento e com o conteúdo riquíssimo.
Entrou para minha lista de livros favoritos.
Livro compacto, com um modo de leitura que ajuda muito no entendimento e com o conteúdo riquíssimo.
Entrou para minha lista de livros favoritos.
June 13, 2019
This book answers the question, "What is the kingdom of God?" It is written by a scholar, but the book is not scholarly. Originally given as lectures/sermons to a popular audience, this book demonstrates fidelity to Scripture and practical application. Ladd intentionally avoids some controversial issues (imminence and the tribulation, e.g.) but this is part of what makes this book so widely applicable. Regardless of your eschatology, you will profit from this book. This book is for those who want to do some serious reading about the kingdom of God without footnotes and theological jargon. Refreshing.
This book is part of the curriculum for EFCA GATEWAY Phase 2--that's why I read it.
The book is available for free on-line here:
http://gospelpedlar.com/articles/Last...
Ladd asks and answers the question:
How can the Kingdom of God be a present spiritual reality and yet be an inheritance bestowed upon God's people at the Second Coming of Christ?
"Our problem, then, is found in this threefold fact: (1) Some passages of Scripture refer to the Kingdom of God as God's reign. (2) Some passages refer to God's Kingdom as the realm into which we may now enter to experience the blessings of His reign. (3) Still other passages refer to a future realm which will come only with the return of our Lord Jesus Christ into which we shall then enter and experience the fullness of His reign. Thus the Kingdom of God means three different things in different verses."
What is the kingdom of God? Ladd answers:
"The Kingdom of God is basically the rule of God."
Quotes:
From chapter 2:
Satan's basic desire is to keep men from Christ. His primary concern is not to corrupt morals nor to make atheists nor to produce enemies of religion. Indeed religion which rests upon the assumption of human adequacy and sufficiency is an enemy of the light.
From chapter 4:
The mystery of the Kingdom is this: The Kingdom of God is here but not with irresistible power. The Kingdom of God has come, but it is not like a stone grinding an image to powder. It is not now destroying wickedness. On the contrary, it is like a man sowing seed. It does not force itself upon men. Some, like the good soil, receive it; but there are many others who do not receive it.
From chapter 5:
Kingdom righteousness demands that I have no evil in my heart towards my fellow man. It is obvious that such a heart righteousness can itself be only the gift of God. God must give what He demands. If we know the righteousness of the Kingdom of God, the anger and the animosity which frequently rises within us because we are fallen human beings can be transformed into an attitude of love and concern. The righteousness of God's Kingdom is the product of God's reign in the human heart. God must reign in our lives now if we are to enter the Kingdom tomorrow.
On the difficulty of applying Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (chapter 6):
This teaching has been a stumbling-block to many. How can we possibly apply the Sermon on the Mount in this evil world and live by its standards? If anyone interprets these words literally, he certainly cannot conduct a business venture or protect his own interests. Recently I passed through a small New England village where I lived as a boy, and I stopped at one of the two general stores to see a man whom I remembered from my boyhood. His name was on the sign over the door, but the store was locked up and inside all was confusion. I stopped at the other store up the street and asked, "What has happened to John X, that his store is locked up ? " I was told that John had been too kind and generous. He trusted everybody. He gave such unlimited credit that he became bankrupt. He had to go out of business because of his debts.
Is this not what the Sermon on the Mount tells us to do? If we should obey it with wooden literalness, this would be the inevitable frequent result. If the Western nations literally practised non-resistance and liquidated all military resources, we would at once find ourselves under a world-wide tyranny of Communism. However, we have already discovered that our Lord sometimes uses radical metaphors which were not intended to be taken with rigid literalness. He was concerned with the condition of the heart, with the inner attitude of mind.
Along with what is said in this passage are some other principles which have never been abrogated. Paul under inspiration insists upon the principle of law and order. In Romans 13: 4-5, he asserts that judicial procedures are of divine origin. Furthermore, our Lord himself did not fulfil the letter of this verse if it be construed with wooden literalness. In John 18: 19 ff., the High Priest asked Jesus about his teaching, and Jesus said, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together; I have said nothing secretly. Why do you ask me?" One of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, and said, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" Jesus did not turn the other cheek; he rebuked His assailant with the words, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" (v. 23).
We must therefore look beneath the letter of this teaching to discover its meaning.
From chapter 7:
On Marriage:
When a man and a woman have shared a human affection which is in turn sanctified by a mutual love for God and His Kingdom, they are the happiest people on earth.
On Self-denial:
Denial of self does not mean that I am to deny myself things. It means to deny myself, not to deny things to myself. "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross . . ." (Luke 9:23). Self-denial is self-centred; denial of self is Christ-centred. Denial of self means death, nothing less. A cross is an instrument of death. Obviously, the saying does not mean that every Christian must suffer physical death. It does mean, however (and we speak carefully), that every disciple of Jesus must be ready to die.
This is what cross-bearing means: a readiness to die with and for Christ. It means complete dedication to Christ . .
On the gospel & human death:
This is the good news about the Kingdom of God. How men need this gospel! Everywhere one goes he finds the gaping grave swallowing up the dying. Tears of loss, of separation, of final departure stain every face. Every table sooner or later has an empty chair, every fireside its vacant place. Death is the great leveller. Wealth or poverty, fame or oblivion, power or futility, success or failure, race, creed, or culture—all our human distinctions mean nothing before the ultimate irresistible sweep of the scythe of death which cuts us all down.
From Chapter 9:
On living in the world when we belong to the King & Kingdom:
We are not rosy optimists, expecting the Gospel to conquer the world and establish the Kingdom of God. Neither are we despairing pessimists who feel that our task is hopeless in the face of the evil of This Age. We are realists, Biblical realists, who recognize the terrible power of evil and yet who go forth in a mission of worldwide evangelization to win victories for God's Kingdom until Christ returns in glory to accomplish the last and greatest victory.
This book is part of the curriculum for EFCA GATEWAY Phase 2--that's why I read it.
The book is available for free on-line here:
http://gospelpedlar.com/articles/Last...
Ladd asks and answers the question:
How can the Kingdom of God be a present spiritual reality and yet be an inheritance bestowed upon God's people at the Second Coming of Christ?
"Our problem, then, is found in this threefold fact: (1) Some passages of Scripture refer to the Kingdom of God as God's reign. (2) Some passages refer to God's Kingdom as the realm into which we may now enter to experience the blessings of His reign. (3) Still other passages refer to a future realm which will come only with the return of our Lord Jesus Christ into which we shall then enter and experience the fullness of His reign. Thus the Kingdom of God means three different things in different verses."
What is the kingdom of God? Ladd answers:
"The Kingdom of God is basically the rule of God."
Quotes:
From chapter 2:
Satan's basic desire is to keep men from Christ. His primary concern is not to corrupt morals nor to make atheists nor to produce enemies of religion. Indeed religion which rests upon the assumption of human adequacy and sufficiency is an enemy of the light.
From chapter 4:
The mystery of the Kingdom is this: The Kingdom of God is here but not with irresistible power. The Kingdom of God has come, but it is not like a stone grinding an image to powder. It is not now destroying wickedness. On the contrary, it is like a man sowing seed. It does not force itself upon men. Some, like the good soil, receive it; but there are many others who do not receive it.
From chapter 5:
Kingdom righteousness demands that I have no evil in my heart towards my fellow man. It is obvious that such a heart righteousness can itself be only the gift of God. God must give what He demands. If we know the righteousness of the Kingdom of God, the anger and the animosity which frequently rises within us because we are fallen human beings can be transformed into an attitude of love and concern. The righteousness of God's Kingdom is the product of God's reign in the human heart. God must reign in our lives now if we are to enter the Kingdom tomorrow.
On the difficulty of applying Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (chapter 6):
This teaching has been a stumbling-block to many. How can we possibly apply the Sermon on the Mount in this evil world and live by its standards? If anyone interprets these words literally, he certainly cannot conduct a business venture or protect his own interests. Recently I passed through a small New England village where I lived as a boy, and I stopped at one of the two general stores to see a man whom I remembered from my boyhood. His name was on the sign over the door, but the store was locked up and inside all was confusion. I stopped at the other store up the street and asked, "What has happened to John X, that his store is locked up ? " I was told that John had been too kind and generous. He trusted everybody. He gave such unlimited credit that he became bankrupt. He had to go out of business because of his debts.
Is this not what the Sermon on the Mount tells us to do? If we should obey it with wooden literalness, this would be the inevitable frequent result. If the Western nations literally practised non-resistance and liquidated all military resources, we would at once find ourselves under a world-wide tyranny of Communism. However, we have already discovered that our Lord sometimes uses radical metaphors which were not intended to be taken with rigid literalness. He was concerned with the condition of the heart, with the inner attitude of mind.
Along with what is said in this passage are some other principles which have never been abrogated. Paul under inspiration insists upon the principle of law and order. In Romans 13: 4-5, he asserts that judicial procedures are of divine origin. Furthermore, our Lord himself did not fulfil the letter of this verse if it be construed with wooden literalness. In John 18: 19 ff., the High Priest asked Jesus about his teaching, and Jesus said, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together; I have said nothing secretly. Why do you ask me?" One of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, and said, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" Jesus did not turn the other cheek; he rebuked His assailant with the words, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" (v. 23).
We must therefore look beneath the letter of this teaching to discover its meaning.
From chapter 7:
On Marriage:
When a man and a woman have shared a human affection which is in turn sanctified by a mutual love for God and His Kingdom, they are the happiest people on earth.
On Self-denial:
Denial of self does not mean that I am to deny myself things. It means to deny myself, not to deny things to myself. "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross . . ." (Luke 9:23). Self-denial is self-centred; denial of self is Christ-centred. Denial of self means death, nothing less. A cross is an instrument of death. Obviously, the saying does not mean that every Christian must suffer physical death. It does mean, however (and we speak carefully), that every disciple of Jesus must be ready to die.
This is what cross-bearing means: a readiness to die with and for Christ. It means complete dedication to Christ . .
On the gospel & human death:
This is the good news about the Kingdom of God. How men need this gospel! Everywhere one goes he finds the gaping grave swallowing up the dying. Tears of loss, of separation, of final departure stain every face. Every table sooner or later has an empty chair, every fireside its vacant place. Death is the great leveller. Wealth or poverty, fame or oblivion, power or futility, success or failure, race, creed, or culture—all our human distinctions mean nothing before the ultimate irresistible sweep of the scythe of death which cuts us all down.
From Chapter 9:
On living in the world when we belong to the King & Kingdom:
We are not rosy optimists, expecting the Gospel to conquer the world and establish the Kingdom of God. Neither are we despairing pessimists who feel that our task is hopeless in the face of the evil of This Age. We are realists, Biblical realists, who recognize the terrible power of evil and yet who go forth in a mission of worldwide evangelization to win victories for God's Kingdom until Christ returns in glory to accomplish the last and greatest victory.
April 18, 2021
G. E. Ladd's The Gospel of the Kingdom is a short treatment on the New Testament's (NT) "Kingdom of God" (KoG) theme. Ladd's introductory chapter considers definitions, arguing that the Kingdom of God (KoG) in the Old Testament (OT) primarily refers to God's "reign," and that this focus should be extended to the NT and beyond.
In Chapter 2, Ladd argues that the KoG is a future reality, which has broken into the present. He has a three-age schema: this age, the millennial age and the age to come. Chapters 3-9 then consider the "present" aspects of the KoG. Jesus' coming, death and resurrection initiate the KoG, using Jesus' casting out demons as proof that the future KoG has broken into the present. His term for this is the "overlapping" or "conflict" of the ages.
Ladd considers the "mysterious" nature of the KoG in Chapter 4, which is two-fold. Firstly, it is "mystery" in that what was once hidden, has been revealed, i.e. that Jesus has come to inaugurate the KoG. Secondly, it is "mystery" because the way Jesus initiates it is unexpected. He doesn't come to to immediately establish a political or military kingdom. Instead, it doesn't look impressive now, but will be perfected in the future.
Chapters 5-7 considers the more "moral" aspects of the KoG. There are blessings (Chapter 5), but being part of God's kingdom will require us to be righteous (Chapter 6), and demands a decision that is resolute, radical, costly and which has eternal implications (Chapter 7).
Chapter 8 and 9 are closely related to "popular" eschatology, where he examines the relationship between Israel and the church, then answers the oft-asked "when will the kingdom come?" question. He posits that the church is the new people of God "This new people is the Church... God is not now dealing with a nation after the flesh, but with a holy nation, the Church, on the basis of personal saving faith in Jesus the Son of God (114)." However, Ladd see that Israel is not completely out of God's plan, and will somehow be grafted back in. He also emphasises that NT faith is individual, rather than national or familial, writing that "Jesus addressed Himself to the individual; and the terms of the new relationship were exclusively those of personal decision and faith (109)." He then closes by writing that the kingdom will come in its fullness when the Gospel of the Kingdom is preached to the nations.
Positives: This is a succinct, non-academic introduction to a complex subject. Ladd makes a clear connection between theology with praxis, speaking both to the mind and heart. His approach is exegetical, offering a good biblical theological treatment. The book's structure is tight and it's impressive that he can cover this much in so few words.
Negatives: Intermediate to advanced readers will want more depth and his views on the millennium might not sit well with those with different views. Ladd focuses almost exclusively on the NT, so this is not a whole-Bible biblical theology of the KoG.
Who should read it?
Those new to the subject who are keen to explore it. Within my Christian circle, the popular KoG approach is Vaughan Roberts' God's Big Picture, which is similar to (but is it dependent on?) Goldsworthy's Kingdom of God approach. Ladd offers a good alternative perspective, although what he does in this book is not as comprehensive as Vaughan Roberts' God's Big Picture, which is also centred on the KoG theme.
In Chapter 2, Ladd argues that the KoG is a future reality, which has broken into the present. He has a three-age schema: this age, the millennial age and the age to come. Chapters 3-9 then consider the "present" aspects of the KoG. Jesus' coming, death and resurrection initiate the KoG, using Jesus' casting out demons as proof that the future KoG has broken into the present. His term for this is the "overlapping" or "conflict" of the ages.
Ladd considers the "mysterious" nature of the KoG in Chapter 4, which is two-fold. Firstly, it is "mystery" in that what was once hidden, has been revealed, i.e. that Jesus has come to inaugurate the KoG. Secondly, it is "mystery" because the way Jesus initiates it is unexpected. He doesn't come to to immediately establish a political or military kingdom. Instead, it doesn't look impressive now, but will be perfected in the future.
Chapters 5-7 considers the more "moral" aspects of the KoG. There are blessings (Chapter 5), but being part of God's kingdom will require us to be righteous (Chapter 6), and demands a decision that is resolute, radical, costly and which has eternal implications (Chapter 7).
Chapter 8 and 9 are closely related to "popular" eschatology, where he examines the relationship between Israel and the church, then answers the oft-asked "when will the kingdom come?" question. He posits that the church is the new people of God "This new people is the Church... God is not now dealing with a nation after the flesh, but with a holy nation, the Church, on the basis of personal saving faith in Jesus the Son of God (114)." However, Ladd see that Israel is not completely out of God's plan, and will somehow be grafted back in. He also emphasises that NT faith is individual, rather than national or familial, writing that "Jesus addressed Himself to the individual; and the terms of the new relationship were exclusively those of personal decision and faith (109)." He then closes by writing that the kingdom will come in its fullness when the Gospel of the Kingdom is preached to the nations.
Positives: This is a succinct, non-academic introduction to a complex subject. Ladd makes a clear connection between theology with praxis, speaking both to the mind and heart. His approach is exegetical, offering a good biblical theological treatment. The book's structure is tight and it's impressive that he can cover this much in so few words.
Negatives: Intermediate to advanced readers will want more depth and his views on the millennium might not sit well with those with different views. Ladd focuses almost exclusively on the NT, so this is not a whole-Bible biblical theology of the KoG.
Who should read it?
Those new to the subject who are keen to explore it. Within my Christian circle, the popular KoG approach is Vaughan Roberts' God's Big Picture, which is similar to (but is it dependent on?) Goldsworthy's Kingdom of God approach. Ladd offers a good alternative perspective, although what he does in this book is not as comprehensive as Vaughan Roberts' God's Big Picture, which is also centred on the KoG theme.
January 10, 2022
Professor George Ladd of Biblical Theogy wrote these studies after he delivered them as "addresses in the pulpit and in Bible Conferences for publication." He stated several research questions for determining the ultimate meanings of "The Kingdom of God". That phrase appeared multiple times in the New Testament, and it received multiple interpretations over the centuries from multiple reformers, seminarians, theologians, and exegetes.
Dr. Ladd began his study with the question "What is the Kingdom of God?" The final question asked "When will the Kingdom Come?" He guards himself against denominational biases expressed by Protestants and Catholics by mentioning the possibilities and challenges of interpretations made by both groups. Professor Ladd (1959) also stressed the argument that "nominalism is the cause of modern western Christianity" (p. 100).
My favorite section of his book appeared on pages 101-105. In those pages, Professor Ladd described the common mistake of associating "the bearing of one's cross" with "problematic experiences" or "burdens" in life. In other words, Christians often ill-advise sufferers to perceive their painful tragedies, circumstances, traumas, or horrible events of injustice as times for "bearing their crosses for Christ". But, he asked his audience to ponder the question "What does it mean to take one's cross?" In other words, how do we know that using that common rebuttal really helps sufferers during times of extraordinary evil? The answer is that they do not, in fact, help sufferers. On the contrary, the rebuttal "carry your cross" for explaining away inquiries about extraordinary evil causes more confusion and overgeneralization. According to Ladd (1959), "A cross is not a burden; a cross is a place of death. Do not talk about bearing the burden of a cross. When you take up your cross, you are ready to die" (p. 104).
My only criticisms are that Professor Ladd used much informal writing, and he used several abstract words that led to ambiguous phrases in the text.
Dr. Ladd began his study with the question "What is the Kingdom of God?" The final question asked "When will the Kingdom Come?" He guards himself against denominational biases expressed by Protestants and Catholics by mentioning the possibilities and challenges of interpretations made by both groups. Professor Ladd (1959) also stressed the argument that "nominalism is the cause of modern western Christianity" (p. 100).
My favorite section of his book appeared on pages 101-105. In those pages, Professor Ladd described the common mistake of associating "the bearing of one's cross" with "problematic experiences" or "burdens" in life. In other words, Christians often ill-advise sufferers to perceive their painful tragedies, circumstances, traumas, or horrible events of injustice as times for "bearing their crosses for Christ". But, he asked his audience to ponder the question "What does it mean to take one's cross?" In other words, how do we know that using that common rebuttal really helps sufferers during times of extraordinary evil? The answer is that they do not, in fact, help sufferers. On the contrary, the rebuttal "carry your cross" for explaining away inquiries about extraordinary evil causes more confusion and overgeneralization. According to Ladd (1959), "A cross is not a burden; a cross is a place of death. Do not talk about bearing the burden of a cross. When you take up your cross, you are ready to die" (p. 104).
My only criticisms are that Professor Ladd used much informal writing, and he used several abstract words that led to ambiguous phrases in the text.
June 20, 2024
The author starts by establishing that the theme of the Kingdom of God was central to Jesus's mission (Matt. 5:20; 7:21; 12:28; 13:11). Then presents arguments to explain the mystery that the kingdom is both present now and coming in the future. The best chapter is probably the one on the righteousness of the kingdom (VI).
"The importance of this Kingdom righteousness is found in Matthew 5:20…. If we know the righteousness of the Kingdom of God, the anger and the animosity which frequently rises within us because we are fallen human beings can be transformed into an attitude of love and concern…. Our Lord’s teaching has to do with the springs of one’s personal reaction and character. Love seeks the best welfare even of its enemies."
"The righteousness of the Sermon on the Mount is the righteousness of the man who has experienced the reign of God in his life."
"God’s Kingdom…is also the instrument of God’s dynamic rule in the world to oppose evil and the powers of Satan in every form of their manifestation. When God’s people lose sight of this fact, we betray our character as the Church."
The main weakness is that the author approached Scriptures with an over-spiritualized perspective and neglected to consider the immediate political, cultural, and literary contexts. There are better writings about the Kingdom of God that provide additional/alternative perspectives:
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by Richards & O'Brien
The Challenge of Jesus by NT Wright
Resurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom by Frank Viola
The Gospel of the Kingdom by Eng Hoe Lim
"The importance of this Kingdom righteousness is found in Matthew 5:20…. If we know the righteousness of the Kingdom of God, the anger and the animosity which frequently rises within us because we are fallen human beings can be transformed into an attitude of love and concern…. Our Lord’s teaching has to do with the springs of one’s personal reaction and character. Love seeks the best welfare even of its enemies."
"The righteousness of the Sermon on the Mount is the righteousness of the man who has experienced the reign of God in his life."
"God’s Kingdom…is also the instrument of God’s dynamic rule in the world to oppose evil and the powers of Satan in every form of their manifestation. When God’s people lose sight of this fact, we betray our character as the Church."
The main weakness is that the author approached Scriptures with an over-spiritualized perspective and neglected to consider the immediate political, cultural, and literary contexts. There are better writings about the Kingdom of God that provide additional/alternative perspectives:
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes by Richards & O'Brien
The Challenge of Jesus by NT Wright
Resurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom by Frank Viola
The Gospel of the Kingdom by Eng Hoe Lim
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