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The Majesty on High: Introduction to the Kingdom of God in the New Testament
Designed for the non-specialist, this book introduces the reader to the kingdom of God and to its foundational issues. Most chapters provide careful study of one passage of the New Testament in order to dig deeply into the bedrock of Scripture where one's faith must be grounded.
The reader will come away with greater clarity on what the kingdom is and on how to read the Scriptures in its light as the great, unifying reality of the Bible and of eternal life itself. Includes study questions at the end of each chapter making the book appropriate for group Bible studies and classes.
The reader will come away with greater clarity on what the kingdom is and on how to read the Scriptures in its light as the great, unifying reality of the Bible and of eternal life itself. Includes study questions at the end of each chapter making the book appropriate for group Bible studies and classes.
- GenresTheology
168 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2017
13 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 7, 2020
Despite being a Christian my entire life, I wasn’t sure if someone asked me to define the Kingdom of God (KoG) if I could do it. Dr. Baugh here helps me correct this deficiency by giving simple and clear definitions as well as an approachable system to help think through the kingdom of God. His five criteria which he filters all his kingdom thought through are: The King, the dominion, the realm, the subjects, covenant as kingdom constitution. Dr. Baugh is an excellent exegete and as a layperson, I appreciate his accessible writing style. His exposition of Revelation Chs 4 & 5 as well as I Corinthians 15 are beautifully done. I’m grateful that through this effort of Dr. Baugh’s, I have a solid matrix on which to build a deeper theology of the inaugurated KoG looking forward to the final consummation when all the benefits of the kingdom will be fully realized by the kingdom subjects as our faith becomes sight and we rule with our risen Lord.
August 23, 2018
I find it personally edifying for me to ponder God and His creation, and not to always be wrapped up with the things of the world. I am glad I read it, but I wouldn't recommend it to anybody particular, unless they simply enjoy the subject.
May 30, 2018
One of the best books on the concept of the Kingdom of God ever written. It is short and rich. I do wish that the reading level was a bit lower so that I could put this in the hands of anyone. As it is I feel that these concepts must be taught and cannot simply be handed to someone with a low theological I.Q. That fault aside, this is a book that all who preach and teach the scriptures must read.
April 19, 2020
Baugh informs us this book is more of a pet project than an academic treatise, which helps explain its often incomplete development of ideas, or its meandering path unpacking the essence of the Kingdom of God. This is more appetizer than main course. The principle claim is the KoG is the new creation, fully inaugurated during the NT era, yet awaiting full consummation at the second coming of Christ. Dr. Baugh explores several NT passages (Rev. 4&5, 1 Cor. 15, John 3, Matt. 5, and several subsections of Hebrews) in modest detail so as to explore five themes of the kingdom: The King, the King’s authority, the realm, the kingdom subjects, and covenant as kingdom constitution.
I enjoyed most his work on 1 Cor 15 and John 3, as well as the unpacking of the pactum salutis in Hebrews 7. He made a few puzzling claims (e.g. Jesus fulfills only 7 of the 8 beatitudes), and tends to jump to ancillary texts before completing an argument. Also, I get that in such a short book it’s too much to expect every question demanded by these texts to be answered. However, there were plenty of loose ends, and I frequently felt the book needed a better editor (apologies to his daughter).
The major weakness of the book is an incomplete exploration of the practical distinctions demanded by the inauguration and consummation of the KoG. How does the “already not yet,” a phrase Baugh bemoans, actually work itself out in the church today? He mentions over/under realized eschatology, but doesn’t really put more flesh on what that actually looks like. Nevertheless, I think it was a helpful, brief, and often insightful introduction to the essentials of the Kingdom of God, which surely was Dr. Baugh’s primary objective.
I enjoyed most his work on 1 Cor 15 and John 3, as well as the unpacking of the pactum salutis in Hebrews 7. He made a few puzzling claims (e.g. Jesus fulfills only 7 of the 8 beatitudes), and tends to jump to ancillary texts before completing an argument. Also, I get that in such a short book it’s too much to expect every question demanded by these texts to be answered. However, there were plenty of loose ends, and I frequently felt the book needed a better editor (apologies to his daughter).
The major weakness of the book is an incomplete exploration of the practical distinctions demanded by the inauguration and consummation of the KoG. How does the “already not yet,” a phrase Baugh bemoans, actually work itself out in the church today? He mentions over/under realized eschatology, but doesn’t really put more flesh on what that actually looks like. Nevertheless, I think it was a helpful, brief, and often insightful introduction to the essentials of the Kingdom of God, which surely was Dr. Baugh’s primary objective.
May 26, 2022
I think the author best describes his book : « We have reached the end of our little study on the kingdom of God. As I indicated at the beginning, we have really only been concerned with a few basic issues in this book. There are literally hundreds of other works you can now read on the kingdom of God which center on the kingdom of God and the church, the kingdom in the world, kingdom ethics, and much more. These and many other interesting and worthwhile topics were either not covered at all here or were mentioned only briefly in passing. What we have done, though, is provide an essential starting point for any discussion of the kingdom of God. That kingdom is the new creation, the eternal realm where we will live in resurrected glory in visible, living communion with our triune God forever. So, my answer to the question, “Where to now?” is to suggest that wherever you do go now, your journey will be far clearer and more fruitful if it is guided by that clear definition of the kingdom of God. » (p.148-149)
And so, this book of far from answering all the questions about the kingdom, but it’s contribution (that the kingdom of God is the new creation) is well done.
If you study the kingdom, I think this book is one you should pick.
And so, this book of far from answering all the questions about the kingdom, but it’s contribution (that the kingdom of God is the new creation) is well done.
If you study the kingdom, I think this book is one you should pick.
January 25, 2021
For the ones that have a similar concern when wrestling with biblical interpretations,
The author assumes more than the text provides, at times. This isn't an issue in every chapter but it made it hard to embrace the work as a whole, and especially hard to embrace it as written for the layperson's growth in mind. Maybe some of the assumptions could be validated if the book offered footnotes, which I understand is the opposite of the author's intent. The reader is forced to accept some of the details that without a healthy understanding of scripture as a whole can lead to faulty interpretations of imagery and symbolism, which is also the opposite of the author's intent.
The books is well written. This was my first time reading anything from this author and I sincerely admire all his efforts. I'm only writing this review as a heads up to the ones that might struggle with a similar view on commentaries that promise clarity.
Great resource, regardless.
The author assumes more than the text provides, at times. This isn't an issue in every chapter but it made it hard to embrace the work as a whole, and especially hard to embrace it as written for the layperson's growth in mind. Maybe some of the assumptions could be validated if the book offered footnotes, which I understand is the opposite of the author's intent. The reader is forced to accept some of the details that without a healthy understanding of scripture as a whole can lead to faulty interpretations of imagery and symbolism, which is also the opposite of the author's intent.
The books is well written. This was my first time reading anything from this author and I sincerely admire all his efforts. I'm only writing this review as a heads up to the ones that might struggle with a similar view on commentaries that promise clarity.
Great resource, regardless.
August 21, 2021
Overall, it's a great book. But...
- = The methodology seem to be inappropriated but this kind of study.
It's a great complement on the subject, but I wouldn't recommand it as a single study on the Kingdom.
+ = Clearly, the author has a profound knowledge of the Scripture and the subject. Great exegesis is done on several passages which make it interesting.
The author also make some interesting strong statement here and there and I think it's great considering the academic level of the study.
The main goal of this book is not to give an overall and complete treatment of the Kingdom subject. Rather, it's a defense of the already/not yet perspective. It fulfills the goal it pretends to achieve.
- = The methodology seem to be inappropriated but this kind of study.
It's a great complement on the subject, but I wouldn't recommand it as a single study on the Kingdom.
+ = Clearly, the author has a profound knowledge of the Scripture and the subject. Great exegesis is done on several passages which make it interesting.
The author also make some interesting strong statement here and there and I think it's great considering the academic level of the study.
The main goal of this book is not to give an overall and complete treatment of the Kingdom subject. Rather, it's a defense of the already/not yet perspective. It fulfills the goal it pretends to achieve.
November 18, 2020
I enjoyed this so much. The theme “The Kingdom Of God” is so rich and fills scripture from Genesis to Revelation. This book was a good eye opener for me.
I love books that help me love Jesus more.
“A deeper understanding of the kingdom of heaven and how it has been inaugurated now in this age and how it impacts us can not help but shape our lives as Christians.”
I love books that help me love Jesus more.
“A deeper understanding of the kingdom of heaven and how it has been inaugurated now in this age and how it impacts us can not help but shape our lives as Christians.”
August 17, 2020
This small book contains a wealth of helpful theology and exegesis. To me, it felt like an excellent summary of some of the best lectures of getting to be a part of Dr. Baugh's classes, and I'm so thankful to have these insights recorded in this helpful book.
June 12, 2017
A wonderful, concise introduction to the study of the Kingdom of God, which is the new creation inaugurated but not yet consummated. A great read!
June 3, 2019
Great introduction to the Kingdom of God
March 27, 2021
Snagged this book from my library again after hearing of Baugh's retirement and appointment to WSC Professor Emeritus of NT.
Baugh calls this his fun book. My kind of fun, as it was a pleasure to read. He offers a definition of the kingdom of God as the new creation, and then looks to key New Testament passages to support that definition. Working his way backward from Revelation to Matthew, he describes the kingdom of God in five parts: the King, ruling power/authority, the realm, the kingdom citizens, and the covenant as constitution. Ditching the more common "already/not yet" terminology, Baugh opts to describe aspects of the kingdom with less confusion and ambiguity, using rather the language of "inaugurated" and "consummated" to advance discussions of the kingdom of God.
This book serves to better prepare and help springboard the reader to a greater understanding of the kingdom of God as they continue to dig deeper on the subject. While the book is introductory on the topic at hand, Baugh’s groundwork is anything but introductory. As I stated, it was a pleasure to read watching a master NT exegete do his thing to bring to light the Majesty on High.
Baugh calls this his fun book. My kind of fun, as it was a pleasure to read. He offers a definition of the kingdom of God as the new creation, and then looks to key New Testament passages to support that definition. Working his way backward from Revelation to Matthew, he describes the kingdom of God in five parts: the King, ruling power/authority, the realm, the kingdom citizens, and the covenant as constitution. Ditching the more common "already/not yet" terminology, Baugh opts to describe aspects of the kingdom with less confusion and ambiguity, using rather the language of "inaugurated" and "consummated" to advance discussions of the kingdom of God.
This book serves to better prepare and help springboard the reader to a greater understanding of the kingdom of God as they continue to dig deeper on the subject. While the book is introductory on the topic at hand, Baugh’s groundwork is anything but introductory. As I stated, it was a pleasure to read watching a master NT exegete do his thing to bring to light the Majesty on High.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews