The phrase the ‘Kingdom of God’ was not spared from controversy among Biblical scholars throughout the ages. This constant search for its meaning has been a big blessing so as to enter deeply into Jesus’ mind when he proclaimed it.

Origen interpreted the ‘Kingdom of God’ in a Christological sense. He referred to Jesus as the autobasileia, that is, Jesus is the Kingdom of God in person. The same ecclesiastical writer evolved his understanding of the ‘Kingdom of God’ by proposing a second meaning to it. This time his interpretation is more mystical in its rendering. In fact, Origen regarded the ‘Kingdom of God’ as pointing to the human being’s interiority. It is there where the ‘Kingdom of God’ resides.

The third interpretation of the term can be divided into four stages. During the nineteenth – and early – twentieth century Catholic theology equated the ‘Kingdom of God’ with the Church. On the other hand Protestant theology, especially with the liberal theologian Adolf von Harnack, saw the ‘Kingdom of God’ as the reward for the human person’s moral actions and his/her works of love. With Johannes Weiss and Albert Schweitzer, the phrase the ‘Kingdom of God’ came to be seen in an ‘eschatological’ perspective. The ‘Kingdom of God’ now points to the end of time and the beginning of a new world in which God would reign. The last understanding offered by theologians on the ‘Kingdom of God’ espouses a ‘regnocentrism’ thrust. The ‘Kingdom of God’ comes about when our world is governed by peace, justice and the conservation of creation.

The above mentioned theories are fallacious because they miss a crucial point in Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God. In proclaiming the Kingdom of God Jesus is telling us that God is acting now in our history. He is revealing himself as the living Lord God of human history. Since the concept of the ‘Kingdom of God’ is rather a complex one, it would be wise, as Pope Benedict XVI teaches, “to speak of God’s being – Lord, of his lordship”. It is through wholeheartedly accepting and embracing God’s lordship in its fullness, like a little child, that we can enter profoundly and let ourselves be captivated by the Kingdom of God, by God himself, in the person of Jesus Christ. “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 18, 3-4).

Fr Mario Attard

OFM Cap

San Gwann