The Kingdom of God by John Bright Book Review

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Start your review of The Kingdom of God: The Biblical Concept & Its Pregnant for the Church building

Jun thirteen, 2015 Dan rated it it was amazing

Sometimes, you go to read a volume that y'all experience similar you've been looking for your whole life. Most ten years ago, reading the Divine Conspiracy (Dallas Willard) was that book for me. Information technology introduced me to a line of thinking ("The kingdom is at hand") that had non previously struck me equally existence so prominent in the Bible.

Always since, I accept seen that theme more and more throughout the pages of the prophets and the psalms, the patriarchs and the judges, the gospels and the epistles. And notwithstanding, I accept hea

Sometimes, you get to read a book that you lot feel like yous've been looking for your whole life. Nigh x years ago, reading the Divine Conspiracy (Dallas Willard) was that book for me. It introduced me to a line of thinking ("The kingdom is at paw") that had not previously struck me as being and then prominent in the Bible.

E'er since, I take seen that theme more and more than throughout the pages of the prophets and the psalms, the patriarchs and the judges, the gospels and the epistles. And nevertheless, I have heard it preached and so rarely, that I wondered if my understanding was but too juvenile for the supremacy of the individual conservancy arc. Was the "kingdom of God" concept of less import than the idea that we are saved by Christ's death?

This volume, the second one which felt, from page one, like I had been looking for it my whole life, helped me address that nagging question.

I have frequently thought that our western mode of thinking leads united states to elevator up the thought of individual conservancy higher up all other concepts. A country in which private rights are the prime value is going to tend to lean in the direction of theology that reflects that individualistic bent.

And while the "kingdom of God" equally a primary emphasis does not diminish the value of Christ'southward sacrifice–in fact, it hinges on that very aforementioned sacrificial deed– it does diminish the thought that Christ's principal goal was perhaps not my salvation (the individualistic theology). Not that He does not want me with Him, but that His wanting me has less to do with my value to Him and more to do with God's Kingdom, a kingdom for which the people of God have always truly longed, since the offset covenant, where He called His children to exist His children, and He promised He would be their God.

In beautiful, haunting, moving, and compelling prose, John Bright, constrained only past the occasional anachronistic reference to Marxist Russia, presents a timeless argument that His Story is not almost saving me, only about building His Kingdom. This is how my story becomes worth anything, to submit this life, as lilliputian, fragile, and sinful as it is, to the lordship of His Kingdom, the one that is at hand, that is already and not yet, that is forever and e'er.

And one more matter. Please read this book.

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Feb 10, 2014 Eli rated it liked it

John Vivid's writing manner is interesting and blithe, which makes this book an piece of cake page turner. Most of the book is an excellent analysis of Israel'due south history and the progress of Israel's understanding of the kingdom of God. I institute this very helpful and well thought through. For this lone it is well worth the read.

Withal, the book disappoints in the last few chapters when Bright begins discussing the kingdom of God in New Attestation. It is not that I don't agree with him in his decision t

John Vivid's writing way is interesting and blithe, which makes this volume an piece of cake page turner. Near of the book is an first-class assay of Israel's history and the progress of State of israel's understanding of the kingdom of God. I plant this very helpful and well thought through. For this solitary it is well worth the read.

Nevertheless, the volume disappoints in the last few chapters when Bright begins discussing the kingdom of God in New Testament. It is non that I don't concord with him in his determination that the kingdom of God is "already" and "not yet": his discussion of the tension between the kingdom already come and the kingdom still coming is undoubtedly first-class. Merely it is that Brilliant wholly sidesteps the issue of the land of Israel, not fifty-fifty mentioning it, as if information technology was a non-issue. This is remarkable because the entire Old Testament is building upwardly this theme, only for Bright it falls flat in the New Testament. This is a colossal oversight (or better, error) made by many Christian scholars. We fail to come across the significance of the land of Israel, equally well as the kingly motif of the son of David, fifty-fifty though the land and the coming king is writ large all over the Scriptures!

In the latter part of the book Bright too repeatedly uses the unBiblical and almost blasphemous (though certainly unintentional) phrase "new Israel", even though the Bible never in one case uses this phrase and never conceives the Church building of Christ as the "new Israel". In fact Bright contradicts himself, for in the course of the volume he explains how the Church saw itself as the righteous remnant Within Israel (a point well made). Here was an unfortunate and sloppy oversight.

The bug with Vivid's volume are similar to the problems with Graeme Goldsworthy'south book "Gospel and Kingdom", written on the aforementioned subject. Both authors practise a masterful job of analyzing the Erstwhile Testament and tracing the concept of the kingdom of God in Israel's thinking. Their books are pure gold on this signal. But then when they both get to the New Testament everything changes and they absolutely fail to connect the dynamic theme, which they had and then wonderfully been following in the Old Testament, with the New Attestation. Everything falls flat; concepts are redefined; and we are left with an entirely dissimilar conception in the New Testament than what nosotros were getting so excited about in the Quondam Attestation. In my opinion this is due to a sloppy Christian systematic way of thinking that gets forced upon the New Testament. This way of thinking doesn't know how to connect with Israel's historical hope. The result is a very Gentilish and not-Biblical idea of the kingdom which is foreign to the Biblical authors themselves. What amazes me virtually of all is how Christian scholars tin can brand this jarring maneuver without hardly noticing nor even making mention of the land of Israel and the son of David, those enormous Quondam Testament themes they discard.

Nonetheless the book is total of priceless gems and insights and is greatly worth reading. I only promise to help future readings of this book (and other books on the same subject) to notice the glaring omissions made by many Christian scholars, and to take special care in seeing the continuity between both Testaments. The lack that exists in Christian scholarship on this point needs serious remedy.

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Dr. Bright, a disciple of Wm. Foxwell Albright, was professor of Hebrew and the Interpretation of the Onetime Testament at Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA.

Jan 18, 2018 Jon Robinson rated it really liked it

Stating the "Kingdom of God" is not but the good news Jesus preached, only also the Bible's overall theme is ane affair.

Specifically demonstrating how the many fine historical, cultural, literary, and theological details of the Old Testament weave this theme together and and so proceed transitioning to how Jesus fulfills this theme in the New Testament is quite some other.

John Vivid manages to do this with great thoughtfulness and care. While he brings the Quondam Testament's narrative and theology to l

Stating the "Kingdom of God" is not only the good news Jesus preached, but also the Bible's overall theme is one thing.

Specifically demonstrating how the many fine historical, cultural, literary, and theological details of the Old Testament weave this theme together and and then continue transitioning to how Jesus fulfills this theme in the New Attestation is quite some other.

John Bright manages to do this with great thoughtfulness and care. While he brings the Old Attestation's narrative and theology to life in a detailed manner some may call back tedious, information technology doesn't necessarily have to be seen that way. The content he shares is indispensable and would greatly benefit any Christian by connecting the Bible story'south dots in means they've never known. For anyone who has ever flipped through the pages of the Bible while wondering why and how it matters (peculiarly the Major/Pocket-sized Prophet literature), this book provides that much needed insight.

He demonstrates how God'south promise to Abram to make his descendants into a cracking people through whom the globe will come to be blest finds the start of its fulfillment in the covenant God fabricated with Israel to make them into a "kingdom of priests". He recounts how their failure to keep that covenant and its mission incited God'due south hope to establish his righteousness and rule through a servant whose suffering and sacrifice would ordain a new covenant his true kingdom people would embody. In addition, past focusing on the intertestamental flow of post-exile, the Hellenization of the world, the Jews' emphasis and fencing of the Constabulary, the Maccabean revolt, and the subsequent Roman occupation, he sheds much needed lite on that so-chosen "silent period" to bear witness how God was withal working His volition inside often ignored historical moments to gear up the context of the Messiah's eventual appearing. His splendid give-and-take of Jesus' ministry is mostly spent examining how the Church building's mission, as God's Kingdom people, is to proclaim and embody his rule and righteousness every bit both a nowadays and eschatological promise.

If any drawback to the volume could be named, it would exist that Vivid doesn't spend much time discussing precisely how the Church is supposed to practise that, save for "Be the Church", which he acknowledges is playing with words. That can exist forgiven, however, since Bright'southward purpose here is just to offering a detailed overview clarifying the Bible'southward overall theme. How we might specifically "Be the Church building" is a claiming Brilliant leaves with the reader to discern through Scriptural-shaped convictions how to answer Christ's call to embody the life of the Kingdom citizen.

One aspect that continually amused me throughout the book was that, despite beingness first published in 1953, much of what he wrote seems as pertinent today as it did and so. Regardless of how archaic we deem it, history still keeps coming back effectually. While that may be a point of dread for many, for those who might understand how Christ's Kingdom rule is God's consummating volition moving with and towards history, that may indeed exist good news.

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I might have been a chip hard on John Vivid with my review of his 'A History of Israel'. Here he gives another history of Israel for most of the book and what he shows is a general acceptance of the overall biblical narrative, albeit tempered by the academic critique of his era. Brilliant uses this history to build a theology of what it means to be a Kingdom of God. All the way through he relates this to his gimmicky America (1953) and in item the American church - the kingdom is non the I might take been a scrap difficult on John Bright with my review of his 'A History of Israel'. Hither he gives another history of Israel for most of the book and what he shows is a general acceptance of the overall biblical narrative, albeit tempered past the academic critique of his era. Bright uses this history to build a theology of what it means to be a Kingdom of God. All the way through he relates this to his gimmicky America (1953) and in particular the American church - the kingdom is not the national church building, let alone synonymous with the nation, then neither is it the faithful remnant with or without an apocalypse. Really he sees the kingdom ultimately in Isaiah's 'suffering servant'.

Just what exactly does this mean? Two issues. Firstly does that mean the whole Onetime Testament is just incorrect and therefore a waste of fourth dimension - clearly non sustainable in whatever Christian sense. Clearly other images of what the Kingdom means are also relevant. Secondly Bright never really can pivot down what that suffering retainer actually means for individual or church - is he really simply pointing to a new morality as encapsulated in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount? Yet this pedagogy of Jesus is not the whole of scripture either, having nix almost salvation/redemption in this early part of Jesus' ministry building.

The pitiful matter is that Vivid in this volume truly seems to be seeking a deeper truth of what it means to exist a sanctified Christian (if it is advisable to apply that term), merely it is all about 'the man' and nothing most a living God. God has no part except as a distant guiding low-cal. This is perhaps the mainstream/institution position of the era, coming before God became real, personable and we started to speak of 'a relationship with God' in the Billy Graham revival and charismatic renewal movements just about to break forth. It is kind of pitiful that the subsequently editions of worthwhile and thoughtful search might not take been able to say, 'aha, merely of course it doesn't depend on united states changing merely on Christ living in u.s.' or something of that sort.

There is still a good amount of value to what is said here, however it does experience that the mode here is a transcript of a series of spoken sermons (of that era besides!), rather than written text. At that place is a vast deviation between proficient spoken English and written English language and this book actually does not read well at all. Also it is rather too credible how Bright fawns over his academic mentor, William Albright

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Jul 26, 2018 Stinger rated it liked it

Dallas Willard has this volume among the height five that well-nigh impacted his spiritual formation. Given that Willard'south concept of the kingdom of God is original to me yet at home in the Bible, I sought this book to discover what lay at the root of his agreement of the kingdom. What I constitute was not what I expected. The author tells the story of the Bible in historical terms drawing from modern archeology, all the while tying information technology into the theme of God's people and His kingdom. Information technology's helpful, especiall Dallas Willard has this book among the top v that most impacted his spiritual germination. Given that Willard'southward concept of the kingdom of God is original to me nonetheless at habitation in the Bible, I sought this book to discover what lay at the root of his understanding of the kingdom. What I found was not what I expected. The writer tells the story of the Bible in historical terms drawing from modernistic archeology, all the while tying it into the theme of God's people and His kingdom. It'south helpful, especially as the author makes application to today'southward (well, 1950's American, but close enough) church building and culture. My favorite quote of Bright's is "the kingdom of God comes only for those who volition be His people and obey Him. It can have no other citizens. Truly, the gate is narrow (Matt. 7:14)." This is powerful, like fresh water to my thirsty soul, and both my caput and heart know it is so. Information technology is Biblical. It is the dominion of God, in which Jesus Christ rules, and it is available to anyone, including me, in this very moment. ...more than

Feb 04, 2019 James Tetley rated it really liked it

An awesome read. Covering the sweep of the Bible in getting to grips with the Kingdom of God. The analysis of the Former Attestation was superb. I was hoping for a little more on Jesus Kingdom manifesto from the Sermon on the Mount, but this wasn't touched upon. As well the role of the resurrection as the seal on the hereafter Kingdom thus giving confidence in our present and future Kingdom. This is such a vital topic, and Brights call to be a Kingdom people with a missionary eye is vital. He also struck An awesome read. Covering the sweep of the Bible in getting to grips with the Kingdom of God. The assay of the Old Testament was superb. I was hoping for a little more than on Jesus Kingdom manifesto from the Sermon on the Mount, simply this wasn't touched upon. Besides the role of the resurrection as the seal on the future Kingdom thus giving confidence in our present and future Kingdom. This is such a vital topic, and Brights call to be a Kingdom people with a missionary heart is vital. He also struck a good for you residue in recognising on 1 paw withdrawing from the world is a denial of the reality of praying 'Your kingdom come on world' but besides the realism that we cannot conductor in God's Kingdom through our works. We can build information technology and labour for it. Simply its ultimate fulfillment will ever break in from the exterior at the return of Jesus in the the final resurrection. Notwithstanding the reality is the King has come, and calls u.s. to be His kingdom people spreading His kingdom values correct here correct now in the confidence of His Kingship of the universe ...more than

Assigned reading for a faith grade I took in college, this book looks at the theme of the Kingdom of God as information technology develops historically in ancient State of israel, in the Onetime Attestation, and also how Jesus preached the Kingdom of God, his calling us to it. Some discussion of what it means for us today (remembering that this work was published in the 1950's). Assigned reading for a religion grade I took in college, this book looks at the theme of the Kingdom of God every bit it develops historically in aboriginal Israel, in the Old Testament, and also how Jesus preached the Kingdom of God, his calling u.s.a. to it. Some discussion of what it means for us today (remembering that this work was published in the 1950's). ...more

Feb 01, 2017 David Rickards rated information technology really liked it

I read this book because it made Dallas Willard's list of Top 5 books. It'southward a historical survey of the concept of the kingdom of God ... from the Onetime Attestation to the New. While it'south dated (written in the 50s), the applications are still relevant to today'southward church building. I learned much! I read this book because information technology made Dallas Willard'southward list of Acme v books. It'south a historical survey of the concept of the kingdom of God ... from the Old Attestation to the New. While it's dated (written in the 50s), the applications are notwithstanding relevant to today's church. I learned much! ...more

Aug 26, 2017 Steve Bender rated it information technology was astonishing

Impressive scholarship. It really helped me to follow the changing of the thought of the Kingdom of God through the One-time Testament into the New Attestation.

Jan 30, 2019 Nathan rated information technology liked it

This volume had some practiced insights but it was hard for me to go a rhythm in it.

Jul 26, 2011 Al Soto rated it really liked it

I read this Book for my Mission and Civilization in Theological Perspective class at Vanguard University! What an amazing book that develops the whole thought of the Progressive Revelation of Scripture on the basis of "The Mission of God." John Vivid has such a command of the Old Testament concept of the "Kingdom." and the whole notion of a people of God, called to live under the rule of God, begins in the Old Testament with the idea of the Kingdom of God. Before you lot read any of George Eldon Ladd's wor I read this Book for my Mission and Culture in Theological Perspective class at Vanguard University! What an amazing book that develops the whole thought of the Progressive Revelation of Scripture on the basis of "The Mission of God." John Vivid has such a command of the Former Attestation concept of the "Kingdom." and the whole notion of a people of God, chosen to alive under the dominion of God, begins in the Old Testament with the idea of the Kingdom of God. Before y'all read whatsoever of George Eldon Ladd's works on the "Kingdom of God" let yourself to reflectively read through the pages of the "Suffering Servant." It volition impact your theological contemplation in ways that yous will have a deepened sensation of what Jesus Christ came to embody as well as what we were created to be as the Church. I highly recommend this book. ...more

Aug 09, 2014 Eric rated it it was ok

This is a very densely written treatise on the title's subject. I remember information technology really does cover "The Biblical Concept" part of the bailiwick. I am less sure that the part, ".., Its Significant for the Church building" is likewise washed. The Kingdom of God would seem to entail all of His creation, properly understood. Humankind will e'er want to know more, I suppose. This book, accompanying a good Bible, volition farther anyone'south agreement of the divine realm as described in the sacred texts. What is seems non to This is a very densely written treatise on the championship's discipline. I think it actually does cover "The Biblical Concept" part of the field of study. I am less certain that the office, ".., Its Significant for the Church" is equally well washed. The Kingdom of God would seem to entail all of His cosmos, properly understood. Humankind volition e'er desire to know more, I suppose. This volume, accompanying a expert Bible, volition farther anyone's understanding of the divine realm as described in the sacred texts. What is seems not to do is help nurture the seed that might abound in the heart of the believer. Overall I would term Bright an excellent scholar, but lousy storyteller. Information technology probably needs better exist endemic in its searchable PDF form for the wealth of biblical knowledge contained therein. It is non the material of a bedtime page turner. ...more

Jan thirty, 2008 Kevin rated it actually liked it

Recommends it for: All Christians

John Vivid gives a compelling explanation of the Kingdom of God. Through a comprehensive biblical theology he explains the function of both Israel and the Church in that kingdom. I thought his work in the Sometime Testament was excellent, while his work in the New Attestation was practiced but not as thorough as his handling of the Onetime. He deals more than with the problems of the church not truly being the church in the end than with New Attestation texts.

All in all, this is an fantabulous read and a corking expect at a

John Brilliant gives a compelling caption of the Kingdom of God. Through a comprehensive biblical theology he explains the role of both Israel and the Church in that kingdom. I thought his piece of work in the Old Testament was excellent, while his piece of work in the New Attestation was good just not equally thorough as his handling of the Erstwhile. He deals more with the issues of the church non truly existence the church in the end than with New Testament texts.

All in all, this is an excellent read and a peachy look at a Biblical theology of the Kingdom of God. I would recommend this to all Christians for a practiced understanding of this topic.

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Nov 20, 2013 M rated it really liked it

Surprisingly well written. I do not look theology books to use such dramatic metaphors. The author keeps united states of america tuned in by frequently writing from the viewpoint of antagonists in scripture and does a remarkable job of bringing out social and political movements (from the Old Testament in detail). Bright's theology of the kingdom has a few holes, just stands potent as a whole, especially because information technology was published 60 years ago. This might have been a 5 star review had the writer not plant Surprisingly well written. I do not expect theology books to use such dramatic metaphors. The author keeps us tuned in past frequently writing from the viewpoint of antagonists in scripture and does a remarkable job of bringing out social and political movements (from the Old Testament in detail). Brilliant'southward theology of the kingdom has a few holes, only stands stiff as a whole, particularly considering it was published sixty years ago. This might have been a 5 star review had the writer not found it necessary to accept a divisive stand on the old arguments between our Covenant and Dispensational systems of theology in the latter half of the book. ...more

Sep 12, 2013 D.j. Lang rated it really liked information technology

The writer states that he wants to make this volume available to all readers, but it is even so quite academic. I did appreciate the extra notes as I looked at a portion of them. I learned a lot. It wasn't quite what I was hoping for; nevertheless, I thought it was a worthwhile read (and it was an assigned book for me :D) The writer states that he wants to make this volume bachelor to all readers, but it is still quite academic. I did appreciate the actress notes as I looked at a portion of them. I learned a lot. Information technology wasn't quite what I was hoping for; notwithstanding, I thought information technology was a worthwhile read (and it was an assigned book for me :D) ...more than

Oct ten, 2009 John Lipton rated information technology it was amazing

Articulate statement and explanation of the unifying theme of the unabridged Bible. Biblical theology is profoundly simplified and unified every bit Vivid traces the concept from Genesis to Revelation.

Jul 27, 2011 Wendy rated information technology liked it

Reading this one by an Old Attestation professor for a course I'k doing through my church. Non light reading, but really well written. Reading this one by an Old Attestation professor for a course I'g doing through my church. Non light reading, but actually well written. ...more

May 24, 2012 Brandon rated it really liked it

Wonderful overview over the Bible investigating the theme of the Kingdom of God. Especially insightful work on the prophets in connection with this theme.

An Historical look at the Unfolding and Coming of The Kingdom that demonstrates continuity and unmarried purpose between the Old Testament and the New. Gleaned much from its closing chapters.
Archetype!

John Brilliant was an American biblical scholar, the author of several of import books including the influential A History of Israel, currently in its fourth edition. He was closely associated with the American schoolhouse of Biblical criticism pioneered by William F. Albright, which sought to marry archaeology to a defence of the reliability of the Bible, especially the before books of the Old Testament John Bright was an American biblical scholar, the author of several important books including the influential A History of Israel, currently in its fourth edition. He was closely associated with the American school of Biblical criticism pioneered by William F. Albright, which sought to marry archeology to a defence of the reliability of the Bible, especially the earlier books of the Former Testament. ...more

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