In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton continue their study of Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology. Turning to Vos’s treatment of the kingdom of God and the church, they explore the importance of Caesarea Philippi, Peter’s confession, and Christ’s promise, “I will build my church.”
Lane explains why Vos sees this moment as a decisive redemptive-historical transition: the kingdom of God, proclaimed and embodied in Christ, begins to assume its ecclesial form. Together, Camden and Lane discuss the church as the kingdom in its present historical expression, the role of the Spirit poured out from the ascended Christ, and the distinction between the kingdom’s inaugurated and consummated forms.
They also consider how Vos’s teaching helps clarify ongoing theological questions concerning the kingdom of grace and glory, the already/not-yet structure of redemptive history, the thought of Meredith Kline, and the strengths and weaknesses of more recent reductionist or two-kingdom approaches.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction and transition into Vos on the kingdom and the church
- 01:46 The kingdom as the sphere of blessedness
- 05:39 Caesarea Philippi as a redemptive-historical turning point
- 08:16 Peter’s confession and “I will build my church”
- 10:26 The church as the kingdom in its present historical form
- 15:26 The kingdom in its inaugurated and consummated forms
- 18:10 The kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory
- 22:32 Kline and the “heavenization” of the church
- 26:50 Two-kingdom theology and Christ’s mediatorial reign
- 29:53 Reductionist views of the kingdom
- 36:30 The kingdom, the church, and redemptive-historical development
- 43:45 Measuring the kingdom’s progress in the world
- 49:30 Final reflections and concluding thoughts
Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton
Christ the Center focuses on Reformed Christian theology. In each episode a group of informed panelists discusses important issues in order to encourage critical thinking and a better understanding of Reformed doctrine with a view toward godly living. Browse more episodes from this program or subscribe to the podcast feed.
