What did Jesus mean when he spoke of “the kingdom of God” or “the kingdom of heaven?” In this episode, we turn to Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology, pages 375–378, where he unpacks the theological and biblical contours of the kingdom in the Gospels. Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey explore the critical distinction Vos draws between the abstract and concrete senses of the kingdom, the Old Testament background, and how the kingdom becomes incarnate in the person and work of Christ.
Together, we discuss
- the kingdom as God’s sovereign reign vs. a redemptive realm,
- how the Reformed categories regnum essentiale, regnum personale, and regnum spirituale frame our understanding,
- the significance of Matthew’s phrase “kingdom of heaven,”
- the kingdom’s embodiment in the incarnate Christ and its expression in the church,
- the dangers of under- or over-realized eschatologies.
This episode offers rich theological insight and practical clarity for pastors, students, and anyone seeking to understand the kingdom according to Scripture and sound Reformed theology.
Chapters
- 01:11 Introduction
- 01:44 Theological Topics in Romans
- 06:03 The Kingdom of God in the Gospels
- 12:59 Important Distinctions
- 24:58 Jesus’ Sense of the Kingdom in the Gospels
- 31:51 The Kingdom and the Church
- 36:25 Avoiding Under- and Over-Realized Eschatologies
- 40:34 Matthew and the Kingdom of Heaven
- 53:10 The Kingdom and Worship on the Lord’s Day
- 58:25 Conclusion
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.
