Page 1 of 11 The Kingdom of God. Page 2 of 11 How Do We Understand “Kingdom of God”? What...
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Transcript of Page 1 of 11 The Kingdom of God. Page 2 of 11 How Do We Understand “Kingdom of God”? What...
Page 2 of 11
How Do We Understand “Kingdom of God”?
• What problem(s) was Jesus addressing when he announced, “The Kingdom of God is at hand”?
• What would his listeners have understood him to be saying?
Page 3 of 11
Sermon Outline
Kingdom of God in Jesus’ Context
Kingdom of God in Jesus’ Context
Political/Family-based Society
Patronage in Ancient
Mediterranean Societies
Patronage for us
2007
Page 5 of 11
Ways Societies Structure Themselves
• Historically, societies have structured themselves around four major concerns:– Family (Tribe)– Politics– Religion– Economics
Page 6 of 11
Getting from Here to There
Jesus’ Culture:
•Family and Politics driven
Economics and Religion subsumed under family and politics
Our Culture:
•Economically Driven•Family, Politics, and Religion all subsumed under Economics
Page 8 of 11
Different Locations, Different Hierarchies
• Roman Elites
• Palestinian Elites– Herodians: Herod– Sadducees: Antipas and Caiaphas
Page 11 of 11
The Big Idea
God will be your Patron
if
you are willing for Him to be your only Patron
Page 13 of 11
Sermon Outline
Kingdom of God in Jesus’ Context
Kingdom of God in Jesus’ Context
Patronage in Ancient
Mediterranean Societies
Political/Family-based Society
Patronage for us
2007
Page 14 of 11
Kingdom of God: Background
• Our concept of “kingship” is entirely political
• In Ancient Mediterranean culture, politics was an extension of the family–Internal Roman politics based on families–External Roman politics based on patronhood
Page 15 of 11
Ancient Mediterranean Politics
P a tron a ge F oo d C h a in
S u b jec t P e o p leE lite F a m ilie s
C lie n ts to R o m eP a tro n s to P e a sa n ts
Is ra e lite P e asa n tryC lie n ts
Is ra e lE lite F a m ilie s
C lie n ts to R o m eP a tro n s to P e a sa n ts
S u b jec t P e o p leE lite F a m ilie s
C lie n ts to R o m eP a tro n s to P e a sa n ts
R o m a n E lite F a m ilies(E m p e ro r)
Page 16 of 11
The Patron/Client Relationship:An Exchange of Non-comparable Goods
The Patron/Client relationship required:
• Unequal status
• Reciprocity
• Proximity
Page 17 of 11
Patronage Language
• “Abba” the word used to designate the patron in a patronage system
• Patronage administered by “brokers”, typically members of the patron’s household–often, slaves–Paul’s self-description as “Jesus’ slave”–(us as Jesus’ slaves)
Page 19 of 11
The Big Idea
God will be your Patron
if
you are willing for Him to be your only Patron
Page 21 of 11
Sermon Outline
Kingdom of God in Jesus’ ContextKingdom of God in Jesus’ Context
Patronage in Ancient
Mediterranean Societies
Political/Family-based Society
Page 22 of 11
Jesus’ Metaphors: Politics
• Kingdom of God/Heaven
• God as Father
• Jesus as Son
These are Jesus’ most common, and least understood, metaphors
Page 23 of 11
God as Patron: The Pattern
• Unequal Status–He is holy; we are not–He sustains us; we do not sustain Him
• Close Proximity–As close as the air we breath–In Him we live and move and have our being
• Reciprocity–He ameliorates our environment threats: sin and
oppression–We offer esteem, deference, and loyalty
Page 24 of 11
God as Patron: Supporting Evidence
• Israel’s dire need of a patron
• “Abba” the word used to designate the patron in a patronage system
• Patronage administered by “brokers”, typically members of the patron’s household–often, slaves–Paul’s self-description as “Jesus’ slave”–(us as Jesus’ slaves)
Page 25 of 11
Kingdom of God: Mappings
Source Domain: the Patronage System
Target Domain: Our Interactions with God
• Associate with the authority through his personal agent
• The Holy Spirit
• Bureaucracy comprised of the family of the king
• Paul’s use of “brother” and “sister”
• Standing determined by birth/ancestry
• Jesus’ emphasis on the new birth
• Broader standing determined by ethnicity
• Now a “royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God”
Page 26 of 11
Father and Son: Mappings
• Used to indicate formal adoption and heirship
• Indicates reliance by the heir on the father/king’s word and training
Page 28 of 11
What Jesus’ Listeners Would Have Heard
• God now available as Patron
• Themselves in a new patronage system, and therefore outside of the current system
• Themselves in a new birth, therefore:– In a new honor status with new entitlements– In a new family, with new ties
Page 29 of 11
The Big Idea
God will be your Patron
if
you are willing for Him to be your only Patron
Page 31 of 11
Sermon Outline
Kingdom of God in Jesus’ Context
Kingdom of God in Jesus’ Context
Patronage in Ancient
Mediterranean Societies
Political/Family-based Society
Patronage for us
2007
Page 32 of 11
The Kingdom of God for Us
• God has offered to be your patron– Jesus the broker of God’s patronage to you
Page 33 of 11
The Kingdom of God for Us (cont)
• In a new patronage system– Unequal status– Close proximity– Relief from threats in exchange for honor
• Patron’s choice as to which threats to relieve, for whom, and how
• God’s system of patronage differed from that of Ancient Mediterranean; His definition of threats differed from theirs
• His definition of threats differs, as well, from the threats our system defines (economic)
Page 34 of 11
The Kingdom of God for Us (cont)
• In a new family system with a new status– Your honor position based on birth– New birth, new honor– New standing from which to assess/judge all other
patronage systems
Page 35 of 11
The Kingdom of God for Us (cont)
God will be your Patron
if
you are willing for Him to be your only Patron
Page 36 of 11
The Kingdom of God for Us (cont)
• God takes His honor VERY seriously
• Dishonor Him by taking other patrons:– Our performance– Money
Page 37 of 11
Sermon Outline
Kingdom of God in Jesus’ Context
Kingdom of God in Jesus’ Context
Patronage in Ancient
Mediterranean Societies
Political/Family-based Society
Patronage for us
2007