What Kind Of Kingdom Are We Looking For?

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. [2 Timothy 3.14-17]

When considering what Paul is telling Timothy in this passage, one must remember that the "Scriptures" Paul referred to was not the same compilation we call Scriptures today! In fact, the "Scriptures" Paul referred to did not include his letters - they had not all even been written yet (as in the case of 2 Timothy here). And, I recall no writing of Paul that directly declares his own writings as Scripture. However, Paul's writings still very clearly reference Scriptures, and, his writings reference Scriptures as such as well.

Now, before we get all crossed up on doctrinal issues about the Bible and its history, I want to remain focused on my point: Paul clearly instructed Timothy to recall and resort to the Scriptures that brought about his salvation. These "Scriptures" would pretty much have been what we now call the Old Testament. I personally don't think Paul even included the New Testament Gospels in his estimation of what he called "Scripture". What I do believe however, is that Paul, like Philip did with the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8.30-35), preached Jesus from the platform of the Old Testament (it was not the "Old Testament" in Paul's time - it was just the Scriptures!).

Again, my point is this: Could any of us today preach Jesus from only the Law and Prophets (the Old Testament)? Are we prepared to 'save the world' with only the book of Isaiah and our testimony? If we considered the Gospels as only historical writings (the collaboration of the Four providing sufficient reason to conclude the accuracy of Jesus' Advent, life, and crucifixion), could we use their testimony (their story of Jesus) along with what Paul considered "Scripture" and effectively present Jesus to a lost world?

I am afraid that most Christians, myself very much included, are hard-pressed to find Jesus in Old Testament Scriptures! And yet, the Jews were, prior to Jesus' Advent, very convinced that their Messiah was coming based on what they ascertained from those very Scriptures. The problem arose because some of them recognized Jesus as their expected Messiah and others did not - and each side of the debate would have used "Scriptures" to argue their own point! The accounts we have of Jesus' life and words (the Gospels) all agree that Jesus Himself pointed out the error of those who did not recognize Him as Messiah.

What was the main point of contention over Jesus' life between those who believed and those who did not? THE KINGDOM! Ah, there it is! The Jewish people as a whole agreed that Messiah would come and establish a KINGDOM! The contention then between seekers of Messiah rested in the worldliness or other-worldliness of the Kingdom of God! AND! The difference in those who believed in Jesus and those who did not might have been defined by their view of the Kingdom and its worldly benefit to them personally and materially versus its other-worldly benefit eternally for all mankind.

What kind of Kingdom are we looking for?

Oh, it is an amazing story! How fortunate are we to have the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament to further educate us! And yet... we probably know less than those who were not so fortunate.

Father, I am grateful for the Scriptures! I am grateful for every bit of information that You have provided so that we might become better acquainted with You and Your Son! Help us to see Your Kingdom through it all! Help us to seek Your Kingdom through it all!