Early references to the kingdom of God in each of the synoptic gospels make it clear that the evangelists saw Jesus' primary purpose in terms of preaching the kingdom. But what did Jesus mean by the kingdom of God? Was he referring to the community on earth of those who believe him? Or was he speaking of God’s intervention in history at the end of time? Bruce Chilton’s introduction instructs the reader on the manner in which these questions have been variously answered and suggests that a new consensus of opinion might be on the horizon.
Recent scholars like T.F. Glasson, H. Bald, and Dr Chilton himself want to do justice to Jesus’own understanding of the kingdom during his ministry, and to distinguish this from subsequent interpretations of his message. These essays illustrate the development of ideas about the kingdom and conclude that any discussion must hold in balance radical immanence and radical transcendence, which are both basic to the kingdom of God.