Kingdom (New Testament)
- See also: User_talk:Aschlafly#Kingdom
Kingdom is an overused, dilute term invoked 154 or 155 times by English translations of the New Testament. "Kingdom" is not a precise translation of the Greek term, as there were virtually no "kings" in Ancient Greece.
Today the term "kingdom" increasingly connotes a fairy tale or other childlike realm, as in Disney's "Magical Kingdom." In England the term conjures up images of the monarchy, which some find to be silly now. More powerful, more precise terms exist to convey the meaning of the original Greek in the New Testament.
The Gospel of Matthew, which never used the Greek term for "paradise" as its author may have been unaware of it, probably meant God's paradise here rather than the diluted translation "kingdom of heaven" at Matthew 13:44 :
| “ | The kingdom of heaven [better: God's paradise] is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. | ” |
How to translate better than "kingdom" is one of the most important questions of biblical translation. A precise understanding of the biblical intent for the term translated as "kingdom" in different contexts is a key to immediate happiness.
Most importantly, "kingdom" is prominently misused in the most-recited prayer in the world: The Lord's Prayer. See Translating Lord's Prayer for a discussion of potentially better alternative translations there, such as "paradise".
Epistle to the Hebrews
The Epistle to the Hebrews is translated using the term "kingdom" in only three places (ESV), each time based on the Greek term βασιλείας (basileias):
- Hebrews 1:8 - But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
- Better, less dilute, and more precise: "Your presence, O God, is infinite: a fidelity to righteousness is the standard of thy paradise."
- Hebrews 11:33 - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
- Hebrews 12:28 - Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
Notice, however, that the meaning of "kingdom" in Hebrews is of earthly kingdoms in one of out its three uses, and in the other two uses of it "kingdom" is probably not the best English translation in that context.
Luke compared with Matthew
Luke was more fluent in Greek than Matthew was, and Luke used a specific Greek term for "paradise" in the Gospel of Luke while Matthew did not in his Gospel. “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43
