In Luke 17:21 Jesus said, The Kingdom of God is within you. And I think it appears in the King James Version, and the NIV Bible and the Catholic Bible.
But of course it sounds much to "Eastern" to be a part of a Western religion. Maybe we should change it? Is the change already taking place?
Source: http://gospelenigma.com Chapter 2
2007-08-24 13:08:44 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What's going on here? Your joking, right?
That's what the whole thing is about!
Christ's teaching was the East! WHat do you think?
Who cares East or West? North or South?
2007-08-24 14:48:12 · answer #1 · answered by Blank 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever heard of the term "slippery slope"?
I do not advocate tossing Bible verses because some people find them problematic.
Rather than fretting about some imagined Eastern philosophical encroachment on Christianity -- which, by the way, may be predominant in the West at this particular time but did not begin here -- it would be far more reasonable to consider this verse in context, and also in light of all the Gospels. Jesus referred to the "kingdom of God" at least 50 times.
2007-08-24 17:06:47 · answer #2 · answered by Clare † 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No he was the king of that kingdom and he was in their midst.
The other translations now say the kingdom of God is in your midst. As a more correct translation.
He was talking to pharisees? go to verse 20.
Verse 22 he says: days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the son of man but you will not see it.
How could God's kingdom be within the pharisees?
Jesus condemed them to eternal damnation.
The Jews were well acquainted with a messiah ruling the world with a real government.
When the King of England was visiting the White house. It was said he was representing the English government.
Jesus as the king of that government was in their midst.
And one day they would recognize that and wish to see him.
2007-08-24 13:20:03 · answer #3 · answered by Steven 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Luke 17:21 isn't the only reference to Gods Kingdom being within you--He also repeated the OT teaching that "You are all Gods"--He also said to the 5,000 strangers at the Sermon on the Mount-"You are the light of the world"--he constantly taught that God is internal--you would have to demolish a lot of Christs teaching to purge it from the Bible.
2007-08-24 13:19:59 · answer #4 · answered by huffyb 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My, such vitriol here. The verse should remain, of course, but it is easily subject to abuse by those searching for a way to "easternize" the gospels. "The kingdom is among you" is a favored translation, especially as it may refer to Jesus himself as the king of this new kingdom who is literally among those listening. I suggest, however, that "within you" is in perfect keeping with Jesus' teaching that the "kingdom" is about the 'kingship' of God in one's life, something internal rather than external and ritualistic, something driven by love and not by law, something based on a relationship and not rules - something the Pharisees couldn't grasp. The "kingdom" is within anyone who recognizes and follows the Lord of that kingdom, Jesus.
2007-08-24 14:29:03 · answer #5 · answered by Johnny Dangerous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Luke 17:20 But on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them and said: “The kingdom of God is not coming with striking observableness, 21 neither will people be saying, ‘See here!’ or, ‘There!’ For, look! the kingdom of God is in YOUR midst.”
22 Then he said to the disciples: “Days will come when YOU will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man but YOU will not see [it]. 23 And people will say to YOU, ‘See there!’ or, ‘See here!’ Do not go out or chase after [them]. 24 For even as the lightning, by its flashing, shines from one part under heaven to another part under heaven, so the Son of man will be.
In other word his coming would be invisible and we will be ruled by a heavenly kingdom. He as the king of that kingdom was in their midst.
But, God was hardly within the hearts of the wicked pharisees who were trying to find a way to kill him.
that scripture has been taken out of context to mean something quite different. Jesus was trying to tell them he was the messiah they were looking for.
2007-08-24 13:55:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The question really is if you believe you must contact God through outside sources or if you can have direct communication with the Divine. If you believe that God is out there and not a part of yourself and that you are not part of God, I understand why you might object to the idea that you can find the Kingdom within. Where else can you find it if not in your daily actions, feelings, and attitudes?
2007-08-24 13:18:54 · answer #7 · answered by Alicia 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The kingdom of God is within. But the kingdom of God should not be confused with the kingdom of Heaven. Romans 14:17: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." The Christian who is a true Christian exemplies the kingdom of God in his walk, so the kingdom is within. I John 4:16: "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." So, it is clear that the kingdom of God is within the Christian, while the kingdom of heaven will be the time of the actual reign of God on earth with man.
2007-08-24 16:01:46 · answer #8 · answered by Capri 1230 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The literal translation is:"The Kingdom of God is in your midst". As King designate of that Kingdom, Jesus was there with them.
2007-08-24 13:21:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, don't change the statement, change your definition of who you think "you" are! YOU are the Son of God, and you are united in spirit with all your brothers and all of the Universe. So the Kindom is inside you as you are a spirit, not a body. In this sense the statement is true. If you want to change something change the verse: "For God so loved his Son, he gave him the whole world, by being one with everything, so that he does not perish, but has everlasting life." And yes, that IS Eastern too, but it is the truth.
2007-08-24 13:16:20 · answer #10 · answered by nurseman916 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋