BASILEIA (Kingdom)

WRITTEN BY DREW MATZ

What is the Word?

“We serve a king, and we are ambassadors for him to those who have not heard of his reign. ”

Today’s societies have moved away from the concept of kingdom. For us, we are used to thinking of the society in which we live as a democracy. Everyone can influence society via our participation. However, as Christians, even though we acknowledge the society we live in, we are ultimately citizens of a kingdom that is not of this world. We serve a king, and we are ambassadors for him to those who have not heard of his reign.

How does the Bible use this word?

This Greek noun is important in the scriptures at it describes in a very real sense the nature of the reality of the sovereignty of God. While the term certainly refers to the rule and authority that has been given to Jesus by the Father, it also refers to the Lordship of Jesus in our hearts. This rule in our hearts is to be extended to all the Earth. His dominion will be over all things because he rules the hearts of believers. 

Where in the Bible?

Jesus makes many references to his kingdom during his ministry. One prominent place that we find this is in the Lord’s prayer:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom (βασιλεία) come,

your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Matthew 6:10-13

Jesus wants us to pray that his kingdom would become manifest on Earth just as it is in heaven. That is to say, in his body the Church, heaven and earth are joined together as one. It is Jesus’ desire that creation would be transfigured by his love, and we pray that this transfiguration would become manifest in our lives.

We can see elsewhere, too, that those who are deemed as outcasts in the earthly realm will be first in God’s kingdom. Those who have made sacrifices, those who are poor by worldly standards will be made first in the kingdom of God:

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom (βασιλείας), which he has promised to those who love him?

James 2:5

This can be taken as a promise and also a warning. As our Lord tells us, those who trust in their possessions already have their reward. But those who consider all things as loss compared to the Kingdom shall find themselves heirs to the whole world.

Thy Kingdom Come

“we must always remember that while we are working to influence society, we are ultimately but pilgrims here”

As Christians we are called to take the message of the Gospel and to be salt and light to the world. However, we must always remember that while we are working to influence society, we are ultimately but pilgrims here. Our true home is the kingdom of heaven, a kingdom which will be fully realized on the last day when heaven and earth are permanently joined together as one, and God’s reign becomes manifest to all.