The Kingdom of God

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Cave at Qumran, probably used for storage
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Ruins of water system at Qumran
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Composition of the Gospels

• 3 stages
• Events
• Oral tradition
• Writing
• Luke
• Date ca. 80-90 CE
• Audience mostly Gentile
• Process interview eyewitnesses, correlate to
  historical events
• Focus Jesus ministry among the poor

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Source theory

• Mark narrative (ca. 69-70 CE)
• Q (source) sayings
• Not extant
• Matthew and Luke (ca. 80-90 CE)
• Draw on Mark and Q
• Add unique material
• Matthew for Jewish audience
• Luke for Gentile audience
• John largely distinct (ca. 90 CE)

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Luke 4

• When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been
  brought up, he went to the synagogue on the
  sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to
  read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was
  given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found
  the place where it was written
• The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,   because he
  has anointed me     to bring good news to the
  poor.He has sent me to proclaim release to the
  captives   and recovery of sight to the
  blind,     to let the oppressed go free, to
  proclaim the year of the Lords favour.
• And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the
  attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the
  synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say
  to them, Today this scripture has been fulfilled
  in your hearing.

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Luke 6 Sermon on the Plain

• Then Jesus looked up at his disciples and
  saidBlessed are you who are poor,   for yours
  is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are
  hungry now,   for you will be filled.Blessed
  are you who weep now,   for you will laugh.
• Blessed are you when people hate you, and when
  they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on
  account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day
  and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great
  in heaven for that is what their ancestors did
  to the prophets. But woe to you who are
  rich,   for you have received your consolation.
  Woe to you who are full now,   for you will be
  hungry.Woe to you who are laughing now,   for
  you will mourn and weep.
• Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that
  is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

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Characteristics of the Kingdom

• Who?
• What?
• Where?
• When?
• How different?
• From life under Roman occupation?
• From kingdom of Satan (p. 61)?

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The Kingdom and Money

• Why cant the rich enter the kingdom?
• What is the problem with money?
• How do people today spiritualize or ignore
  these passages?
• Why do religions (cf. Islam) care so much about
  what people do with their money?
• What is the alternative? What way of life does
  Jesus offer?

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The Kingdom and Prestige

• Who had honor in Jesus time?
• Who did not?
• How did Jesus challenge these values of honor and
  shame?

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The Kingdom and Solidarity

• Major difference between Kingdom of God and of
  Satan
• Inclusive vs. exclusive
• New form of kinship
• Basis compassion, even for enemy
• How did Jesus challenge peoples bonds of
  soliarity?
• How did he encourage something different?