During the "Unshakable Kingdom" symposium held in Thailand, the concept and characteristics of "kingdom theology" were elucidated to Chinese believers.
Conducted by the GETS Theological Seminary in Bangkok fom March 4 to 7, the conference was aimed at helping Chinese churches develop a kingdom perspective.
Starting on March 4, the four-day symposium digged into kingdom theology from five perspectives: the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Trinity (systematic theology), the cross, and the church.
In her lecture-themed "Concept of the Kingdom in the Old Testament," Dr. Sarah Zhang, assistant professor of Old Testament at GETS Theological Seminary, interpreted the idea of the kingdom through exegeses—using the changeable to illustrate the unchanging. She mentioned the focus of 21st-century missions as reaching those who were apathetic despite knowing the gospel message, to lead them to return to the Lord and become new channels of blessing.
In the second lecture, Dr. Sunny Wang, assistant professor at the Taiwan Baptist Christian Seminary, explained the concept of the kingdom through its interpretation from a New Testament perspective, covering five different stages in the history of Christianity. Dr. Wang pointed out, "We can understand the message of the kingdom conveyed by Jesus and the apostles only when we realize that the kingdom is both a future event and a present reality, an anticipated future and an experience in which God takes power over us."
Dr. Leonard Sidharta, academic dean of GETS Theological Seminary, then spoke from the perspective of systematic theology. Sidharta described the kingdom of God based on the love of the triune God, which originated from the Father and returned to the Father. The incarnation also reflected the doctrine of the Trinity in the movement of salvation, which served as a model and epitome of the new humanity, history, and universe. The Exodus event reflected the new creation and salvation of God, from Jesus Christ leaving Egypt to all people who returned to the heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.
As the fourth session's keynote speaker, Dr. Leonard Sidharta continued that without a concrete kingdom, talking of the cross would devolve into soteriological individualism, and the kingdom without the cross would become triumphalism or an ideological gospel.
Dr. Ian Sun, associate professor of historical theology at GETS Theological Seminary, then explained kingdom theology from two perspectives: the presence of the kingdom of God and the manifestation of the kingdom by the church. He said that the kingdom of God was omnipresent and visible only through the eyes of the soul in small crevices.
Furthermore, he shared that the church represented God’s kingdom, emphasizing the responsibility of the church to testify that Christ is king and the commonality of the church. He also pointed out the misconception that the authoritative Jesus would change social structures and systems through churches. Dr. Sun stated that the church was neither the kingdom of God nor the present Christ. The church shared in the suffering of the world and brought hope to the world, he concluded.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
2024年3月4-7日，2024国度神学研习会——“不能震动的国”在泰国曼谷举行。
研习会为期4天，通过释经和神学教义分别从新、旧约、系统神学三一神论、十字架和教会共五个角度阐述“国度神学”的概念和特点。
创欣神学院旧约教席教授张晓丹博士首先以“旧约中的国度概念”为题，以释经的方式讲解了旧约中王国的理念——以可变喻不变。她提到 21世纪宣教的新增长点，是打动那些已经知道福音信息、但无动于衷的人们，使他们归主并成为新的祝福渠道。
第二场主题讲座中，由台湾浸信会神学院助理教授王观惠博士从新约释经的角度来讲解“国度”概念，并从整个基督教历史的五个不同阶段解读国度的概念。王博士指出，“唯有正确地认识到国度是一个将来的事件，但也是当下的实在；既是热切期盼的未来，也是现在就能经验上帝已经在我们身上掌权的事实，才能正确理解耶稣及使徒们所传讲的国度信息。”
创欣神学院教导主任戴永富博士则从系统神学的角度来讲解“国度神学”。戴博士称神的国是根据三位一体神的相爱的循坏运动，源自于父并归于父。道成肉身也反映了这种三位一体的循环性运动，是新人类、历史和宇宙的模型与缩影。出埃及的事件反映出上帝的创造和拯救的循环格式，从耶稣基督一人的出埃及再到众人藉着耶稣基督的出埃及而归回天父。
第四场主题信息继续由戴永富博士作为主讲人，他称若没有国度空谈十字架就会陷入到个人主义救恩论，而没有十字架的国度就会变成胜利主义或福音意识形态化。
创欣神学院历史神学副教授孙毅博士分别从神国的临在和教会对神国的彰显两个角度来讲解国度神学。他称神国是无所不在的，只有心灵的眼睛通过细小的间隙才能看到更加丰富的世界。
此外，他分享了教会对于神国的彰显表现包括：教会是神国临在的表征，是神国在此世的使者；教会的责任是见证基督已作王，并且强调了教会群体的公共性。他还指出了掌权的基督会借着教会带来社会结构或制度上改变的误解，孙博士表示，教会既不等于神国，又不等于现世的耶稣基督。教会乃是与世界同受苦难，并给世界带来盼望。
2024国度神学研习会上，4位讲员讲解“国度神学”
During the "Unshakable Kingdom" symposium held in Thailand, the concept and characteristics of "kingdom theology" were elucidated to Chinese believers.
Conducted by the GETS Theological Seminary in Bangkok fom March 4 to 7, the conference was aimed at helping Chinese churches develop a kingdom perspective.
Starting on March 4, the four-day symposium digged into kingdom theology from five perspectives: the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Trinity (systematic theology), the cross, and the church.
In her lecture-themed "Concept of the Kingdom in the Old Testament," Dr. Sarah Zhang, assistant professor of Old Testament at GETS Theological Seminary, interpreted the idea of the kingdom through exegeses—using the changeable to illustrate the unchanging. She mentioned the focus of 21st-century missions as reaching those who were apathetic despite knowing the gospel message, to lead them to return to the Lord and become new channels of blessing.
In the second lecture, Dr. Sunny Wang, assistant professor at the Taiwan Baptist Christian Seminary, explained the concept of the kingdom through its interpretation from a New Testament perspective, covering five different stages in the history of Christianity. Dr. Wang pointed out, "We can understand the message of the kingdom conveyed by Jesus and the apostles only when we realize that the kingdom is both a future event and a present reality, an anticipated future and an experience in which God takes power over us."
Dr. Leonard Sidharta, academic dean of GETS Theological Seminary, then spoke from the perspective of systematic theology. Sidharta described the kingdom of God based on the love of the triune God, which originated from the Father and returned to the Father. The incarnation also reflected the doctrine of the Trinity in the movement of salvation, which served as a model and epitome of the new humanity, history, and universe. The Exodus event reflected the new creation and salvation of God, from Jesus Christ leaving Egypt to all people who returned to the heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.
As the fourth session's keynote speaker, Dr. Leonard Sidharta continued that without a concrete kingdom, talking of the cross would devolve into soteriological individualism, and the kingdom without the cross would become triumphalism or an ideological gospel.
Dr. Ian Sun, associate professor of historical theology at GETS Theological Seminary, then explained kingdom theology from two perspectives: the presence of the kingdom of God and the manifestation of the kingdom by the church. He said that the kingdom of God was omnipresent and visible only through the eyes of the soul in small crevices.
Furthermore, he shared that the church represented God’s kingdom, emphasizing the responsibility of the church to testify that Christ is king and the commonality of the church. He also pointed out the misconception that the authoritative Jesus would change social structures and systems through churches. Dr. Sun stated that the church was neither the kingdom of God nor the present Christ. The church shared in the suffering of the world and brought hope to the world, he concluded.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Expounding on Kingdom Theology at 'Unshakable Kingdom' Symposium in Thailand
