The Subjunctive Power of God

In what sense does the basileia tou theou rule or have power? In Christianity, Jesus is the icon of the invisible God. In Jesus, whose life is marked by compassion and forgiveness, we have an intuition of the divine order, but one in which, unlike the deities of Greece and Rome, he does not crush hi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Caputo, John D. 1940- (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:English
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Published: SCM Press [2020]
In: Concilium
Year: 2020, Issue: 3, Pages: 12-21
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Bible. Corinthians 1. 1-2 / Kingdom of God / Attributes of God / Power
IxTheo Classification:HC New Testament
NBC Doctrine of God
NCD Political ethics
Further subjects:B Power (Christian theology)
B Compassion
B FORGIVENESS; Religious aspects
B BIBLICAL teaching on the Kingdom of God
B Religious Aspects
B Christianity
B DIVINITY of Jesus Christ
B God
Description
Summary:In what sense does the basileia tou theou rule or have power? In Christianity, Jesus is the icon of the invisible God. In Jesus, whose life is marked by compassion and forgiveness, we have an intuition of the divine order, but one in which, unlike the deities of Greece and Rome, he does not crush his enemies but is defeated by them. In 1 Cor 1, Paul captures this: the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Stronger in what sense? Paul's answer in 1 Cor 2 is divine violence, apocalyptic power. I argue that 1 Cor 2 compromises 1 Cor 1. The true power of God lies in the unconditional call for a kingdom without force, even celestial force, where the kingdom means what the world would look like if God ruled. The true power of God is subjunctive, and it is up to us to make that kingdom come true.
ISSN:0010-5236
Contains:Enthalten in: Concilium