The Kingdom of God: Is it "within" you?

Many Bible versions, most notably the KJV, translate Luke 17:21 with Jesus telling the Pharisees that the kingdom of God is "within" them [you]. There seems to be no shortage of books and other media regarding the Kingdom of God "in you" but is that good Bible exegesis? I have heard this teaching all my adult life, and still hear it quite often. Failure to properly understand Jesus words in Luke 17:21 has led to an abundance of erroneous teaching on the subject. Unfortunately, it is even used by new age groups whose false teaching says you can prosper and have everything you want, now, because "the Kingdom of God is within you."

Is it any wonder that modern Christianity perceives the Kingdom of God as something primarily spiritual? The reign of God in ones heart? Certainly God wants to rule our lives and that is characteristic of what the Kingdom of God is to be like... the will of God being done in earth as it is in heaven. But newer scholarship seems to recognize that Jesus was not teaching a purely spiritual concept here. Many modern translations such as NASB, RSV, NET, NIV, and others, render the verse in question as "among you", "in your midst" or something similar. This makes a huge difference in understanding, and makes much more sense of Jesus response in context.

The “Dictionary of Biblical Imagery” gives a fair treatment of the subject as indicated by the following:

“Although the kingdom of God is not a political term in the usual sense, from the Jewish perspective—where religion and politics are not neatly divided—it bears political implications. If God is king, then Caesar is not (cf. Acts 17:7), nor is his client—king Herod. Jesus points out that the kingdom “is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ ” (Lk 17:20 NRSV). Instead, he says, “the kingdom of God is entos hymin” (Lk 17:21), that is “in your midst” or “within your grasp” (not “within you,” as if to say “in your heart”).” -- Ryken, L., Wilhoit, J., Longman, T., Duriez, C., Penney, D., & Reid, D. G. (2000, c1998). Dictionary of biblical imagery (electronic ed.) (479). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

  Also, the NET Bible renders the phrase "in your midst" and explains the choice of translation in the footnote as follows:

"This is a far better translation than "in you." Jesus would never tell the hostile Pharisees that the kingdom was inside them. The reference is to Jesus present in their midst. He brings the kingdom. Another possible translation would be "in your grasp." For further discussion and options, see D. L. Bock, Luke (BECNT), 2:1414-19." The NET Bible: Compact Edition - Premium Bonded Leather, Amazona Black  

How true! How easy it is to neglect the most basic rules of Bible interpretation - context - especially when we want to preserve a tradition.

For a Biblically sound treatment on the subject of the Kingdom of God, I suggest you read Anthony Buzzards book, The Coming Kingdom of the Messiah: A Solution to the Riddle of the New Testament. In fact, I would not hesitate to recommend any of Mr Buzzard's books.

 It was not Jesus intention to teach a spiritual Kingdom within. The Jews of Jesus day were expecting a Messiah to establish God's reign on the earth and Jesus never taught otherwise (See Matthew 5:5). However, Jesus did say that the Messiah must first suffer, die, and be raised from the dead, before the Kingdom would come. (Mark 8:31)

In Acts 1:6, the disciples asked Jesus, just prior to his ascension into heaven, if this was the time he would restore the Kingdom to Israel. Many commentators have assumed that the apostles were still spiritually inept and just didn't get it. They were still looking for an earthly, political, kingdom, when Jesus had spent the previous three years teaching them that His kingdom was a spiritual one. I don't think it is fair to assume that Jesus' "hand-picked" men just didn't get it. And, after all, Jesus did not correct or rebuke them for their ignorance here, he simply said "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority." --Acts 1:7 (ESV)

Some have thought that the disciples couldn't clearly understand Jesus teaching until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit, but that baptism was for "power" to be witnesses, not sudden enlightenment from spiritual ignorance (Acts 1:8)

Bottom line... the Kingdom of God is not "in" you, but it is coming and it is within your grasp. Further, we should not confuse the Kingdom of God and the Church, they are not the same thing. The Church, as the "body of Christ" is to complete Jesus' mission, which was to preach the gospel of the kingdom (Luke 4:43; John 17:18). Where the word is being preached and the people respond in faith, we should expect "signs" to follow as confirmation that the Kingdom of God has come near! (Mark 16:20; Luke 10:8-9)

As the redeemed ones, the Church, we now have citizenship in that heavenly Kingdom, but it isn't here yet. We are however, representatives of that Kingdom! (Eph 2:19; Philippians 3:20; 2Cor 5:20)