“The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” —Matthew 13:31–32

When Jesus began his ministry, he announced that the kingdom of God was at hand. But many modern-day Christians don’t really understand what the kingdom of God is or how it relates to the message of the gospel.

Defining kingdom as the King’s power over the King’s people in the King’s place, Patrick Schreiner investigates the key events, prophecies, and passages of Scripture that highlight the important theme of kingdom across the storyline of the Bible—helping readers see how the mission of Jesus and the coming of the kingdom fit together.

The Short Studies in Biblical Theology series is designed to help readers see the whole Bible as a unified story—culminating in Jesus. Written by a host of trusted biblical scholars, pastors, professors, and leaders, the volumes in this unique series each trace an important topic throughout God’s word, from Genesis to Revelation, demonstrating the unifying flow of rendemptive history and exploring its relevance to the Christian life.

Insightful, accessible, and practical, these books are perfect for laypeople looking for bite-sized introductions to major subjects and key themes in biblical theology. Furthermore, pastors and professors will find this series to be an invaluable resource for brushing up on their grasp of the field as a whole. Series editors are Dane C. Ortlund, PhD, and Miles Van Pelt, PhD.

Endorsements

"The kingdom of God is central to the biblical storyline and should become central in our theology. A clear, faithful, and solid portrayal of the kingdom, this volume helps us both understand the biblical teaching on the kingdom and view the Bible through the vantage point of the kingdom of God." - Christopher W. Morgan, Dean and Professor of Theology, California Baptist University; editor, Theology in Community series; coeditor, ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible

"Patrick Schreiner’s biblical theology of the kingdom of God is exactly what the church needs to help her pursue God’s justice on earth: a lucid, precise, and concise book about the kingdom of God that’s grounded in accessible biblical exegesis and provides keen theological insights, while keeping the cross of Jesus at the center of the analysis. Highly recommended!" - Jarvis J. Williams, Associate Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Patrick Schreiner has given a wonderful gift to the church through this book on the kingdom of God. It’s a creatively written and accessible entryway into this essential biblical theme. Schreiner honors the unified narrative shape of the Old and New Testaments, and he shows how every part of the Bible (including the Wisdom Literature!) contributes to the developing portrait of God’s kingdom over creation and new creation. If you’ve ever struggled to understand this complex biblical theme or tried to communicate it to others, you’ve now found the place to start." - Tim Mackie, Cofounder, The Bible Project; Adjunct Professor of Biblical Literature, Western Seminary

"To say that the story of the Bible is the story of the King and his kingdom is one thing; to see it clearly and concisely demonstrated from every part of the Bible is another. I look forward to recommending this book to those who love and appreciate biblical theology as well as those who love Christ and the Bible but haven’t yet understood how to see King Jesus throughout its entire story." - Nancy Guthrie, Bible teacher; author, Even Better than Eden: Nine Ways the Bible’s Story Changes Everything about Your Story

Patrick Schreiner beautifully traces the theme of God’s kingdom through the entire Bible. The threads of his kingdom can be seen from Adam to Abraham, through Psalms and Isaiah, to Jesus and his church, and finally to the new heaven and the new earth, where Christ will reign with his people in his place. Schreiner skillfully shows us the inseparability of God’s kingdom, the cross of Jesus, and the gospel message. I highly recommend this interesting and encouraging book!" - Randy Alcorn, author, Heaven; If God Is Good; and Hand in Hand

Patrick Schreiner (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is assistant professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of The Body of Jesus and The Kingdom of God and the Glory of the Cross.