Beliefs & Teachings about the Kingdom of God (AQA GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Note

The significance of the Kingdom of God in the Lord’s Prayer

The Kingdom of God

• The Kingdom of God is not a geographical place but the idea of God’s rule in believers’ lives. Therefore, it is also known as the Reign of God

• The idea of the Kingdom of God is central to Jesus’s teaching, with almost every parable describing what it is like

  • The importance of the Kingdom of God is summed up in Jesus’s very first teaching in Mark’s gospel

• The Kingdom of God:

  • Began when Jesus was born

  • Was established through Jesus’s resurrection

  • Came to believers through the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

  • Is continued by Christians who spread the Kingdom of God on earth

  • Is represented by the Church, the Kingdom of God present on earth

  • Will be completed at the end of time when God comes back in power and people can share the eternal happiness of heaven

The Lord’s Prayer

• Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer, or the Our Father, to show them how to talk to God

• The prayer contains several beliefs about the Kingdom of God

• “Our Father” shows that Jesus wants people to be able to call God “Father” and, therefore, have a close relationship with him

• “Hallowed be thy name” is a prayer for God’s name to be accepted as holy

  • Believers must accept God as the most important thing in their lives so they can become members of the Kingdom of God

• “Thy kingdom come” is a prayer for people to accept God’s will in their hearts

  • This allows God’s kingdom to be present on earth through each person who believes

• “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is a call for everyone to do God’s will on earth

  • This enables the Kingdom of God to be fully established

• “Give us this day our daily bread” is a call for everyone in the world to have enough to survive

  • This means that everyone is equal, which is an important element of the Kingdom of God. It also means that people can focus more on God

• “Forgive us our trespasses” means that sins are forgiven, allowing people to be closer to God

  • Their sins will no longer separate them from God

• “As we forgive those who trespass against us”: To spread the Kingdom of God, believers must be prepared to forgive others

  • Forgiveness removes barriers to relationships and makes the Kingdom of God more fully present

• “Deliver us from evil” shows that humans need help to resist temptation and avoid sin

  • With God’s grace, this can be achieved, and therefore, the peace and justice of God’s Kingdom can spread 

Catholic teaching on justice, peace and reconciliation

• The signs of the Kingdom of God are justice, peace and reconciliation

• Christians must contribute to justice, peace and reconciliation to help the Kingdom of God grow on earth

Justice

• Christians should remember that all people are God’s creation and are equal in God’s eyes

• Justice involves living in a way that respects others’ rights and dignity

• It also involves challenging unjust and unfair situations and systems

• This is known as social justice and involves ensuring that everyone has access to basic human rights

  • The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that “goods created by God for everyone should in fact reach everyone” (CCC, 2459)

Peace

• Peace means unity and a lack of conflict

• True peace requires justice; there cannot be true peace where there is injustice

• Working for peace is a duty of all Christians so that the peace of God’s kingdom is present in everyone’s lives

• Jesus taught that “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9)

• Catholics must support all agencies working for peace and justice in the world

Reconciliation

• Reconciliation involves bringing together people who have separated because of conflict

• It involves a state of peace being established between people or groups

• It breaks down the barriers of division, allowing God’s justice and peace to spread and making the Kingdom of God present on earth

Hierarchy of the Church and the Second Vatican Council

Hierarchy of the Catholic Church

• The Catholic Church has a hierarchy, indicating different levels of authority and responsibility

The hierarchy of the Catholic Church

• The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and the successor to Saint Peter, the leader of the apostles

  • This is because of what Jesus said to Peter:

• The Pope is at the top of the Catholic Church’s hierarchy

• The rest of the hierarchy consists of:

  • Cardinals, who have the task of electing a new Pope when the previous Pope dies or retires

  • Bishops, who are the successors to the apostles. They are the heads of the local churches and oversee areas of the Church called dioceses

    • Senior bishops, known as archbishops, have more responsibilities

  • Priests, who are ordained to administer the sacraments and preach the word of God

    • Most priests oversee small areas of the Church called parishes

  • Deacons, who assist the priests and preach the word of God

  • Lay people, who are non-ordained members of the Catholic Church

• The Pope has the ultimate authority in the Church

  • However, he consults others within the hierarchy to make decisions in the interest of the whole Church

• A formal gathering of the Pope and bishops to discuss Church issues is known as a Council, and its decisions carry great authority

The Second Vatican Council

• The most recent Catholic Church Council was the Second Vatican Council, 1962–65

• Pope John XXIII started the Council, and Pope Paul VI completed it

• This Council focused on how to make the Catholic Church more relevant and open to the modern world

• It produced four key documents

  • Dei Verbum (The Word of God)

  • Lumen Gentium (Light of the Nations)

  • Sacrosanctum Concilium (On the Sacred Liturgy)

  • Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope)

Dei Verbum (The Word of God)

• Dealt with the understanding of the Bible

• Agreed that the Bible is authoritative as the Word of God but that it should not be read literally

• Stressed the importance of Magisterial Teaching and guidance

• Stressed the need for an understanding of Church tradition

Lumen Gentium (Light of the Nations)

• Looked at the Church’s structure

• Agreed that the Church should be seen as “the Body of Christ”

• Stressed that as parts of one body, all roles are important

• Emphasised the laity’s importance and their active involvement in parish work and leadership

Sacrosanctum Concilium (On the Sacred Liturgy)

• Looked at the liturgy and church services

• Agreed that the Mass no longer had to be in Latin but could now be said in the language of those attending

• Accepted the inclusion of contemporary music

• Encouraged the laity’s greater participation in the Mass

Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope)

• Looked at the Church in the modern world

• Emphasised that the Church should be involved with the world, not separate from it

• Stressed the Church’s importance in guiding people on how to live in the modern world, addressing matters such as family life, political and economic affairs and peace between nations

• Encouraged peace and tolerance across all world faiths and promoted greater inter-faith dialogue and work

• Agreed that God speaks to all people through their conscience