Didn't Paul also teach concerning the kingdom of God?
Yes, Paul taught the kingdom of God, but man makes the same mistake most people make—his definition of the kingdom of God is flawed! Just because Paul taught the kingdom of God, does not mean he taught the gospel of the earthly kingdom.
What he fails to realize is that God's kingdom has two realms...a heavenly realm and an earthly realm!
John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus (during his earthly ministry), and the 12 Apostles ALL taught the kingdom of God for the earthly kingdom, which is Israel's hope.
1 Peter 2:9
But ye [Israel] are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
Revelation 5:10
And hast made us [Israel] unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
This earthly kingdom has been their hope from the beginning!
Exodus 19:5-6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye [Israel] shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye [Israel] shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Daniel also said it would be on the earth!
Daniel 2:35
Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain [government of the Kingdom], and filled the whole earth.
That's the prayer of the Jewish believer...
Matthew 6:10
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
So man errs in not rightly dividing the kingdom of God the way the bible does!
From the first verse of the bible...God tells us how he divides his kingdom.
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth
Man did not read the verse that came before Acts 20:25, when showing how Paul preached the kingdom of God!
Matthew 12:32
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
And while it is true that our Apostle preached the kingdom of God, it was not Israel's earthly kingdom—that was on hold once Paul was saved...and Paul could never get into that earthly kingdom anyway because he committed the unpardonable sin…
Acts 20:25
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
But man erred in not noticing Paul's words in the previous verse...
Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Paul taught the grace of God, and not the law of God like the Jews taught!
Matthew 5:19
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Paul taught the heavenly/grace part of God's kingdom for us gentiles!
Acts 20:32
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
We are not under the law like Israel; we are under grace.
Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
We are not to focus on the earthly kingdom, but the heavenly.
Colossians 3:2
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Philippians 3:18-20
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
We will rule and reign with Christ in the heaven places, not on earth like Israel...
Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
So when Paul preached the kingdom of God, he preached the heavenly part—that is where we end up! Not the earth—that belongs to Israel!
2 Timothy 2:18
And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if our earthly house [our physical body] of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house [our spiritual glorified body] not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
So if man studies God's word rightly divided he will not be confusing our Apostle Paul's uncircumcision ministry with the ministry of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the circumcision ministry of the 12 apostles.
Galatians 2:7
But contrariwise, when they [James, Cephas, and John] saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me [Paul], as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter [and the 11 others]; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles[aka heathen and uncircumcision]:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen [aka Gentiles uncircumcision], and they unto the circumcision [believing Israel].
Hopefully this helps...Maranatha!
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