The Kingdom of God: Among You and Within You

by | Oct 16, 2023 | theology

Essay Topic:
Considering that luke 21:17 in the Greek language, and especially that Luke 17:21 – 22, kingdom of god is among you. This is held true even though kingdom of god is within you.
Word limit: 500 words
What is an Argumentative Essay?
Argumentative essays are often called persuasive essays because their purpose is to persuade the reader to agree with the writer. The writer has investigated the topic thoroughly, evaluated the evidence, and reached a conclusion. The essay presents the evidence to persuade you, that the author’s conclusions are the best explanation of the available data.
An argumentative essay, therefore, makes a claim with which others might disagree – and the writer attempts to persuade those who might disagree, of the validity of his/her claim.
Your essay should have the following outline:
Paragraph 1: Introduction. (This contains the context and the topic statement.). (100 words)
Paragraph 2: Supporting argument 1, with evidence and explanation. Start this paragraph with the term “Firstly…” (100 words)
Paragraph 3: Supporting argument 2, with evidence and explanation. Start this paragraph with the term “Secondly…” (100 words)
Paragraph 4: Supporting argument 3, with evidence and explanation OR name and refute a counterclaim. Start this paragraph with the term “Thirdly…” (100 words)
Paragraph 5: Conclusion. This restates the topic statement and main arguments. (100 words)
The Introduction
The introduction includes a topic statement, which is a one-sentence statement of the central claim for which the author argues.  It is a one-sentence summary of the topic of the essay.  The entire essay will attempt to persuade the reader that the claim is valid.
The Body
The body of the essay consists mostly of supporting arguments. Each argument presents and explains evidence to support the thesis statement. The nature of the evidence depends on the type of essay. If the essay is based on an analysis of a text, such as a Bible passage, then textual evidence is offered. The author shows how the text supports the claim. Citations from scholarly sources are another kind of evidence. At some point, the essay might present and refute counterarguments. Through arguments and refutations, the author stakes a claim for the validity of their position.
Each body paragraph should begin with one statement that supports the topic statement, which you should then elaborate on by explaining it and citing biblical texts and other academic sources as evidence.  Here, you are welcome to cite Smith, the author of the Reader – which will be where most of your supporting arguments come from.
If your argument warrants it, Paragraph 4 could name at least one counterclaim – an argument of those who do not agree with your position, and bring evidence from the Bible or reading material to refute it.  In other words, here, you may show how your claim is a valid alternative to an opposing position.
The Conclusion
The conclusion should restate the main thesis statement (the statement the writer attempted to persuade the reader of), as well as a short summary of the arguments, to show how these together, prove the writer’s position is valid.

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

The Kingdom of God: Among You and Within You
Introduction
The concept of the Kingdom of God is a central theme in Christian theology, and its interpretation has been subject to various debates and interpretations. In Luke 21:17, the Greek language suggests that the Kingdom of God is among you, while in Luke 17:21-22, it is stated that the Kingdom of God is within you. This essay argues that both statements are valid and complementary, highlighting the dual nature of the Kingdom of God.

Supporting Argument 1: The Kingdom of God among You
Firstly, the statement that the Kingdom of God is among you emphasizes the presence of God’s rule and reign in the world. It suggests that through Jesus Christ, God’s kingdom has been inaugurated and is actively working in the lives of believers and within society.

In Luke 17:21-22, Jesus addresses the Pharisees and explains that the coming of the Kingdom of God is not something that can be observed with external signs. Instead, he states that the Kingdom of God is among you, meaning that it is present in their midst through his ministry. This interpretation aligns with Jesus’ teachings throughout the Gospels, where he demonstrates compassion, performs miracles, and proclaims repentance, all as signs of the Kingdom’s presence.

Moreover, this interpretation is supported by other biblical passages. In Matthew 12:28, Jesus declares that if he drives out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. This statement further emphasizes the active presence of God’s rule through Jesus’ actions.

Supporting Argument 2: The Kingdom of God within You
Secondly, the statement that the Kingdom of God is within you highlights the internal aspect of God’s reign. It suggests that the Kingdom is not merely an external political entity but rather a spiritual reality that resides within believers.

In Luke 17:21, Jesus explains to his disciples that they should not look for visible signs of the Kingdom’s coming because it is within them. This indicates that through faith in Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers experience the presence and power of God’s kingdom in their hearts and lives.

This understanding aligns with other biblical teachings. In Romans 14:17, the Apostle Paul states that the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. This description emphasizes the internal transformation that occurs within believers as they submit to God’s rule in their lives.

Supporting Argument 3: Complementary Nature
Thirdly, it is important to recognize that both statements are not contradictory but rather complementary. The Kingdom of God is both among you and within you simultaneously.

The presence of God’s rule in the world through Jesus Christ demonstrates that his kingdom is active and affecting change in society. At the same time, believers experience the internal reality of God’s reign through their personal relationship with Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the statements that the Kingdom of God is among you and within you are both valid and complementary. They highlight different aspects of God’s rule and reign. The Kingdom is present in the world through Jesus’ ministry and in the lives of believers through their faith and relationship with Him. Understanding this dual nature deepens our understanding of the Kingdom of God and its impact on individuals and society.

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