Kingdom of heaven Quote by Anton Chekhov
““the Church is a kingdom not of this world.’ If it is not of this world, then it cannot exist on earth at all. In the Gospel, the words ‘not of this world’ are not used in that sense. To play with such words is indefensible. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to set up the Church upon earth. The Kingdom of Heaven, of course, is not of this world, but in Heaven; but it is only entered through the Church which has been founded and established upon earth. And so a frivolous play upon words in such a connection is unpardonable and improper. The Church is, in truth, a kingdom and ordained to rule, and in the end must undoubtedly become the kingdom ruling over all the earth. For that we have the divine promise.” He””
About This Quote
The passage argues that the Church, though described as not of this world, must be an earthly institution that ultimately governs the world, contrasting spiritual and earthly realms.
In simple terms: Church as earthly kingdom destined to rule
Key Takeaway
Church’s earthly authority is divinely promised
Themes
theology
ecclesiology
political power
spiritual vs material
authority
Mood
assertive
doctrinal
prophetic
Type
theological assertion
interpretive critique
When to use this quote
- theological debate
- church governance
- political discourse
- spiritual teaching
Key Concepts
kingdom of heaven
church authority
divine promise
worldly rule
Practical Applications
- doctrinal clarification
- institutional policy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this view affect the Church’s role in politics?
- What implications does this have for the separation of church and state?
A Different Perspective
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