Kingdom Language in the Second Century

1. "The apostles went forth in the assurance of the Holy Spirit preaching the good news that the kingdom of God is going to come"
   (1 Clem 42:3).
2. "Those who have been perfected in love according to the grace of God have a place among the pious who shall be manifested at the visitation of the kingdom of Christ"
   (1 Clem. 50:3).
3. "The promise of Christ is great and marvellous and is the rest of the coming kingdom and of eternal life"
   (2 Clem 5:5).
4. "If we do not keep our baptism pure and undefiled, with what confidence shall we enter into the royal house [kingdom] of God?"
   (2 Clem 6:9).
5. "Let us love one another in order that we all may enter into the kingdom of God"
   (2 Clem 9:6).
6. "If we do righteousness before God, we shall enter into his kingdom and receive the promises 'which ear has not heard nor eye seen nor entered into the heart of man'"
   (2 Clem 11:7).
7. "[Papias] says that there will be a millennium after the resurrection of the dead, when the kingdom of Christ will be set up in material form on this earth"
   (Eusebius Church History 3.39.12).
8. "Cerinthus ... says that after the resurrection the royal house of Christ will be on earth"
   (Gaius of Rome from Eusebius Church History 3.28.2).
9. "Trypho said, 'These and such like scriptures, sir, compel us to wait for him who, as Son of man, receives from the Ancient of days the eternal kingdom'"
   Justin Dialogue 32.
10. "Trypho replied ... 'That the Christ is to come again in glory and to receive the eternal kingdom of all the nations when every kingdom is subjected to him is sufficiently shown by the scriptures recounted by you'"
    (Dialogue 39).
11. "He shall raise all men from the dead and appoint some to be incorruptible, immortal, and free from sorrow in the everlasting and imperishable kingdom ..."
    (Dialogue 117).
12. "[The grandsons of Judas, the brother of Jesus according to the flesh] were asked [by the authorities] concerning the Christ and his kingdom, its nature, origin, and time of appearance, and they explained that it was neither of the world nor earthly, but heavenly and angelic, and it would be at the end of the world, when he would come in glory to judge the living and the dead"
    (Hegesippus from Eusebius, Church History 3.20.4).
13. "Tell my people that I will give to them the kingdom of Jerusalem which I would have given to Israel. ... The kingdom is already prepared for you: watch!"
    (4 Ezra 2:10-13).
14. Gen 49:10f., "For 'whom lies in store' a kingship in heaven. ... He is the expectation of the nations ... because we expect him to re-establish the kingdom"
    (Proof of the Apostolic Preaching 57).
15. Christ has received from his Father an eternal kingdom in Israel (Against Heresies 3.12.13).
16. "Those who frame the idea of another God besides him who made the promises to Abraham are outside the kingdom of God ... setting at naught and blaspheming God, who introduces through Jesus Christ Abraham to the kingdom of heaven"
    (Against Heresies 4.8.1).
17. "Abraham believed in things future as if they were already accomplished, because of the promise of God; and in like manner do we also, because of the promise of God, behold through faith that inheritance in the kingdom"
    (Against Heresies 4.21.1).
18. "He shall at his second coming first rouse from their sleep all [righteous persons] and shall raise them up, as well as the rest who shall be judged, and give them a place in his kingdom"
    (Against Heresies 4.22.2).
19. Solomon "prefigured the kingdom of Christ." "We ought to fear lest ... we obtain no further forgiveness of sins but be shut out from his kingdom"
    (Against Heresies 4.27.1,2, citing a "certain presbyter.").
20. "Bringing in for the righteous the times of the kingdom, that is the rest, the hallowed seventh day, and restoring to Abraham the promised inheritance [the kingdom]"
    (Against Heresies 5.30.4).
21. "The predicted blessing, therefore, belongs unquestionably to the times of the kingdom, when the righteous shall bear rule upon their rising from the dead"
    (Against Heresies 5.33.3).
22. "The righteous shall reign on earth ... and shall become accustomed to partake of the glory of God the Father, and shall enjoy in the kingdom association and communion with holy angels"
    (Against Heresies 5.35.1; called "the times of the kingdom" in 5.35.3).
23. "For in the times of the kingdom the righteous man who is upon the earth shall then forget to die"
    (Against Heresies 5.36.2).
24. "John foresaw the first resurrection of the just and the inheritance in the kingdom of the earth. ... For the Lord also taught these things, when he promised that he would have the mixed cup new with his disciples in the kingdom. ... The same God the Father ... fulfills at the resurrection of the just the promises for the kingdom of his Son"
    (Against Heresies 5.36.3).
25. "For two advents of him are foretold: one in humiliation, which he has accomplished; the other in glory, which is hoped to be accomplished, when he shall come to give the kingdom to those who believe in him and who observe all things which he has commanded. ..."
    (Ps. Clement, Recognitions 1.69).