Theme · christological
Kingship of Christ
God promises David a son whose throne will endure forever. The royal psalms celebrate this king's universal reign — all nations will serve him, his dominion will extend to the ends of the earth. The prophets promise a righteous Branch from David's line who will reign with justice and peace. Jesus enters Jerusalem as king, though on a donkey rather than a warhorse. Pilate's inscription — 'King of the Jews' — is truer than its author knows. Revelation declares him 'King of kings and Lord of lords,' whose reign over all creation has no end.
Related doctrines
Passages expressing this theme
- 1Chr 12:18 — Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy
- 1Cor 5:4 — In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
- 1Cor 11:3 — But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
- 1Cor 15:25 — For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
- 1Sam 8:7 — And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
- 1Sam 16:1 — And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: fo
- 1Sam 17:45 — Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou
- 1Tim 1:17 — Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- 1Tim 2:5 — For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
- 1Tim 6:15 — Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
- 2Pet 1:16 — For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
- 2Pet 1:17 — For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
- 2Sam 5:2 — Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Isr
- 2Sam 7:12 — And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
- 2Sam 7:14 — I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
- 2Sam 7:16 — And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
- 2Sam 11:2 — And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautif
- 2Sam 23:3 — The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
- Acts 2:30 — Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
- Acts 2:36 — Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
- Acts 3:13 — The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him
- Acts 3:15 — And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
- Acts 4:27 — For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
- Acts 13:22 — And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfi
- Col 1:18 — And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
The Church Fathers on Kingship of Christ
However, since the rank of kingship underlies all worth and power and rule, by this title the royal power of Christ is authoritatively and primarily indicated (for the anointing of kingship, as we learn in the historical books, comes first), and all the force of the other titles depends on that of royalty. For this…
Christ is the basis and the foundation on which Paul builds as an architect. Christ is the good Shepherd "who gives his life for the sheep." Christ is the head of every dominion and power. He is himself the head of the church, wherefore it is said, "the head of man is Christ," because he is the head of the church.…
Therefore Christ will hand the kingdom over to God and the Father when through him the Father will be known by sight, for his kingdom consists of those in whom he now reigns through faith. In fact, in one sense Christ's kingdom means his divine power according to which every created thing is subject to him; and in…
All who have been born again in Christ are made kings by the sign of the cross and consecrated priests by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Rightly is Christ, the Head of the church, said to be born in each [of his] members, who is known to rule [in them]. For he himself is both the Author and the Finisher of faith in whom we shall accomplish virtue. He reigns among the good with a rod of iron, that is, with an inflexible righteousness, but he breaks…
Christ is the crown of the rational nature.