Digital Logos Edition
The kingdom of God and the atonement are two of the most important themes in all of Scripture. Jeremy R. Treat argues that, tragically, theologians have often either set the two at odds or focused on one to the complete neglect of the other. The Crucified King reveals Scripture’s mutually enriching relationship between the kingdom and atonement, drawing from the story of Israel and culminates in the crucifixion of Christ the king. As Israel’s messiah, Christ holds together the kingdom and the cross by bringing God’s reign on earth through his atoning death. The kingdom is the ultimate goal of the cross, and the cross is the means by which the kingdom comes. Jesus’ death is not the failure of his messianic ministry, nor simply the prelude to his royal glory—it is the apex of his kingdom mission. The cross is the throne from which he rules and establishes his kingdom. Using a holistic approach that brings together the insights of biblical and systematic theology, this book demonstrates not only that the kingdom and the cross are inseparable, but how they are integrated in Scripture and theology.
“What is the biblical and theological relationship between the coming of the kingdom of God and the atoning death of Christ on the cross?” (Page 25)
“In the new exodus, God will redeem his people from slavery to sin in order that they might live eternally in the new creation under his reign through the Davidic Messiah.” (Pages 76–77)
“In other words, by Genesis 22 the text has drawn together the seed, royalty, and victory; and all this is interwoven with an account of substitutionary atonement.” (Page 62)
“To be handed over to the Gentiles is to be handed over to the wrath of God (Lev 26:32–33, 38; Hos 8:10 LXX; cf. Ps 106:41; Ezra 9:7).57 Even more explicit is Jesus’ reference to his death as drinking ‘a cup,’ a common Old Testament symbol of God’s wrath (Ps 11:6; 75:8; Hab 2:16; Ezek 23:31–34), especially for the Isaianic new exodus (Isa 51:17).” (Page 101)
“As N. T. Wright says, ‘It is the Temple that joins heaven and earth together and so makes possible the sovereign rule of God on earth as in heaven.’46 The very footstool of king YHWH’s throne is the ark in the Most Holy Place (1 Chr 28:2; Ps 99:5; 132:7), the place for the climactic sacrificial offering on the Day of Atonement.” (Page 65)