Wyatt Graham

Wyatt Graham

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
Brief Thoughts on the Two-Kingdoms
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Brief Thoughts on the Two-Kingdoms

Wyatt Graham's avatar
Wyatt Graham
May 30, 2021

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
Brief Thoughts on the Two-Kingdoms
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

The reformers recognized that God reigned over the universe, but that we could distinguish how God reigned through his administrations of church and government.

We render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. Since grace does not destroy nature, we belong to heaven even while having obligations to administrations on earth. So we pay taxes to whom taxes are due (Rom 13:6). And we honour God with our conscience, worship, and so on.

This kind of thing represents what the reformers meant by two-kingdom theology. It was not two discrete kingdoms but two distinguishable administrations of God's one reign.

For whatever reason critiques of two-kingdom thinking pop-up in ways that do not seem to grasp the basic idea of the theological position. First, some say two-kingdoms divide up the world. But that is not true at all. God reigns over all creation but works through families, nations, the church, and so on. 

Second, some (understandably) think the name implies discrete rules (of God and of man) and no place for the Bible in society. No, two-kingdoms means two administrations of God’s one rule. In fact, the name is something of a misnomer since Martin Luther, for example, spoke more often of two-governments than two-kingdoms in this regard. 

Third, some imply that two-kingdom theology was a temporary reformed position that later thinkers grew out of. Not really. Two-kingdom thinking appears deep in the political thought of Augustine and in Scripture. It’s one traditional and wide-spread understanding of the two cities—of God and man. Further, one only has to read Franciscus Junius’s The Mosaic Polity to see how the Bible has ongoing authority within the political realm. 

At the end of the day, two-kingdom theology in the reformed and patristic idiom vouchsafes God’s reign over creation, whether of pagan or Christian kingdoms. It does not preclude the Bible from having a say in government. It simply realizes that God institutes all authorities (Rom 13:1). 

Certainly, the view implies that common grace, or civic virtue, or whatever language you want to use exists to the point that non-believers can build roads, tax income, and much more besides with success. Does anyone doubt that? I am not saying perfect administration, mind you, but at least a relatively effective one. 

Anyway, here are some scrawlings on Sunday morning on two-kingdom theology to clarify what it is since it partly amounts to accepting the basic biblical premise that God reigns over all, even pagan nations. 

[wp_paypal_payment]


Subscribe to Wyatt Graham

Launched 10 months ago
I write about past wisdom for life today. My niche is reading actual ancient primary sources and showing how they change your life.

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
Brief Thoughts on the Two-Kingdoms
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

Discussion about this post

User's avatar
How John Mark Comer’s View of God Shapes His Spiritual Formation
A Long But Hopefully Charitable Reading of John Mark Comer's Theology of God
Nov 20, 2024 • 
Wyatt Graham
97

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
How John Mark Comer’s View of God Shapes His Spiritual Formation
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
25
10 theology books that changed my life
We should read old books that have stood the test of time. Here are ten of those, not in any particular order. I could add many more.
Apr 11 • 
Wyatt Graham
93

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
10 theology books that changed my life
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
17
Paul Went to the Third Heaven. What in the World Is He Talking About?
Somewhat apologetically, Paul describes himself as a man “in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven” (2 Cor 12:2).
Jul 16, 2019 • 
Wyatt Graham
8

Share this post

Wyatt Graham
Wyatt Graham
Paul Went to the Third Heaven. What in the World Is He Talking About?
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
1

Ready for more?

© 2025 Wyatt Graham
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Create your profile

User's avatar

Only paid subscribers can comment on this post

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

Check your email

For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.

Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.