Jesus means that the kingdom of God, the reign of God, God’s new world order, has “come near.” Does Jesus mean it is just about to arrive, so we should get ready? Or does he mean it is here—so we should grab hold and enter in? As you can imagine there is considerable scholarly debate on this issue and people want to settle on one or the other side of the issue. I believe, following many scholars from the full range of theological traditions, that taken in light of the whole New Testament, the term “at hand” is used in both senses—both “just about to arrive,” and “right here, now.” Jesus is
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