Changes

*1. 170:5.5 The [[Jewish]] [[believers]] [[persisted]] in regarding him as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Jewish_messianism the Messiah]. They [[believed]] that [[Jesus]] would very soon return actually to [[establish]] the world-wide and more or less [[material]] kingdom.

*1. 170:5.5 The [[Jewish]] [[believers]] [[persisted]] in regarding him as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Jewish_messianism the Messiah]. They [[believed]] that [[Jesus]] would very soon return actually to [[establish]] the world-wide and more or less [[material]] kingdom.

*2. 170:5.6 The [[gentile]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Role_of_Jesus Christians] began very early to [[accept]] the [[doctrines]] of [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul], which led increasingly to the general [[belief]] that [[Jesus]] was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Pauline_Christianity Redeemer of the children of the church], the new and [[institutional]] successor of the earlier [[concept]] of the purely [[spiritual]] [[brotherhood]] of the kingdom.

*2. 170:5.6 The [[gentile]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Role_of_Jesus Christians] began very early to [[accept]] the [[doctrines]] of [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]], which led increasingly to the general [[belief]] that [[Jesus]] was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Christianity#Pauline_Christianity Redeemer of the children of the church], the new and [[institutional]] successor of the earlier [[concept]] of the purely [[spiritual]] [[brotherhood]] of the kingdom.

170:5.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church], as a [[social]] outgrowth of the kingdom, would have been wholly [[natural]] and even desirable. The [[evil]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church] was not its [[existence]], but rather that it almost completely supplanted the [[Jesus]] [[concept]] of the kingdom. [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Christianity institutionalized church] became a [[virtual]] substitute for the kingdom of heaven which [[Jesus]] had [[proclaimed]].

170:5.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church], as a [[social]] outgrowth of the kingdom, would have been wholly [[natural]] and even desirable. The [[evil]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church church] was not its [[existence]], but rather that it almost completely supplanted the [[Jesus]] [[concept]] of the kingdom. [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Christianity institutionalized church] became a [[virtual]] substitute for the kingdom of heaven which [[Jesus]] had [[proclaimed]].

170:5.14 When [[Jesus]]' [[immediate]] followers recognized their partial [[failure]] to [[realize]] his [[ideal]] of the [[establishment]] of the kingdom in the [[hearts]] of men by the [[spirit]]'s [[domination]] and [[guidance]] of the [[individual]] [[believer]], they set about to save his teaching from being wholly lost by substituting for [[the Master]]'s [[ideal]] of the kingdom the [[gradual]] [[creation]] of a visible [[social]] [[organization]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church Christian church]. And when they had accomplished this program of substitution, in order to maintain [[consistency]] and to provide for the [[recognition]] of [[the Master]]'s teaching regarding the [[fact]] of the kingdom, they [[proceeded]] to set the kingdom off into the [[future]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociological_classifications_of_religious_movements#Church_and_ecclesia church], just as soon as it was well [[established]], began to teach that the kingdom was in [[reality]] to appear at the culmination of the Christian age, at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_coming second coming of Christ].

170:5.14 When [[Jesus]]' [[immediate]] followers recognized their partial [[failure]] to [[realize]] his [[ideal]] of the [[establishment]] of the kingdom in the [[hearts]] of men by the [[spirit]]'s [[domination]] and [[guidance]] of the [[individual]] [[believer]], they set about to save his teaching from being wholly lost by substituting for [[the Master]]'s [[ideal]] of the kingdom the [[gradual]] [[creation]] of a visible [[social]] [[organization]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church Christian church]. And when they had accomplished this program of substitution, in order to maintain [[consistency]] and to provide for the [[recognition]] of [[the Master]]'s teaching regarding the [[fact]] of the kingdom, they [[proceeded]] to set the kingdom off into the [[future]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociological_classifications_of_religious_movements#Church_and_ecclesia church], just as soon as it was well [[established]], began to teach that the kingdom was in [[reality]] to appear at the culmination of the Christian age, at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_coming second coming of Christ].

170:5.15 In this manner the kingdom became the concept of an age, the idea of a future visitation, and the ideal of the final redemption of the saints of the Most High. The early Christians (and all too many of the later ones) generally lost sight of the Father-and-son idea embodied in Jesus' teaching of the kingdom, while they substituted therefor the well-organized social fellowship of the church. The church thus became in the main a social brotherhood which effectively displaced Jesus' concept and ideal of a spiritual brotherhood.

170:5.15 In this [[manner]] the kingdom became the [[concept]] of an [[Epoch|age]], the [[idea]] of a [[future]] [[visitation]], and the [[ideal]] of the final [[redemption]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints saints] of the [[Most High]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christianity early Christians] (and all too many of the later ones) generally lost sight of [[the Father]]-and-[[Sonship|son]] [[idea]] embodied in [[Jesus]]' teaching of the kingdom, while they substituted therefor the well-[[organized]] [[social]] [[fellowship]] of the [[church]]. The church thus became in the main a [[social]] brotherhood which effectively displaced [[Jesus]]' [[concept]] and [[ideal]] of a [[spiritual]] [[brotherhood]].

170:5.16 Jesus' ideal concept largely failed, but upon the foundation of the Master's personal life and teachings, supplemented by the Greek and Persian concepts of eternal life and augmented by Philo's doctrine of the temporal contrasted with the spiritual, Paul went forth to build up one of the most progressive human societies which has ever existed on Urantia.

170:5.16 [[Jesus]]' [[ideal]] [[concept]] largely [[failed]], but upon the [[foundation]] of [[the Master]]'s [[personal]] life and teachings, supplemented by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_ancient_Greece Greek] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_religion Persian] [[concepts]] of [[eternal]] life and augmented by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo Philo]'s [[doctrine]] of the [[temporal]] [[contrast]]ed with the [[spiritual]], [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] went forth to build up one of the most [[progressive]] [[human]] [[societies]] which has ever existed on [[Urantia]].

170:5.17 The concept of Jesus is still alive in the advanced religions of the world. Paul's Christian church is the socialized and humanized shadow of what Jesus intended the kingdom of heaven to be—and what it most certainly will yet become. Paul and his successors partly transferred the issues of eternal life from the individual to the church. Christ thus became the head of the church rather than the elder brother of each individual believer in the Father's family of the kingdom. Paul and his contemporaries applied all of Jesus' spiritual implications regarding himself and the individual believer to the church as a group of believers; and in doing this, they struck a deathblow to Jesus' concept of the divine kingdom in the heart of the individual believer.

170:5.17 The [[concept]] of [[Jesus]] is still alive in the advanced [[religions]] of the world. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Christianity Paul's Christian church] is the [[socialized]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism humanized] [[shadow]] of what [[Jesus]] [[intended]] the ''kingdom of heaven'' to be—and what it most certainly will yet become. [[Paul, the Apostle|Paull] and his successors partly [[transferred]] the issues of [[eternal]] life from the [[individual]] to the [[church]]. [[Christ]] thus became the head of the [[church]] rather than the [[elder]] [[brother]] of each [[individual]] [[believer]] in [[the Father]]'s [[family]] of the kingdom. [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] and his contemporaries applied all of [[Jesus]]' [[spiritual]] implications regarding himself and the [[individual]] [[believer]] to the [[church]] as a [[group]] of [[believers]]; and in doing this, they struck a deathblow to [[Jesus]]' [[concept]] of the [[divine]] kingdom in the [[heart]] of the [[individual]] believer.

170:5.18 And so, for centuries, the Christian church has labored under great embarrassment because it dared to lay claim to those mysterious powers and privileges of the kingdom, powers and privileges which can be exercised and experienced only between Jesus and his spiritual believer brothers. And thus it becomes apparent that membership in the church does not necessarily mean fellowship in the kingdom; one is spiritual, the other mainly social.

170:5.18 And so, for centuries, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian church] has labored under great [[embarrassment]] because it [[dared]] to lay claim to those [[mysterious]] [[powers]] and [[privileges]] of the kingdom, powers and privileges which can be [[exercised]] and [[experienced]] only between [[Jesus]] and his [[spiritual]] believer [[brothers]]. And thus it becomes [[apparent]] that membership in the [[church]] does not necessarily mean fellowship in the kingdom; one is [[spiritual]], the other mainly [[social]].

170:5.19 Sooner or later another and greater John the Baptist is due to arise proclaiming " the kingdom of God is at hand "—meaning a return to the high spiritual concept of Jesus, who proclaimed that the kingdom is the will of his heavenly Father dominant and transcendent in the heart of the believer—and doing all this without in any way referring either to the visible church on earth or to the anticipated second coming of Christ. There must come a revival of the actual teachings of Jesus, such a restatement as will undo the work of his early followers who went about to create a sociophilosophical system of belief regarding the fact of Michael's sojourn on earth. In a short time the teaching of this story about Jesus nearly supplanted the preaching of Jesus' gospel of the kingdom. In this way a historical religion displaced that teaching in which Jesus had blended man's highest moral ideas and spiritual ideals with man's most sublime hope for the future—eternal life. And that was the gospel of the kingdom.

170:5.19 Sooner or later another and greater [[John the Baptist]] is due to arise [[proclaiming]] " the kingdom of God is at hand "—meaning a return to the high [[spiritual]] [[concept]] of [[Jesus]], who [[proclaimed]] that the kingdom is the will of his [[heavenly Father]] [[dominant]] and [[transcendent]] in the [[heart]] of the believer—and doing all this without in any way referring either to the visible [[church]] on [[earth]] or to the [[anticipated]] [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_176#176:2._THE_MASTER.27S_SECOND_COMING second coming of Christ]. There must come a revival of the actual teachings of [[Jesus]], such a restatement as will undo the [[work]] of his early followers who went about to create a socio-philosophical [[system]] of [[belief]] regarding the [[fact]] of [[Michael]]'s [[sojourn]] on [[earth]]. In a short time the teaching of this [[story]] about [[Jesus]] nearly supplanted the preaching of [[Jesus]]' [[gospel]] of the kingdom. In this way a [[Tradition|historical]] [[religion]] displaced that teaching in which [[Jesus]] had blended man's highest [[moral]] [[ideas]] and [[spiritual]] [[ideals]] with man's most [[sublime]] [[hope]] for the [[future]]—[[eternal]] life. And that was the [[gospel]] of the kingdom.

170:5.20 It is just because the gospel of Jesus was so many-sided that within a few centuries students of the records of his teachings became divided up into so many cults and sects. This pitiful subdivision of Christian believers results from failure to discern in the Master's manifold teachings the divine oneness of his matchless life. But someday the true believers in Jesus will not be thus spiritually divided in their attitude before unbelievers. Always we may have diversity of intellectual comprehension and interpretation, even varying degrees of socialization, but lack of spiritual brotherhood is both inexcusable and reprehensible.

170:5.20 It is just because the [[gospel]] of [[Jesus]] was so many-sided that within a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity#Early_heresies few centuries] students of the [[records]] of his teachings became divided up into so many [[cults]] and [[sects]]. This pitiful subdivision of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian believers] results from [[failure]] to [[discern]] in [[the Master]]'s manifold teachings the [[divine]] [[Union|oneness]] of his matchless life. But someday the true [[believers]] in [[Jesus]] will not be thus spiritually divided in their [[attitude]] before unbelievers. Always we may have [[diversity]] of [[intellectual]] [[comprehension]] and [[interpretation]], even varying [[degrees]] of [[socialization]], but lack of spiritual [[brotherhood]] is both inexcusable and reprehensible.

170:5.21 Mistake not! there is in the teachings of Jesus an eternal nature which will not permit them forever to remain unfruitful in the hearts of thinking men. The kingdom as Jesus conceived it has to a large extent failed on earth; for the time being, an outward church has taken its place; but you should comprehend that this church is only the larval stage of the thwarted spiritual kingdom, which will carry it through this material age and over into a more spiritual dispensation where the Master's teachings may enjoy a fuller opportunity for development. Thus does the so-called Christian church become the cocoon in which the kingdom of Jesus' concept now slumbers. The kingdom of the divine brotherhood is still alive and will eventually and certainly come forth from this long submergence, just as surely as the butterfly eventually emerges as the beautiful unfolding of its less attractive creature of metamorphic development.

170:5.21 Mistake not! there is in the teachings of [[Jesus]] an [[eternal]] [[nature]] which will not [[permit]] them forever to remain unfruitful in the [[hearts]] of [[thinking]] men. The kingdom as [[Jesus]] [[conceived]] it has to a large extent [[failed]] on [[earth]]; for the time being, an outward [[church]] has taken its place; but you should [[comprehend]] that this [[church]] is only the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larva larval] [[stage]] of the thwarted [[spiritual]] kingdom, which will carry it through this [[Materialism|material]] [[Epoch|age]] and over into a more [[spiritual]] dispensation where [[the Master]]'s teachings may enjoy a fuller [[opportunity]] for [[development]]. Thus does the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian church] become the [[cocoon]] in which the kingdom of [[Jesus]]' [[concept]] now [[slumbers]]. The kingdom of the [[divine]] [[brotherhood]] is still alive and will [[eventually]] and certainly come forth from this long submergence, just as surely as the butterfly eventually emerges as the [[beautiful]] [[unfolding]] of its less [[attractive]] [[creature]] of [[metamorphic]] [[development]].

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

[[Category: PART IV: The Life and Teachings of Jesus]]

[[Category: PART IV: The Life and Teachings of Jesus]]