The Mystery of the Kingdom

By Ronald Knox

When John the Baptist appears, announcing that the kingdom is at hand, he demands a particular response. When Jesus himself begins to proclaim the Gospel, he repeats that demand: “Jesus began to preach: Repent, he said, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

A strange command, to do penance and pursue perfection, given that its inspiration is a mystery. Knowledge of this mystery demands clues; Jesus provides these clues in the form of famous parables and enduring images. In the seventeen sermons of The Mystery of the Kingdom, Monsignor Ronald Knox examines these parables and images. The first series of sermons reflects on the parables as a whole, with uniform principles of interpretation and a firm foundation in Catholic doctrine of the Church and of human salvation thrown into relief against a background of Jewish Messianic speculation. The second series convenes the principal actors in Christ’s Passion, under headings suggested by the parable of the Sower. 

Faithful to the spirit and the letter of Scripture, dexterous in interpretation, and decisively effective in preaching, Knox’s The Mystery of the Kingdom (originally published in 1928) proclaims the mystery of Christ and sets forth a standard for living and loving the Christian life.

Jesus answered him: Believe me when I tell thee this—a man cannot see the kingdom of God without being born anew. (The Gospel of John)

Ronald Knox (1888–1957) was an English Catholic priest, theologian, and author, and one of the most prominent twentieth-century converts from Anglicanism to Cath­olicism. Best known for his contemporary English translation of the Scriptures (the “Knox Bible”), he wrote numerous works of apologetics and collections of ser­mons, retreat conferences, and lectures, as well as six detective novels. 

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Paperback: 198pp.

ISBN: 978-1685954536