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Martin Luther's Two Kingdom Model

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Luther’s two kingdoms model demarcates between temporal authority and spiritual. He works diligently to show that the two should never be confused with each other. In this model there are two categories that humans fall into, the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of this world. Those who have faith in Christ and his death, burial and resurrection accept him as King and therefore belong the Kingdom of God. Alongside this kingdom exists a temporary one which God created. The Kingdom of this world. This Kingdom has temporary authority as long as evil exists.
Luther suggests that those belonging to the Kingdom of God do not have any need for law or for sword (war, weapons, etc.). He says that if the world contained nothing but true Christians there would not even need to be any ruler, King or law. God would rule in the hearts of everyone through the Holy Spirit. No one would do anything wrong because they would all truly love the way God loves, sacrificially and purely. He indicates that even if there were law and sword in existence in this all Christian world, neither of them would find anything to do, but would sit idly by collecting dust for lack of use. However, since this is not the world we now inhabit, there is need for law and sword. Due to the existence of evil in the world, God has placed law and sword above it to keep it …show more content…
Both Luther and he distinguished between heavenly things and earthly. Both men acknowledge that God’s purpose is played out in both kingdoms or cities. However there seems to be a slight difference in the way Luther draws a distinct line between the two. Augustine said that the city of God was being formed from the ruins of the city of men and that the city of God was advanced by proclaiming the Gospel in the city of men. Luther seems to indicate there is not crossing over of the two. The gospel is for the kingdom of God only and the sword is for the temporal kingdom

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