You're Supposed to Rule the World (Here's How)

Summary

In this video, Jon and Tim explore the concept of rulership in ancient times and the Bible, contrasting the self-proclaimed divine kings with the biblical view of humanity as God's image. They discuss how humans were given the task to 'rule' the Earth, which is exemplified by gardening and nurturing communities. The conversation delves into the human propensity for both good and evil, and how Jesus' life and resurrection offer a new model of rulership based on service and love. The video concludes with the vision of a renewed world where God's image is restored in humanity, leading to a future of healing and transformation.

Takeaways

• 👑 In ancient times, kings often claimed to be gods and referred to themselves as the image of God, giving them authority over people.
• 🚫 Unlike other cultures, Israel did not view their kings as gods and were forbidden from making images of God, believing that God himself had already made images in the form of humans.
• 🌍 In Genesis, God is depicted as the supreme authority who creates humans in his image and gives them the responsibility to rule over the Earth.
• 🧑‍🌾 The Bible presents human rule as an act of cultivation, akin to gardening, where humans harness Earth's potential to create and sustain life, communities, and societies.
• 📉 The Bible acknowledges that while humans have the potential to do good, they often choose to define good and evil on their own terms, leading to selfishness and evil.
• ✝️ The Bible presents Jesus as the solution to humanity's flawed rule, demonstrating a new way to rule by serving others and seeking their best interests, even at great personal cost.
• 🕊️ Jesus' life, death, and resurrection introduce a new future for humanity, where people are empowered to live in a way that reflects God's image and leads to true justice and goodness.
• 💖 The New Testament describes the new humanity that Jesus aims to create as being filled with qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control.
• 🔄 The ultimate goal is the restoration of God's image in humanity, enabling people to move the human project forward in alignment with God's will.
• 🌟 The Bible ends with a vision of a renewed world where God reigns, and humanity, healed and guided by Jesus, rules in harmony with God's original plan.

Q & A

What was the role of kings in ancient Bible times?

In ancient Bible times, kings often claimed to be gods and called themselves the 'image of God.' They had the authority to define good and evil, command people, and order things to be made.

How did the concept of kings differ in Israel compared to other cultures?

In Israel, kings were not viewed as gods, and it was forbidden to make images of God. This was rooted in the belief that God, the Creator, could not be reduced to any one thing in creation.

Why did Israel refrain from creating images of God?

Israel refrained from creating images of God because they believed God had already made images of Himself—humans. This belief was unique for that time and culture.

When, according to the Bible, did God make humans in His image?

The Bible states that God made humans in His image during the creation story on page one of the Bible. Humans were created as the pinnacle of God's creative work and were given authority over all creation.

What is the significance of all humans being called the image of God?

The significance is that all humans were given the authority to rule, a task that was previously only associated with elite kings. This was a revolutionary statement, as it called all humans to participate in the human project of ruling the Earth.

How does Genesis describe the way humans are supposed to rule?

Genesis describes ruling as 'gardening,' where humans are to cultivate the Earth, harness its raw potential, and create something new. This includes growing food, building communities, and developing society.

What challenge does the Bible present regarding human authority and ruling?

The Bible presents the challenge of whether humans will use their authority for the benefit of others, according to God's definition of good, or for self-advantage, by defining good and evil for themselves.

What is the Bible's depiction of the human condition?

The Bible depicts the human condition as a mixture of great achievements and selfish actions that create evil. Despite their best intentions, humans often make a mess of things.

How does Jesus redefine the concept of ruling according to the Bible?

Jesus redefines ruling by serving others, seeking the best for others, and even loving his enemies. He confronted the consequences of evil and death and showed a new way to be human.

What does the New Testament claim about Jesus' impact on humanity?

The New Testament claims that Jesus' resurrection opens up a new future for humanity. It believes that Jesus' divine life and power are available to heal and transform humans, restoring God's image in them and enabling them to move the human project forward.

Outlines

00:00

👑 Authority and Image of God in Ancient Times

This paragraph discusses the concept of authority in ancient times, particularly in the context of the Bible. It explains that many kings claimed divine authority, identifying themselves as gods and even as the 'image of God.' These kings had the power to command and define morality. However, the Israelites held a unique perspective, not viewing their kings as gods and refraining from creating images of God. This belief stemmed from the understanding that the creator God cannot be reduced to any single creation and that God has already made images of Himself in the form of humans, who are tasked with ruling and cultivating the Earth. The paragraph emphasizes the revolutionary idea that every human, not just elite kings, has the divine authority to rule over the Earth, as depicted in the biblical book of Genesis.

05:00

🌱 The Human Project and the Role of Gardening

The second paragraph delves into the concept of 'ruling' as described in the Bible, specifically through the metaphor of gardening. It suggests that humans are meant to cultivate the Earth, harnessing its potential and creating something new. This includes growing food, families, communities, and cities, all contributing to the advancement of the 'human project.' The paragraph highlights the idea that ruling is not just a grand concept but is reflected in the everyday acts of work and creativity. It also acknowledges the dual nature of human creation, which can lead to both good and suffering. The discussion then shifts to the Bible's narrative of human choice in how to exercise authority, with the story of humanity's fall and the subsequent need for redemption. The paragraph concludes with the introduction of Jesus as the embodiment of true human ruling, serving others and confronting the consequences of evil, ultimately leading to a new future for humanity as depicted in the New Testament.

📖 The BibleProject's Mission and Outreach

The final paragraph shifts focus to The BibleProject itself, a channel dedicated to exploring and explaining the Bible's unified narrative and its relevance to the modern world. The paragraph outlines the various video series produced by the channel, which include in-depth studies of biblical books and themes. It emphasizes the importance of community support in making these educational resources freely available to a global audience. The creators express gratitude for the contributions of their supporters and invite viewers to join the mission by visiting their website, where they can make donations and access additional materials such as study guides and posters.

Keywords

💡Image of God

In the video, the 'Image of God' refers to the concept that humans are created to reflect God's character and authority. This term is central to the Bible's portrayal of humanity's role in creation, where all humans, not just kings, are called to rule and manage the Earth as representatives of God. This idea contrasts with the ancient practice where only kings were seen as the 'image of god' and emphasizes the democratization of divine authority to all people.

💡Authority

Authority in the video is described as the power to define good and evil, make decisions, and rule over creation. It is initially associated with kings who claimed divine status, but in the biblical narrative, this authority is granted to all humans. The video explores how this authority can be used either for the benefit of others, as intended by God, or selfishly, leading to evil and suffering.

💡Rule

The concept of 'rule' in the video refers to the responsibility given to humans to manage and cultivate the Earth. The biblical idea of ruling is likened to gardening, where humans are tasked with nurturing and developing creation. This contrasts with traditional notions of ruling as domination and highlights a cooperative and creative approach to leadership.

💡Good and Evil

Good and Evil are defined in the video as moral concepts that humans have the authority to determine. The biblical story presents a choice: humans can either follow God's definition of good, which involves selflessness and care for others, or define good and evil for themselves, often leading to selfishness and harm. This duality is central to the human condition as depicted in the Bible.

💡Jesus

Jesus is presented as the ultimate example of what it means to rule as a human. He redefines authority by serving others, loving even his enemies, and sacrificing himself. The video claims that through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, a new way of being human is made possible, where God's image is restored in people who live by his example.

💡Human Condition

The Human Condition in the video refers to the inherent struggle between the potential for good and the propensity for evil. While humans are made in the image of God with the authority to rule, they often misuse this power, leading to injustice and suffering. The Bible acknowledges this broken state but also offers hope through Jesus, who provides a path to redemption and a new way of living.

💡New Humanity

The New Humanity is a concept introduced in the video, where people are transformed by Jesus' life and Spirit. This transformation results in a renewed capacity to live out the image of God, characterized by virtues such as love, joy, peace, and integrity. The New Humanity is the goal of the biblical narrative, where God's image is fully restored in people who move the human project forward.

💡Servant Leadership

Servant Leadership is exemplified by Jesus in the video, where true leadership is shown through serving others rather than exerting power over them. This concept challenges traditional views of leadership as domination and is central to the way Jesus ruled, which the video suggests is the model for all humans to follow.

💡Creation

Creation in the video refers to the entire world and everything in it, which is under the authority of God and, by extension, humans who are made in his image. The video emphasizes that humans are called to cultivate and care for creation, making it flourish through their work and creativity. This task reflects their role as rulers in partnership with God.

💡Resurrection

Resurrection is a pivotal concept in the video, representing the moment when Jesus overcame death and opened a new future for humanity. The resurrection is seen as the validation of Jesus' way of ruling and the beginning of a new era where humans can be transformed and empowered to live out their divine calling as the image of God. It symbolizes hope and the renewal of creation.

Highlights

In ancient times, kings often claimed to be gods and called themselves the image of God.

Israel's unique belief was that they should not make images of God because God already made images of Himself—humans.

The Bible begins with God as the ultimate authority over creation, defining good and evil.

God calls all humans, not just kings, to rule the Earth, a revolutionary concept for its time.

Humans are tasked with cultivating the Earth, which includes creating communities and nurturing society.

Ruling, according to the Bible, involves day-to-day acts of work and creativity.

The Bible acknowledges that while humans can achieve great things, they often create suffering and injustice.

Humans have the choice to rule for the benefit of others or to act selfishly, leading to evil.

Jesus is portrayed as the ultimate example of ruling by serving others and seeking their best interests.

Jesus' way of ruling involved confronting evil and death, even to the point of sacrificing His own life.

The resurrection of Jesus opens a new future for humanity, offering a new way to be human.

The New Testament describes Jesus as the image of God, whose life and power are now available to transform humanity.

Paul describes the new humanity as being filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, integrity, gentleness, and self-control.

The Bible's story ends with a renewed world where humans rule under God's guidance, moving the human project forward.

The BibleProject aims to make the Bible accessible, highlighting its unified narrative leading to Jesus and its relevance to the modern world.

Transcripts

(logo whooshing in)

- [Jon] So if you lived in ancient Bible times,

odds are you lived under the authority of a king.

- [Tim] And many of these kings claimed

that they were gods,

and they would even call themselves the image of god.

- [Jon] Meaning they had authority

to tell people what to do, order things to be made.

- [Tim] Yeah, they got to define good and evil.

And these kings would often make statues of themselves,

which in Hebrew were called tselem,

often translated as "idol" or "image."

- [Jon] But for Israel,

they didn't view their kings as the god.

In fact, they were never supposed

to even make images of God.

- [Tim] It's exactly right.

And that was really unique for that time and culture.

This is rooted, first of all, in Israel's belief

that you can't reduce the creator God

down to any one thing in creation.

But there's another reason.

People aren't to make images of God

because God has already made images of himself.

- [Jon] When did he do that?

- [Tim] Well, let's go to page one of the Bible,

and the first person we meet there is God.

He's the one with authority over all creation.

He speaks and creation obeys,

and he defines what is good and not good.

In other words, he alone is king.

But then surprisingly, as the pinnacle

of all of God's creative work, he makes humans

and he calls all of them the image of God.

- [Jon] Wait, so he gives

all humans the authority to rule?

- [Tim] Exactly, that's what he goes on to say.

He tells the humans to subdue the Earth and to rule it.

And so this task that once belonged only to elite kings

is here in the Bible the task of every human being.

This was a revolutionary statement in its day

because all humans are being called to rule

and to participate in the human project.

- [Jon] So what does this mean?

I mean, how are we all supposed to rule?

- [Tim] So the picture we get

in Genesis is gardening.

- [Jon] Gardening?

- [Tim] Yes, gardening.

So they rule the Earth by cultivating it,

by harnessing all of the Earth's raw potential

and then making something more and new out of it.

- [Jon] So growing food for each other.

- [Tim] Yes, but that also includes

growing families then which become neighborhoods

and then they create communities where people are gonna work

and take care of each other and build businesses

and cities that will expand to new places and so on.

- [Jon] So ruling is really the day-to-day acts

of our work and creativity.

- [Tim] Yes, we take the world somewhere.

This is humanity's divine and sacred task.

- [Jon] Yeah, and this all sounds really nice,

and humans have designed some pretty great things,

but just as often we create things

that cause a lot of suffering and a lot of injustice,

so maybe we shouldn't actually be ruling.

- [Tim] Yeah, so the Bible addresses this.

In Genesis, what happens is that God gives humans a choice

about how they're going to rule.

So are they gonna use their authority

for the benefit of others which is God's definition of good,

or are they going to turn away and define good and evil

for themselves and use their authority for self advantage?

- [Jon] And in the story they choose

to define good and evil on their own terms.

- [Tim] And so this is the Bible's depiction

of the human condition.

So sometimes we pull off amazingly good stuff,

but just as often, despite our best intentions,

we act selfishly and we create evil in the world.

- [Jon] And so we're stuck

as mediocre rulers making a mess of things.

- [Tim] But that's not the end of the story.

So the Bible goes on and it makes this claim

that all of this was resolved when God bound himself

to humanity through Jesus and he showed us

what it looks like to truly rule as a human.

- [Jon] So what does it look like?

- [Tim] Well, Jesus ruled by serving

and by seeking the best for others,

by putting himself underneath them

and loving not just his friends but also his enemies.

- [Jon] And that's not a typical way to rule.

- [Tim] And not only that,

Jesus confronted the consequences of all of the evil

and the death that we have created

by our messed up ways of ruling,

and he takes it, I mean, he lets it kill him.

And so when the New Testament writers looked back

to Jesus' resurrection, they see a whole new future

opening up for all humanity.

- [Jon] Jesus is a new way to be human.

- [Tim] Yeah, that's why they called Jesus

the image of God or the new human.

And not only that, they also believe that Jesus' divine life

and power is now available to heal

and to transform us to become our life and power.

- [Jon] And this sounds really nice,

but what does it really look like?

- [Tim] So practically, the apostle Paul

said it looks like people being filled

by Jesus' own presence and Spirit,

filled with love and joy and peace and patience and kindness

and goodness and integrity and gentleness and self control.

He says this is the new humanity that God wants

to create in us so that we become people

in whom God's image is being restored,

people who will move the human project forward.

And that's actually how the story of the Bible ends.

It's a renewed world where God is on his throne

and his servants are all around him,

but they're the ones ruling over this new world,

taking it into new uncharted territory

with Jesus as their healer and their guide.

(gentle music)

- [Jon] Thanks for watching this channel.

We do this because we believe the Bible

is one unified narrative that leads to Jesus

and has profound wisdom for the modern world.

- [Tim] So we're making different video series,

some that walk people through the design

and message of books of the Bible

or whole sections of the Bible.

- [Jon] Yeah, we also do a series that take one biblical theme

and trace that through the whole narrative arc of the Bible,

kinda like the one you just watched,

and we have a lot more series coming up

that we have planned.

- [Tim] The BibleProject is possible because of your support.

So if some people give one time gifts,

and there's a growing number of monthly supporters as well,

and we're all behind this.

We wanna make these videos free

and available to anyone anywhere.

- [Jon] Yeah, so you can join us, be a part of this,

go to jointhebibleproject.com, you can give there.

There's also downloadable stuff like full res videos,

study guides, posters, it's all for free.

and it's all because of your guys' support,

so thanks a lot.

- [Tim] Yeah, thank you guys.