theWord Module Download:
Download Psalm 2 and the Reign of the Messiah

• What is theWord? How do I view theWord Modules?

Author:
Dr. George Gunn

theWord Version:
3.x - 4.x

Tab Name:
Psalm 2 and the Reign of the Messiah

Suggest New Tag::
Messiah

Module Identifier:
Psalm 2 and the Reign of the Messiah - George Gunn.gbk.twm

Psalm 2 and the Reign of the Messiah

Few passages of Scripture could be considered more significant for the study of the Messiah’s reign than Psalm 2. Gauged statistically on the basis of New Testament quotations, allusions and verbal parallels, Psalm 2 is one of the most frequently referred to of all the Psalms.[1] This Psalm is quoted, either directly or indirectly, seven times in the New Testament (Matthew 3:17 [= Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22]; 17:5 [= Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35]; Acts 4:25–26; 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; 5:5; Revelation 2:27) and clearly alluded to at least another five times (John 1:49; Hebrews 1:2; Revelation 12:5; 19:15, 19).[2] Since the Psalm clearly refers to the kingly rule of the Messiah (Psalm 2:6), these New Testament references have led progressive dispensational scholars (along with amillennial scholars) to the conclusion that Messiah’s kingly rule began at His first coming. Historic Dispensationalism, on the other hand, has always maintained that the Davidic rule of Messiah awaits His second coming. The aim of this paper will be to demonstrate that Psalm 2 does not depict a coronation at the First Coming, but rather compels us to see the coronation of Messiah at some later date.



[1] According to the indices of quotes, allusions and verbal parallels found in the back of Kurt Aland, Matthew Black, Carlo M. Martini, et al, edd. The Greek New Testament, 4th rev. ed. (Stuttgart: United Bible Societies, 1983), the top seven most frequently referred to Psalms are: 110 (28x), 22 (24x), 2 (18x), 118 (15x), 16 (6x) and 95 (5x). When taking only the direct quotations as statistics, the order is: 110 (14x), 118 (11x), 69 (6x), 2(4x), 16 (4x), 22 (4x), 95 (4x). When taking only the allusions and verbal parallels, the order is: 22 (20x), 2 (14x), 69 (14x), 110 (14x), 118 (4x), 16 (2x), 95 (1x).

[2] The art of recognizing quotes and allusions is far from a pure science; hence some discrepancies exist among the sources reporting such references. Those references listed here will form the basis for much of the research in this paper.