Category Archives: Israel

The church and Israel in Hebrews

Walking With Giants Posted on by

As the name suggests, the Letter to the Hebrews is addressed to Jewish Christian believers.  Their continuity with historical Israel is apparent from their description as

  • ‘The people (of God)’ (Heb 2:17; 4:9; 8:10; 10:30; 11:25; 13:12),
  • ‘Children (of God)’ (Heb 2:10; 12:5–7),
  • ‘The saints’ (Heb 6:10; 13:24),
  • ‘God’s household’ (Heb 3:6).

But, at the same time, discontinuity is suggested when the Christian gospel is described as bringing with it ‘better hope’ (Heb 7:19), ‘better covenant’ (Heb 7:22; 8:6), ‘better promises’ (Heb 8:6), ‘better sacrifices’ and ‘the greater and more perfect tabernacle’ (Heb 9:11 margin).…

Heb 8:13 – The first covenant ‘obsolete’?

Walking With Giants Posted on by

8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one. 8:8 But showing its fault, God says to them,
“Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
8:9 “It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord.…

The church and Israel

Walking With Giants Posted on by

What is the relationship between the church and Israel?

Summarising Wayne Grudem on this:

Dispensational teaching is represented by Lewis Sperry Chafer: God has two distinct plans for Israel and the church:

‘God’s purposes and promises for Israel are for earthly blessings, and they will yet be fulfilled on this earth at some time in the future. On the other hand, God’s purposes and promises for the church are for heavenly blessings, and those promises will be fulfilled in heaven.

…

Mt 21:43 – “The kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit”

Walking With Giants Posted on by

21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:
‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
21:43 For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 21:44 The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.”…

What is ‘replacement theology’ (‘supercessionism’)?

Walking With Giants Posted on by

The term ‘replacement theology’ (or ‘supercessionism’) has often been thrown around as a ‘boo’ term without careful  thought being given to its meaning or to the identity of its proponents.

I was interested, then, to read an article by Michael J. Vlach which gives some attention to both definition and examples.  Vlach draws on the thoughts of friends as well as of critics of ‘supercessionism’.

‘Several theologians have offered definitions of “supersessionism” or “replacement theology.” According to Walter C.

…

When anti-anti-Semitism becomes toxic

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Dagobert Runes, ‘The War Against The Jew’.

This dictionary-style volume is a collection of entries – including many quotations – illustrating expressions of anti-Semitism over the centuries.

While not for a moment denying the many lamentable instances of anti-Semitism perpetrated by Christian church, I find that this book fails to make a positive contribution to the discussion.  There are several serious flaws.

First, it is a rant.  This is particularly so in the preface, which begins as follows:

‘There are many chronicles of war; of war lasting four days and of war lasting thirty years, even one hundred years, but then the war was over and peace followed.

…

Puritans on the Jews

Walking With Giants Posted on by

From A Golden Treasury of Puritan Quotations, by I.D.E. Thomas

Will they return home?

The Jews shall be gathered from all parts of the earth where they now are scattered, and brought home into their homeland.  (John Owen)

Will they turn to Christ?

The Jews are not yet come in under Christ’s banner; but God, that hath persuaded Japheth to come into the tents of Shem, will persuade Shem to come into the tents of Japheth.…

Psa 122:6 – ‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem’

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Psa 122:6a – Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

This psalm, and especially this particular expression, is a favourite of Christian Zionists, who urge all Christians simply  to obey the command, and pray for the city, so troubled and divided to this very day.  Indeed, it is sometimes implied that if Christians do not do this, then they are living, in a rather fundamental way, out of God’s will and purpose.  Citing this verse, Kenneth Hagee claims that ‘the scriptural principle of prosperity is tied to blessing Israel and the city of Jerusalem.’ …

What is dispensationalism?

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Peter Goeman gives a concise explanation of dispensationalist beliefs:

1. The Old Testament must be interpreted within its own context.

The meaning of the Old Testament stands on its own terms, and does not require the New Testament to interpret or re-interpret it.

2. There is a distinction between Israel and the Church.

They are distinct entities, although this does not mean that there is no relationship between them.

3. There is a future for ethnic Israel.…

Romans 11:26 – ‘All Israel’ and the land

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Romans 11:26 (NET) — ‘And so all Israel will be saved’.

I have compiled extensive notes on this provocative phrase.  The key question is whether Paul is referring to

(a) ethnic Israel (as the majority of scholars think), or to

(b) ‘renewed’ Israel, comprising Jewish and Gentile believers alike.  The latter view is advocated by John Calvin and N.T. Wright (along with some others), and I am inclined to agree with it.

In the course of his discussion of the question of whether the modern State of Israel has a divine right to occupy ‘the land’, Ian Paul has expressed support for this second view. …