31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved (1 Corinthians 10.31-33).
The Categories of Man
The passage above indicates God has categorized man into three groups: Jews, Greeks, i.e., Gentiles, and the Church. Each has a separate and distinct purpose and administration in God’s plan. Before God called Abraham, He dealt with mankind as a whole. Or, we might say that the world was all of one category, i.e., Gentile. With His call of Abraham, God created and divided the world into two peoples: Gentile and Jew. As a result, God created a unique relationship with the Jews. He gave them His covenants, entrusted them with the Word of God, and governed and guided them with the Mosaic Law and the prophets. The grand revelation God gave Israel through his prophets and covenants was that He would establish a kingdom with them, that they would be preeminent among all the earth’s nations, and that a Messiah-King would rule this kingdom.
The distinct entities of Jew and Gentile continued until Paul. Through Paul, God revealed a third entity–the Church, the Body of Christ. The Church was a new creation which was unknown until the time of Paul. God did not reveal it to His prophets nor did Jesus reveal it to his disciples in His ministry on earth. Paul declared that the Church, the Body of Christ was a “secret” (μυστήριον) God had hid until He revealed it to Paul (Ephesians 2.11-22; 3.3-9; Colossians 1.26-27; Romans 16.25-27).
“Israel” a Technical Term
The term “Israel” in Scripture is technical. It is always used for the physical descendants of Jacob. In the same way, the term “Gentile” is a technical term. It always refers to a non-Jew. This fact is obvious and undisputed (except for some bizarre arguments) in the Old Testament. In New Testament studies, however, the meaning of the term “Israel” is a point of contention. The reason for the contention is a result of theology, not philology.
When the nation split after Solomon, ten of the tribes became known as “Israel.” The other tribes were called “Judah.” So Israel sometimes meant the northern tribes. At other times, Israel referred to the entire nation (Acts 2.36).
The lexical evidence that the word “Israel” means only the physical offspring of Jacob is overwhelming. No lexical evidence exists that “Israel” means anything other than ethnic Jews. In the New Testament, the term “Israel” occurs 71 times and the term “Israelite” 4 times. In every case, the terms refer to ethnic Jews. A simple word study of the term reveals this fact. As noted in Paul’s passage above, the Scriptures keep the entities of Israel, Gentiles, and the Church separate and distinct.1
Despite the fact that the term “Israel” always refers to ethnic Jews, most of Christendom views the Church as “Israel.” Why? The answer is because an aberrant method of interpretation (hermeneutic) has been thrust upon the Scriptures–particularly those which deal with eschatology (future things) and ecclesiology (church doctrine). This methodology, the allegorizing of texts, is a result of eisegesis “reading into a text.” It is the opposite of exegesis in which interpretation is drawn from the text. A world of difference results from these two methods. One yields sound doctrine; the other error.
To understand why this issue exists requires some historical background. In the 2nd century A.D., a poisonous theory arose that promoted the idea that when and because the nation of Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah, God ended His plan with them.2 Advocates of this theory also rejected the idea that God’s promises to Israel were literal. Their theory overturned two thousand years of orthodox theology.
Throughout Israel’s history God’s prophets had prophesied a coming kingdom. Familiar passages include those of the wolf and lamb lying down together, the lion eating straw, and swords beaten into plowshares (Isaiah 2.1-4, 11.6-10; 65.25; 2.4). John the Baptizer and Jesus proclaimed this kingdom. They declared that after hundreds of years of prophecy the kingdom was “near” (Matthew 3.2; 4.17; 10.7; Mark 1.15; Luke 10.9-11). Even after the Lord’s resurrection and ascension, Peter continued to proclaim this kingdom to Israel and declared that if the nation repented (i.e., accepted Jesus as the promised Messiah) Jesus would return and set up his kingdom (Acts 3.18-21). But Israel refused to repent. As a result, the promised kingdom did not come. Rather than accept a normal reading of the passage many maintain that God’s promises were not literal but figurative or typical 3.
As a result, those who hold to this errant theology argue that the Church is a “new’ or “replacement” Israel and that the promises God made to Israel in the covenants were transferred to the Church and are being fulfilled “figuratively” by the Church.4 Among theologians, this view is known as supersessionism. They claim the promises God made to the nation in the covenants and proclaimed by the prophets were not meant to be understood literally. They argue Israel was a “type” of the Church and that the promises are being fulfilled by the Church. For this theological theory to work requires the following: 1) The prophets misunderstood the covenants and especially the kingdom; 2) Jesus misunderstood the covenants and the kingdom; and 3) “Israel” does not mean the physical offspring of Jacob.
Perverting Texts
Luke wrote in his Gospel, in chapter 1 verses 30-33:
30 “The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.'”
The angel told Mary she would give birth to a son whom she would name Jesus and that God would give him the prophesied throne of his father David. God had made a covenant with David in which he had promised him that He would establish his throne forever (2 Samuel 7). Under this covenant, Jesus, as King, would reign over the house of Jacob, i.e., Israel, forever.
A normal reading of the passage means that Mary was to have a literal, physical son by means of a literal, physical pregnancy and birth. God promised that he would give this son the throne of David. Where was David’s throne? From where had David ruled? One only has to read the Old Testament accounts in 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, etc. to answer this: Jerusalem. The angel declared that Mary’s son would have the throne of his father David. Like David, He would rule the house of Jacob, that is, Israel. But, unlike the limited reign David had enjoyed, His reign and kingdom will have no end (Zechariah 14.9).
What did Mary make of this? The fact of her pregnancy was certainly confusing to her since she was a virgin. But the fact of the Messiah reigning over the earth, and in particular as King of the Jews, was not. That had been prophesied and anticipated for hundreds of years. What kind of hermeneutical legerdemain would lead one to conclude that Mary’s pregnancy and son were literal but that Jesus’ kingship and kingdom were not, i.e., that His reign would not be in Jerusalem over the Jews? Tragically, most of Christendom teaches that Jesus presently occupies David’s throne “in heaven” and is ruling over “spiritual” Israel, i.e., the Church. The problem is that no Scripture teaches this. The Scriptures teach Jesus is seated at the right hand of his Father’s throne and that He is awaiting His Father’s will in the fulfillment of His prophesied and covenanted rule over the nation of Israel (Psalm 110.1; Matthew 22.44; 26.64; Mark 12.36; 14.62; 16.19; Luke 22.69; Acts 2.33-34; 5.31; Romans 8.34; Ephesians 1.20; Colossians 3.1; Hebrews 1.3, 13; 8.1; 10.12; 12.2; 1 Peter 3.22).
Let us continue to analyze the passage in Luke following the logic and method of an allegorical hermeneutic by examining the verses which immediately follow those above. Luke recorded in Luke 1.34-37,
34 “Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.'”
If we are consistent with a hermeneutic that leads to the conclusion that Jesus is reigning “spiritually” over a “spiritual” Israel (the Church), we are obligated to conclude Mary was not a literal virgin but a “figurative” virgin, i.e., a woman of pure character and motives. If we move ahead in time with this interpretive method, it is not a long step to conclude Jesus did not rise literally (physically) from the dead but “spiritually” in the hearts of his followers. At this point, Christianity is destroyed. How did it happen? Without the discipline of a normal, consistent hermeneutic any interpretation becomes possible. Tragically, this interpretative poison is rampant throughout Christendom.
Children of Abraham
In Romans 4 (cf. Galatians 3), Paul wrote that those who believe in Christ are the children of Abraham. Does this mean that Paul taught that Gentiles or the Church was Israel? Quite the contrary. Throughout his writings, Paul kept Jew, Gentile, and the Church distinct. Paul’s argument with respect to Abraham was soteriological. Paul never taught that Gentiles or the Church were “Israel.” Paul’s argument was that Abraham obtained righteousness by faith alone and that all who believe in Christ in the Church age become children of Abraham because they obtain righteousness in the same way as Abraham. Paul used Abraham as his example to teach that salvation was now by faith alone or faith plus 0. Abraham was not saved by obeying the Mosaic Law (it did not exist), by works, or by a combination of faith plus works. Abraham was saved solely on the basis of his faith apart from works.
The Jew under the Law did not fit into this pattern. Under the Mosaic Law works were required for salvation in addition to faith. To understand this, let’s take an example of a Jew under the Law which had the Levitical sacrifices. Suppose a Jew said, “I believe an animal sacrifice will cover my sin but I’m not going to take an animal to the priest” (faith but no work). Or what if a Jew said, “I don’t believe an animal sacrifice will cover my sin but I’ll take an animal to the priest for a sacrifice nevertheless” (work but no faith). Would either of these Jews have been saved? No! Salvation under the Law required faith and works. A Jew had to believe an animal sacrifice would cover his sin and take an animal to the priest. Both were required. As long as the Mosaic Law was in operation faith and works were required.
But for the Church Age believer, to whom Paul was the apostle (Romans 11.13), works are not required. Salvation is faith in Christ plus 0. Paul’s point was that for this age, Abraham’s experience of salvation was the pattern. What did the Scripture say regarding Abraham? It said, “Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4.3). Were works required? Not one. He believed what God had told him–that he was going to be the father of many nations, etc. (Genesis 15.3-6). An entirely different argument, one that requires an unscriptural leap, is the argument that those who believe are Abraham’s children and therefore Israel. Such an interpretation is to misunderstand Paul’s soteriological argument at its most basic level.
Paul revealed the Church, the body of Christ, was a new entity created by God and that prior to him the Church was a “secret” God had not revealed (Ephesians 2.11-22; 3.3-9; Colossians 1.26-27; Romans 16.25-27). Peter and the Twelve knew nothing of the Church until Paul revealed it to them. Not one of them mentions the body of Christ in their letters.
Paul’s great treatise on Israel in Romans 9-11 asserted the nation’s identity and affirmed God would fulfill his promises to the nation. He reiterated the covenantal relationship and promises God had made to Israel. Romans 9 deals with Israel’s past, Romans 10 with Israel’s present condition, and Romans 11 with Israel’s future. Paul stated that one day national Israel (ethnic Jews), cf. Romans 9.3-8 would return to the Lord and be saved (Romans 11.25-27). Jesus prophetically summed this up as he concluded his tirade against the Pharisees in Matthew 23.37-39:
37 “‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! 38 How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! 39 For I say to you, from now on you shall not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'”
In verse 37, Jesus recorded Israel’s past (Romans 9), verse 38 (Romans 10) recorded Israel’s status when Jesus was present, and in verse 39 (Romans 11) Jesus prophesied Israel’s future. Jesus awaits the day when the nation will repent and say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” When national Israel utters these words–a divine certainty–Jesus will return as Israel’s Savior and King. God will then fulfill his covenantal promises to the nation. Thus, Paul asserted God had not abolished his promises to ethnic Israel nor applied them in a “spiritual” manner to the Church.
A Problem Passage: Galatians 6.16–Grammatical and Lexical Evidence
The text of Galatians 6.16 reads:
| And those who will walk by this rule, | peace and mercy be upon them, | and upon the Israel of God. |
| καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, | εἰρήνη ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔλεος, | καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ. |
Paul wrote to the Galatians to address and correct the error of Jewish teachers who were teaching that Gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the Mosaic Law to be saved. Some maintain Paul addressed one group in Galatians 6.16. For this argument to be valid καὶ in the phrase καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ is interpreted in an ascensive sense of “even” rather than the usual connective sense of “and.” According to this sense, the passage would read, “and as many as who will walk by this rule, peace upon them and mercy, even upon the Israel of God”. Grammatically, such a translation is possible for καὶ can have an ascensive sense. The usual rendering for καὶ, however, is a simple connective sense, “and.” The grammatical evidence is greater or the simple connective sense for the following reasons:
- The normal rendering of καὶ is continuative. Thus the sense is that of “and” rather than “even.” This is the rendering found in the vast majority of the uses of καὶ. As such, it should be accepted unless strong evidence exists for an alternate reading. This is unlikely due to the grammatical structure of the sentence.
- Paul repeated ἐπὶ “upon”, i.e. “upon them” and “upon the Israel of God.” This repetition favors parallelism. Coupled with καὶ, it provides grammatical evidence Paul was addressing two groups of believers.
- “Israel” means ethnic Jews in every passage of Scripture. To overturn this sense and define “Israel” to mean “Church” is not possible lexically and thus defeats such an exegetical application.
Another Possible Interpretation
Another reasonable interpretation is possible, however, using some of the same grammatical logic of those who try and make the Church to be Israel. If καὶ is interpreted in its ascensive sense of “even,” Paul could have been addressing only the Judaizers. Thus, when he wrote, “and those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, even upon the Israel of God” he could have been addressing Jews (the Judaizers of Acts 15 and Galatians), who opposed him and wanted to bring Gentiles under the Law. In such a case, Paul was telling them if they ceased trying to bring Gentiles under the Law and perverting his gospel of grace, he wished them peace and mercy. This is a possible interpretation. Interpretively impossible, grammatically and theologically, is that Paul meant that the Church was Israel. Such a statement would contradict 2,000 years of theology: the theology of the prophets, Jesus, and Paul. That’s a lot to overturn to support such a translation. The NIV translators translated καὶ as “even” as opposed to the KJV and NASB “and.” I doubt they intended to indicate the group Paul addressed was legalistic, Jews. They were endorsing the theological error the Church is Israel.
Lastly, we must not lose sight of the forest for the trees. In Galatians 6, Paul came full circle and closed the argument he began in chapter 1. In Chapter 1, Paul stated that anyone who preached a gospel different from his was accursed (Galatians 1.6-9). Paul wrote these words after the great Council of Jerusalem. The issue at the Council was whether Gentiles could be saved apart from circumcision and keeping the Mosaic Law, i.e., faith plus works. After a great argument, Peter finally rose to defend Paul. He made an incredible statement and declared, “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are” (Acts 15.11). Peter recognized Paul was right and they were wrong. Jews from this time forward had to be saved like Gentiles! This was unthinkable. For 2,000 years Gentiles had been saved like Jews. That was now reversed.
This is the context of Paul’s closing statement in Galatians 6.16. He stated in chapter 1 that those who preached a different gospel from him were to be accursed. Paul could not have written these words prior the the Council of Jerusalem. But now, by Peter’s statement, and formalized by James and the rest of the Council (Acts 15.13-20), he could. Thus, Paul closed his letter with the statement he wished “peace and mercy” to Gentiles to whom he ministered and to the Jews of Jerusalem who had opposed him at the Council (Galatians 6.12-13). But if they preached a gospel different from his gospel (Romans 2.16, 16.25), they were accursed. This was an extremely strong warning which Paul repeated twice. Furthermore, just to make sure they “got it” he declared, “From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus” (Galatians 6.17). Paul’s testy statement was clear in its meaning: “I’ve had it. I’m willing to be at peace but I’m tired of your troubling me. I have wounds to show for my work–you don’t. Shut up. And stay out of my way.” (cf. 2 Corinthians 11.23).
Galatians 6.16–More Contextual Evidence
The choice of a translation or an interpretation is governed not only by grammatical or lexical evidence but its context. In the previous verse, Galatians 6.15, Paul wrote, “For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” This is essentially what he wrote in 1 Corinthians 10.31-32. The circumcision was Jews; uncircumcision was Gentiles. The new creation was the Church. The two groups Paul had in mind were Gentile believers and Jewish believers. Earlier in the Epistle, in Galatians 2, Paul introduced these two groups in terms of ministry. According to Paul, he and the Twelve agreed on their missionary targets. Paul would go to Gentiles while Peter and the eleven would go to the Jews. Thus, Paul wrote:
7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised 8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we might go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised” (Galatians 2.7-9).
God commissioned Paul as the “apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11.13). Peter’s commission was to Israel (Acts 9.15-16; 14.26-28; 18.6; 22.21; 26.16-18; 28.28; Galatians 2.2; Romans 11.13; Ephesians 3.1, 8; 1 Timothy 2.7). These two ministries were distinct. Since Paul had not been part of Jesus’ earthly ministry he did not meet the qualifications to be one of the Twelve (Act 1.21-22). Peter and the eleven received their commission from Christ on earth. Paul received his commission from the risen, glorified Christ from heaven. These verses indicate a change of commission from how Jesus had instructed them earlier. In Matthew 28.18-20, the Scripture records,
18 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””
Now, instead of going to the nations, i.e., Gentiles, the Twelve agreed to limit their ministry to Jews. Clearly, a major shift had taken place from the commission Jesus had given them. The Twelve continued to preach the “gospel of the kingdom” to Jews (cf. Acts 2.22, 38; 3.12, etc.). This was the message they had preached during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Paul, on the other hand, according to his commission, preached the “gospel of the grace of God” not the “gospel of the kingdom.”
What about Paul’s teaching in Galatians 3.28-29? He wrote,
28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise”.
Does this verse militate against the distinctiveness of Jew, Gentile, and Church? Paul maintained the distinction of each of these groups while also revealing that a new relationship had been created by being a member of the body of Christ. Paul did not write that functional differences between slave and free had been abolished. He told slaves to obey their masters (Ephesians 6.5-6). The same was true of gender differences. Man and woman remain unchanged. Did Paul teach that the Church is the “Israel of God” because if one belongs to Christ one is Abraham’s offspring in any ethnic sense? Not at all. Paul argued that those who trust in Christ are children of Abraham in a soteriological sense; they have come to God the same way Abraham did–by faith alone.
A Time of Transition
The lives of the apostles was a period of theological transition. Luke’s primary purpose in writing Acts was to explain the fall of the nation of Israel, not the birth of the Church, as most teach. His record is the history of the transition of the prophetic program of Israel following Jesus’ death and resurrection to the “secret” Church program.
In Galatians 6.16 Paul identified Jewish believers as the Israel of God. Paul had these believers in mind in Romans 9.6-8 when he stated, “they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel” (cf. Romans 2.28-29). A true Jew was not merely a descendant of Jacob; a true Jew was a descendant of Jacob who believed in YHVH, or in Jesus’ day, one who believed that Jesus was the Messiah and had been baptized. These were the “Israel of God”. The phrase “Israel of God” expressed adjectivally is “godly Israel”. The transition period, which Luke partially recorded in Acts, ended with God’s judgment of national Israel in 70 A.D. After this judgment no “Israel of God” existed. The “gospel of the grace of God” fully supplanted “the gospel of the kingdom.” This had occurred largely by the close of Acts 28.26-28 when Paul declared:
26 “And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, ‘The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying, “GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, ‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 27 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’ 28 “Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.”
Today, under the dispensation of the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20.24), Jews and Gentiles who believe Paul’s gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4) become members of the Church, the body of Christ, and are equal “in Christ.” God is faithful and a future day remains in God’s program for Israel. Once reinitiated, national Israel will recognize Jesus as her Messiah-King and be saved (Romans 9.26-27).
Conclusion
The grammatical, lexical, and contextual evidence for the distinctiveness and differences of Jew, Gentile, and the Church is overwhelming. On the basis of this evidence, Paul either addressed two groups of believers or one group that was Jewish in Galatians 6.16. The term “Israel” is technical since it is always used for ethnic Jews. Those who teach that the Church is a “new” or “replacement” Israel” do so without Scriptural support. The Judaizers, whom Paul opposed, taught that Gentile believers had to be circumcised and keep the Mosaic Law to be saved. Paul issued a stern warning against them at the beginning of his letter (Galatians 1.6-10) and concluded his letter by wishing peace and mercy upon the Gentile believers who followed his teaching and upon the “true” or “godly Israel”, i.e., “the Israel of God.” For more exegetical analysis of Galatians 6.16 the reader is encouraged to read the paper by S. Lewis Johnson 5
1 The reader can verify that every occurrence of the term “Israel” in the New Testament refers to the physical offspring of Jacob by examining the below verses. Paul always used the term in this manner as did every other Scripture writer. No instance exists in which “Israel” means Church or Gentile. Every case refers to Jews (believing or unbelieving) or the land of the Jews. See: Matthew 2.6, 20, 21; 8.10; 9.33; 10.6, 23; 15.24, 31; 19.28; 27.9, 42 Mark 12.29; 15.32; Luke 1.16, 54, 68, 80; 2.25, 32, 34; 4.25, 27; 7.9; 22.30; 24.21; John 1.31, 1.47, 49; 3.10; 12.13; Acts 1.6; 2.22, 36; 3.12; 4.10, 4.27; 5.21, 31, 35; 7.23, 37, 42; 9.15; 10.36; 13.16, 17; 13.23, 24; 21.28; 28.20; Romans 9.4, 6, 27, 31; 10.19, 21; 11.1, 2, 7, 25, 26; 1 Corinthians 10.18; 2 Corinthians 3.7; 3.13; 11.22; Galatians 6.16; Ephesians 2.12; Philippians 3.5; Hebrews 8.8, 10; 11.22; Revelation 2.14; 7.4; 21.12.
2 Craig A. Blaising, “The Future of Israel as a Theological Question“, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 44/3 (September 2001), p. 435. This article discusses the theological theory of supersessionism from the writings of Justin Martyr, Melito of Sardis, and the Letter of Barnabas. The error of supersessionism began in the 2nd century and has poisoned theological thinking to such a degree that in our day it has become the predominate view of Christendom. While “replacement theology” began early in church history, many church fathers believed national Israel had a future and would be saved. See Michael J. Vlach, “Rejection Then Hope: The Church’s Doctrine of Israel in the Patristic Era“, The Master’s Seminary Journal, 19/1 (Spring 2008), p. 51-70.
3 The term “spiritual” is used by convention for figurative, non-literal, or non-normative language. Such terminology has nothing to do with the moral senses spirituality such as holiness, goodness, etc. Figurative language is legitimate in a number of contexts and is easy to spot: in poetry, parables, prophecy (cf. Isaiah, “all flesh is grass”; Jesus, “I am the door”). But figurative language is not the norm. Literal language is the norm for 99.9% of communication.
4 Most who maintain the unsound theory that the Church is the “new” Israel profess to believe in God’s sovereignty. This is surely wrong. According to their theory, God’s sovereign promises were abrogated by the disobedience and failure of one generation of Jews! But Paul declared, “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11.29). He presciently warned against the arrogance of supersessionism in Romans 11.18-21 and declared in Romans 11.25-26 that all Israel will be saved. The logic of replacement theology leads to the conclusion that God is not sovereign and His word cannot be trusted. If He broke His promises to Israel, how can He be trusted to keep His promises to the Church? The root problem of supersessionism, that the Church is the “new” Israel, is unbelief.
5 S. Lewis Johnson, Jr. “Paul and ‘The Israel of God’: An Exegetical and Eschatological Case-Study“, The Master’s Seminary Journal 20/1 (Spring 2009), p. 41-55.
©1998 Don Samdahl. Anyone is free to reproduce this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold.
Updated, 11/14/2014
Great article, as usual!
This is where I always get stumped, though…..is it even possible that there are any unassimilated Jews anymore? I’m assuming that this would be necessary for the 70th week.
Also, what do you think of the Jews that are in Israel right now? I’ve been researching Zionism lately, and am beginning to wonder if we’re being “duped”.
Jessica,
We do not know how God will determine this. All we know is that He will. God will identify 144,000 Jews from 12 tribes (Revelation 7). Most Jews do not know their tribe. But God does. Not a big deal when you’re omniscience.
There’s a group called Davidic Dynasty that gathers all the King David lineages. They’re going so far as to use AI to collate who they think the messiah will be. It has to be a complete patrilineal line and he has to pass a strange smell test based on a bizarre passage in the Talmud.
My dad was Sephardic Jewish and mom of some Sephardic Jewish heritage. My parents had 5 King Solomon lines via the 2 brothers who escaped Babylon for Iberia. Both brothers were the tribe of Judah. My dad’s family was endogamous so he was an unassimilated tribe of Judah. My mom’s lineage was similar and tribe of Judah. They both had some gentile thrown in but their Jewish tribe was only Judah. Contrary to popular belief among Christians the line of King David is still tracked by the Jews still waiting for their messiah.
Some 40 years ago it was this topic and the questions related to this that began my search for understanding. I was a babe in Christ and was grasping for understanding. It was the topic of the New Covenant and for whom, to whom it was directed. I knew in my heart it was for Israel but there was little evidence I could find to support my view. Most of what I read said it was basically the New Testament. I now believe there are blessings for the Church that flow from the New Covenant but the NC itself is almost entirely aimed at Israel…Jer. 31:31. I can understand the confusion if one believes the Church is Israel.
Is there an essay on your site that addresses this subject?
Great Job!!
Thanks again.
Joe,
Thank you. Relatively little is said of the New Covenant by Paul (1 Corinthians 11.25; 2 Corinthians 3.6) or in the rest of the “New Testament.” Hebrews references it 4x, which makes sense, since it is a Jewish covenant. The NC was clearly made with Israel, not the Church. Having said that, we are affected because the New Covenant deals with blessing of the Holy Spirit, by Whom we are indwelt and filled. I do not have a specific article but do address it in Covenants of Israel.
Hi doctrine. The Olive tree article really addresses this well. Being raised in an allegorical congregation, even a preacher’s kid, this passage in Romans 11 was so murkey for me at first. Thank you for that article and sharing all your insight .
I am having trouble with people believing the whole two different gospel subject which I am sorrowful about as if we don’t believe, we are lost. I know though that if we seek God and His Truth, not our own, He will fill us with His Truth.? is shocking how much people have been blind to the truth . To the point of thinking it’s heresy to not follow the gospel preached by Jesus on earth. They don’t realize that Paul’s gospel is Jesus still preaching only from heaven. This causes me grief so much. Thank you .
Bobbi,
Thank you. Glad the article was helpful. As I have written, this problem began over 1,900 years ago. Paul wrote about it in 2 Timothy 1.15. The critical issue is the gospel. Until one recognizes Paul’s gospel (1 Corithians 15.1-4) was not proclaimed by Jesus in His earthly ministry nor by the Twelve, little hope exists for understanding Christianity. Reading Paul into the Gospels and vice-versa, creates so many contradictions, and leaves people (rightly) in a muddle. Separate Israel and the Church and order returns. Some people get so exercised when told that there has been more than one gospel that they cannot think or read what the Scriptures say. It caused Paul grief nearly 2,000 years ago and continues. Grace and peace.
This is one reason why there is division. We have to have faith (believe). Hebrews 11:6 says “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek Him. ”
A scary thing is Hebrews 3:15-19. vs 19: “so we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
Doctrine,
This post is relating to your comment at the beginning of this page which reads
“The passage above indicates God has categorized man into three groups…”.
The below verbiage is cut and pasted from a complete article from another website. Thank you for your time sir Doctrine.
1 Corinthians 10:32 – The Separators Proof ?
Who are the Separators? Simply put they are the people who teach and/or believe that Israel is separated from the Body of Messiah for any other reason other than unbelief. These Separators always cite 1 Corinthians 10:32 as a proof text to teach that there are three distinct classes: Jews, Gentiles, and the Church. They say this to back up their teaching that Israel is the earthly people with an earthly kingdom and that the Church is the heavenly people with a heavenly kingdom. So by that rationale there MUST be three location in eternity; Heaven, Hell, and Earthly Israel. We will address the problems with the unbiblical concept of a third location call “Earthly Israel” existing in eternity at a later date, so for now let’s focus on 1 Corinthians 10:32 which states “Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Gentiles or to the church of God”. The Jews and Gentiles mentioned in this verse must be unbelievers or they would be counted in the Church grouping. Allow me to rephrase the verse for clarity; “Give no offense to the unbelieving Jew or Greek and also give no offense to the believing Jew or Greek called the Church.” If we can agree that there are only two locations in eternity i.e. Heaven or Hell and the only two ways to enter them is by believing or not believing, then there can only be two groups i.e. unbelievers or believers mentioned in the above said verse. Again, the “Jews and the Gentiles” referenced in this verse must both be unbelievers because if they were believers then they would be part of the Church which is both Jews and Gentiles. There are only two groups stipulated in 1Cor10:32 when we use the lens of believers or unbelievers because when all is said and done that is all that really matters. So in closing we have learned that there are only TWO bodies taught in the Bible, the body of the living and the body of the dead and their destinies are Heaven and Hell respectfully.
The Jew and the Gentile referenced in first Corinthians 10:32 exist as a single component under the constraints of unbelief and the Church mentioned in the above said verse are believers (being either Jew or Gentile) who clearly are a separate unit unto themselves. So if we add these categories together the result is unmistakably a sum of two and not three as is commonly taught using first Corinthians 10:32.
Dino,
This argument is nonsense. Believers and unbelievers existed before there were Jews or Gentiles. Paul is identifying categories of men based on His programs, not upon salvation.
Hello brother, i have a question for you : seeing that there is neither Jew or Greek in the body of Christ, what would happen if all Jews either got all saved in this dispensation of grace, or all intermarried either within the body if Christ or with other present nations before the rapture, then hypothetically there would be no more Jew genetically speaking to bring in the earthly kingdom, cant Satan use this tactic to frustrate God’s plan?
George,
Won’t, can’t happen. Satan is doing everything he can to frustrate God’s plan but his power is limited.
Hi doctrine,so has a church(body of Christ)the is need to prayer for Israel.as others teach that we must pray for Israel to have a peace.
Percy,
A prayer for Israel is a prayer for God’s prophetic plan and covenant promises to be accomplished. Praying for the peace of Jerusalem means praying for Christ’s return since He will be the one who establishes peace.
Thanks Don,your answers have been very helpful. I really appreciate.Bu I’M a little confused of the verses 1 cor 10:32why you sad Greeks means gentiles coz i think Greeks are person who are talking Greek language or who born in Greece.
Percy,
“Greek” Ἕλλην specifically meant a Greek but generally was used for all Gentiles. See Romans 1.16. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1672&t=KJVStrongs=G1672&t=KJV
The author, Michael Heiser, has been mentioned on this site. I’ve recently read 5 books by the author including 2 novels. I’m rereading The Unseen Realm. On page 158 the following is said:
“Since the Church, the corporate body of believers, inherited the promises given to Abraham (Gal 3:26-29), believers are the ‘true Israel” the New Testament talks about. When we inherit rule of the nations with Jesus at the end of days (Rev 3:21), we will displace the corrupted divine sons of God presently ruling the nations, who are under judgement (Psa 82). We are already, but not yet, Yahweh’s new council on earth.
I’ve always kept Israel and the Church separate. Heiser is a very educated man. Should I reconsider my life long belief in the separation of Israel and Church? Is the Church the ‘corporate body of believers?’ I thought the Church is the Body of Christ (believers of the Church Age).
Heiser says on the same page using John 1:12 as support: “But as many as received him–to those who believe in his name–he gave to them authority to become children of God” . then adds 1 Jn 3:1. ‘See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called children of God, and we are!’
thank you,
Joe,
Heiser has done great work with the Divine Council and other subjects but like most of Christendom he does not understand Paul’s unique apostleship and that all Church doctrine comes from Paul. “True” Israel are believing Jews. Paul made this clear in Romans 9.6-7. The Church are “sons of Abraham.” These are NOT the same. The Church is never called Israel. Israel is a technical term for the progeny, physical and spiritual, of Jacob. Paul made it clear in Galatians 3.7-9 that we are children of Abraham in the sense that Abraham is our father because we are justified by faith as was Abraham. Heiser is brilliant and a great scholar but in this case, his scholarship is poor. He does not understand John wrote to believing Jews (in his gospel and letters), not to the Church and that the Church is nowhere present in Revelation. Revelation 3.21 concerns Jews, who are about the experience the Tribulation, not the Church. We know little about the Church’s future destiny. What we do know is from Romans 8.17 and 1 Corinthians 6.2-3. It is not clear in what sense we will rule the world.
Hi Don, I have to absolutely second you on Heiser and his take on Paul. I have chosen to stop listening to him. His understanding of Paul is lacking. Much discerment is required when listening. Joe tread carefully. There are many traps that the enemy sets for us and if our foundation is wonky we may very well fall into the traps. I for one would never suggest to any new believer to read any of his books. Take care.
Paul introduced what we call the Church. The Church represents believers in Paul’s gospel. Before Paul’s gospel there was the Kingdom Gospel. Is it possible that what Paul referred to as the “Israel of God” in Gal. is the collection of Kingdom gospel believers at the time….being associated with believers but segregated as to gospels?….the word ‘and’ in the verse has always interested me. If the world ‘and’ wasn’t there maybe I’d buy the theory that the Israel of God was the Church…..please let me know what you think.
I really appreciate your work. God bless you.
Joe,
The Israel of God was certainly Jews who had believed the gospel of the kingdom. The only grammatical question is whether Paul is speaking of two groups or one. Thus, And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Did “them” refer to the Israel of God, Jewish believers, or to others and Jewish believers?
Presented just as a view as to what the secular TV thinks..This was on msnbc this a.m. (12-6-17) Chris Matthews talking about Trump officially making Jerusalem Israel’s capital:
“Wednesday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” while discussing President Donald Trump’s expected announcement to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, “Hardball” host Chris Matthews said evangelical Christians have “crazy ideas” and “mythical” beliefs about Israel.”
Joe,
Chris Matthews has apparently never studied history. Jerusalem has been Israel’s capital since 3,000 B.C. and God has promised it to the Jews forever. Those who reject the Scriptures have a destiny of humiliation and condemnation.
Brother Don,
What is your view of “Christian Zionism”?
How should we view Israel today? Do we only consider their prophetic destiny?
Thanks for all you do for the Body of Christ.
Bob
Bob,
Thank you. Jews in Israel are in unbelief. The return of Jews to the land today is the stage-setting for the nation’s regathering. It is not until the kingdom that all Israel is regathered into the land.
Don, I was just wondering if Christians should financially support Israel as I see many organizations on TV asking for help and that God will bless those who bless Israel. I once heard Donnie Swaggart say that we should not give them money because Israel is rich. Yet in a magazine article I read, it said that because of all the bombings that take place there, Israel is poor having to spend so much on defense and weapons.
Craig,
That is a decision the individual must make. Israel has to spend a fairly larger percentage of their GDP for defense because they are surrounded by enemies but they are not poor. God has blessed them and will keep them. At the present time, the Jews are in the land in unbelief. We should support ministries that are working to bring Jews to a knowledge of Christ.
Don, I didn’t know where to put my question, but I have a friend who used to be a dispensationist. He wrote:
“I believe that God has one people, and has always had one people. It’s true that there was a physical nation called Israel. But God’s true people were always the ones who believed God with the light that they had been given. I believe that whenever the tribulation happens, it won’t be a thing for Jews as dispensationalism teaches while the gentile church watches from the heavenly grandstands. All people, regardless of how they identify themselves, will experience the tribulation if they happen to be alive when that happens. My basic point is, that God has always had only one people, not a divided kingdom. I don’t want anything to do with dispensationalism, (I know that Paul used the word “dispensation ” occasionally, but I see it a whole different way than what “dispensationalism” means in religionland. Get out of that mess buddy. You don’t want to be a part of a movement that divides God’s people do you?”
How do I respond?
Craig,
Well, it is God who has made the divisions. In a broad sense there is one people of God, those who have responded to Him. But in Romans 11, Paul wrote about “natural branches” and “wild branches.” That’s two groups. Israel is always and only the offspring of Jacob. Gentiles are never called Israel and the Church is never called Israel. Paul wrote that God has divided the world into Jew, Gentile, and Church (1 Corinthians 10.32). The Church is not present in the Tribulation: Romans 5.9, 1 Thessalonians 1.10, 5.9. Those who experience the Tribulation will be Jews and Gentiles–no Church.
Don, are there any Hebrew Israelites today? I heard that they were all scattered and killed.
Craig,
A great deal of false teaching exists regarding the Jews—lost tribes, lost identities, extinction, etc. Peter addressed all 12 tribes at Pentecost and James wrote to the 12 tribes who were in foreign lands. Peter wrote some of these Jews in Babylon. Revelation tells us that 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes will be God’s ministers during the Tribulation. While most Jews cannot trace their tribal descent, God’s knows who they are and will manifest them at the needed time. The term “Hebrew,” “Jew,” and “Israel,” are synonymous. So “Hebrew Israelite” is redundant. The only Israelites who exist are Hebrews, Jews.
Hi! Where do the different terms come from? I don’t have a lot of OT knowledge yet, but I thought Jews were the tribe of Judah. When do these three terms first appear?
Greetings, CK
Carokpf,
Originally, the term “Jew” applied only to Judah but later, to members of all tribes. See https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3064&t=KJV.
Don, how do I deal with someone who says this?
“Caucasians are the true Isrealites, not Jews.
There are some who become involved with British Isrealism because it’s an excuse for their own racism but true Brit Isrealites are not racists.”
Craig,
I ignore such people. I have found they are brainwashed. No matter how much evidence you give to the contrary they won’t accept it. See https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation/related-topics/northern-kingdom-falls-to-assyria.html.
Don,
There are scriptures found in the bible relating to prophecy and scriptures relating to secretes. Israel and the promises and prophecies are not part of the secretes. As ‘new creations’ today what role does Israel play in our bible study. Is 1948 and the re-founding of Israel something we need to watch? Do we pray for the Israel as a nation? Are we to be watch for signs of the times?
thank you for your hard work.
Joe,
Israel coming back into their homeland is a modern miracle. No one thought this possible—except people who believed the Bible. They are in their land in unbelief but their being there shows God is in control and the time is short. He has set the stage to wrap up His prophetic plan. I’m afraid too much of Christendom is wrapped up looking for signs because has mixed Israel with the Church. We are in the Church age. While God has begun to set up the prophetic stage, He is not fulfilling prophecy. The Church has no prophecy associated with it except the Rapture. We pray for the Jews, that they will come to know Christ. God will take care of them as a nation.
Don, Is Judah a part of Israel? the same thing?
Craig,
Judah is part of Israel but after the kingdom divided, the 10 tribes became known as “Israel” and the two southern tribes were known as Judah.
In Matthew 10 and 15 the phrase ‘the lost sheep of the house of Israel” is found. I’m having a conversation with a fellow who says the lost sheep of the House of Israel are the lost Israelites taken during the Northern invasion in the 700’s BC. This is one of those people who believe the ‘lost’ tribes are the British and N. Americans. What would you say to this fellow.
Joe,
It amazing to me what people will believe. Peter addressed the whole house of Israel at Pentecost. James wrote to the 12 tribes scattered. No tribes have been lost. In Revelation 12,000 are sealed from each of the 12 tribes. In Ezekiel 37 God says he will join both Israel and Judah. Ezekiel wrote after the Assyrian invasion. Most of these people cannot be reasoned with no matter how much evidence they have. These folks want to think they are Jews and there is usually legalism involved.
Don, a similar irrationality occurs among the growing black Israelite cult. Regardless of the scriptures in Galatians and elsewhere that all believers are one in Christ and the seed of Abraham. Instead, they always quote and take out of context various Old Testament and non-Pauline New Testament scriptures. They espouse a harsh militant legalism devoid of any grace. In some cases adherents have even advocated violence, stating their justification from levitical law. In fact, they even seem to have more in common with Islam than Christianity. As they seem to reject the Trinity or deity of Christ. Another example of the doctrines of demons. Of course, demonic heresy is not confined to any particular human nationality, race, class, culture, etc. But I do perceive a significant increase the closer we get to the rapture.
Don, a Christian friend says that Jesus is Yahweh. He uses Isaiah 54:5 where is says your maker is your husband. Can you expound on this verse? He says one is not a Christian if they don’t believe this.
Craig,
Yes, Jesus is YHVH, Jehovah. This was His point in John 8, referencing Exodus 3, I AM. God is always said to be the “husband” of Israel.
Don, so Jesus is YHVH. But the part where it says he is our husband is what some Christians use to support their bride of Christ doctrine. I know this verse is addressed to Israel. But my christian friend says if we don’t believe this verse we aren’t saved
Craig,
This is true. Only God can forgive sins. So Jesus has to be God. He revealed he was YHVH in John 8. If we are to be forgiven, God has to do it and Jesus’ work did so. Therefore, He is God, YHVH. He revealed this also when He healed the paralyzed man who was lowered through the roof.
Dear Craig,
I must respectfully disagree with Don that Jesus is YHWH according to John 8:58.
John 8:58 is only ONE of a SET of “I am” statements with no predicate in John’s Gospel. Some people have called them the “naked” statements (smile) because they r not accompanied by a metaphor.
If you make yourself a chart of all the “naked” statements and look at how they are all treated differently by translators in regards to where they use upper case lettering or not you will begin to see the game being played. Also:
Each of the “naked” statements is part of an ellipsis i.e. because they have no metaphor attached the “I am” points back to a previous idea which is silent or implied at the end of the ” I am”.
For example, when the Samaritan woman asks Jesus if he is the Messiah, he replies “I am” clearly meaning “I am the Messiah” but not meaning “I Am YHWH”. The very same thing is happening in 8:58 although in a slightly more obscure way.
Also with regard to Exodus 3:14 Hebrew scholars do not all translate God’s title here as “I AM”. Some translate it as “I will be what I will be” or other.
Reading the Greek John 8:58 back into Hebrew Exodus 3:14 is problematical.
And one last point – John states explicitly that he wrote his gospel with the very purpose of having his audience (Jewish) believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.
If he had wanted them to believe that Jesus was YHWH he was quite capable of saying so, but he did NOT!
Annie,
The point Jesus was making to the Jews was that He was eternal. The “I am” statement mean this. It goes back to Exodus 3.14 for when Moses asked the One who spoke to him from the burning bush His name, the reply was “I am that I am,” that is, I am the eternal One.
Hi Don,
thank you for a very excellent article.
Some teachers say that the doctrine of Christ’s death for the remission of sins is a subsidiary part of the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Would you class this as preaching “another Gospel”?
Annette,
The gospel of the kingdom was to believe who Jesus was, the Messiah, the Son of God. Paul’s gospel, the gospel of the grace of God, was to believe Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.
Yes. I see. Christ’s death for the remission of sin is not included in the GotK.
How then to explain the numerous occasions where Paul preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and the things concerning Jesus Christ? Is that explained by the mid-Acts division?
appreciation as always
Annette,
Where do you find Paul proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom other than Acts 9.20?
Acts 28:23,31 ?
Annette,
Please see my article, The Great Hinge. The gospel of the kingdom ended at the Jerusalem conference. This is how Paul could write what he did in Galatians 1.6-9. When Paul spoke of the kingdom of God it included more than the earthly kingdom.
ok. I’ll read it again (carefully!!)👌
I think you are saying that when Paul was preaching the KoG (Acts 28:31) he had a new lens which provided him with new content about the KoG which derived from the content of the Gospel of Grace and synthesised with it. I’m comfortable with that.
as always
grateful Aussie.
Annette,
Yes. See https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=Kingdom+of+god&t=KJV&csr=12#s=s_primary_0_1
Don. I understand that Jews have no concept of going to heaven when they die. But how is it that Jesus took the OT people to heaven with him after his crucifixion?
Craig,
He took them to heaven to be with Him until He would establish the kingdom.
I heard a preacher say this week that when we evangelize we should always go to Jews first if Jews and gentiles are the same in this dispensation of grace why would this be ? Also he said we should be supporting a Jewish ministry. Is this correct? If so do you know of a ministry that is legitimate? Thanks for information I appreciate you so much.
Bren,
The preacher is misinformed. The ministry we must support is one that proclaims that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead for salvation. There is no Jewish priority.
We always end our services with “the blessing” from Numbers 6:24-26. A visiting minister pointed out that this blessing is actually meant for the children of Israel. The church has expropriated it. Does the same go for “The Lord’s Prayer”?
Anders,
The “Lord’s Prayer” of Matthew 6 is addressed to Jews. We can make some application of it but it is clearly not for the Church, the body of Christ. According to this prayer, God will not forgive unless one forgives others. But Paul wrote that because God has forgiven us, we should forgive others (Ephesians 4.32; Colossians 3.13). We are in a totally different relationship. We live under grace, not law (Romans 6.14). Thus, the Law said, Do, and live! Grace says, Live, and do!
Thanks for your reply. I found your article on The Lords Prayer after I posted the above. Very helpful.
Don, I was told that Israel today is not the Israel mentioned in the Bible. That many there now are not direct descendants. Is this true?
Craig,
No.
Don, can you explain?
Craig,
What is meant by the statement that Israel today is not the Israel of the Bible? Do they mean Jews in Israel are not Jews? Do they mean the Church has replaced Israel? Are they supersessionists? Who are these people?
Don, it was a Quaker who told me this.
Craig,
See https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/how-the-quakers-became-champions-of-bds.
“Israel today is not the Israel of the bible.”
This theory below is/was an attempt to separate today’s Jews from the historical, biblical Jewish linage of the bible. It has failed thanks to DNA. Nice try!
Wikipedia
The Khazar hypothesis of Ashkenazi ancestry, often called the Khazar myth by its critics,[1][2] is a largely abandoned historical hypothesis that postulated that Ashkenazi Jews were primarily, or to a large extent, descended from Khazars, a multi-ethnic conglomerate of mostly Turkic peoples who formed a semi-nomadic khanate in and around the northern and central Caucasus and the Pontic–Caspian steppe. The hypothesis also postulated that after collapse of the Khazar empire, the Khazars fled to Eastern Europe and made up a large part of the Jews there.
The hypothesis has been cited at times by anti-Zionists to challenge the idea that Jews have genetic ties to ancient Israel. It has also occasionally played some role in antisemitic theories propounded by fringe groups of American racists, Russian nationalists and adherents of the Christian identity movement.
All I wanted to know is that since the nation of Israel is secular, in unbelief, is it then not the Israel of God, but the synagogue of satan? Christians all over Facebook say we should be praying for the peace of Israel. That God loves her. But the majority of Jews there have rejected Christ.
Craig,
The majority of Jew will remain in unbelief until Christ returns. On that day every Jew will believe. All Israel will be saved (Romans 11.26).
Don. This is what my Quaker friend wrote:
“The Israel from the bible is different from the country today called Israel. It was a theocracy. Now it’s a democracy. The land area is different as well. They are abusing this by claiming the country of Israel is theirs. It is also a Holy land for Muslims and Christians.”
How do I respond?
Craig,
The government is different but Israel’s government in Bible times was also different. It began with judges and became a monarchy. The land borders also changed in Bible times. In Bible times, Gentiles always were in parts of the land. There were Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, and many others. In the time of Jesus, many Gentiles inhabited the land, remnants from the invasions of Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes, Persians, Greeks, Romans. What determines the land of Israel is the Jewish people in the land under a government. They are. Case closed.
For what it’s worth–
by Benjamin Blech
Rabbi Blech is Associate Professor of the Talmud at Yeshiva University and the author of Eyewitness to Jewish History (Wiley, 2007), from which the following article is excerpted..
Over three hundred years ago King Louis XIV of France asked Blaise Pascal, the great French philosopher of his day, to give him proof of the existence of miracles. Without a moment’s hesitation, Pascal answered,”Why, the Jews, your Majesty-the Jews.”
We don’t have to speculate what Pascal meant when he gave this answer, because he took the trouble to spell it out. In his masterwork, Pensees, he explained that the fact that the Jewish people had survived until the seventeenth century-the time period in which he lived-was nothing short of a supernatural phenomenon.
Pascal is but one of many scholars and students of Jewish history who have been awed by a story that seems inexplicable by the ordinary rules of logic. When Arnold Toynbee completed his classic ten-volume analysis of the rise and fall of human civilizations, A Study of History, he was troubled by only one seeming refutation of his universal rules governing the inexorable decline of every people on earth. Only the Jews had survived, in defiance of Toynbee’s carefully reasoned analysis. So Toynbee proclaimed the Jews nothing more than”a vestigial remnant,” a people destined soon to perish.
But somehow, in spite of the most brutal attempts throughout history to destroy the children of Israel-from crusades, inquisitions, and pogroms to the”Final Solution” of the Holocaust-Jews have defied all predictions of their demise. Like Mark Twain, who read his own obituary in the newspaper, Jews can thankfully respond that the report of their death”is highly exaggerated.” With a smile we can remind ourselves of the famous 1964 Look magazine cover story that confidently predicted”The Vanishing American Jew” and reflect on the irony that it is Look magazine itself that no longer survives.
Jewish history, simply put, defies explanation.
Mark Twain was an agnostic and a self-acknowledged skeptic, yet he could not help but be overwhelmed by this remarkable truth. This is what he wrote in 1899:
The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away. The Greek and Roman followed, made a vast noise and they are gone. Other peoples have sprung up, and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out and they sit in twilight now or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew. All other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?
The writer Leo Nikolaivitch Tolstoy, best known for War and Peace, was not an agnostic. He was a very religious Russian Orthodox Christian. In an 1891 article entitled”What Is a Jew?” he wrote:
The Jew is the emblem of eternity. He who neither slaughter nor torture of thousands of years could destroy, he who neither fire, nor sword, nor Inquisition was able to wipe off the face of the earth. He who was the first to produce the Oracles of God. He who has been for so long the Guardian of Prophecy and has transmitted it to the rest of the world. Such a nation cannot be destroyed. The Jew is as everlasting as Eternity itself.
Perhaps David Ben Gurion, the first prime minister of the State of Israel, summed it up best when he said,”A Jew who does not believe in miracles is not a realist.”
And that’s why this book, Eyewitness to Jewish History, had to be written. Miracles need to be told. Incredible events have to be publicized. The story of a people that begins with the Bible and continues to be the focus of world attention to this day requires study and understanding.
After all, among the many gifts of the Jews to the world is the very concept of history. Ancients had no appreciation for studying the past. Herodotus, a Greek who lived in the fifth century before the Common Era, is commonly considered the first historian; he is given the title”the father of history.” But as Columbia University historian Joseph Yerushalmi has pointed out,”If Herodotus was the father of history, the father of meaning in history was the Jews.”
It is the Jewish Bible that introduced the commandment to remember:”Remember the Lord who took you out of Egypt, the house of bondage.””Remember the days of old; understand the years of generation to generation.” Remember Amalek and all those who sought to destroy you. Remember what your ancestors taught you. Remembering will make you a better people. Remembering will make you smarter. Remembering will enable you to survive. And remembering will transform you from a people of history to a nation of destiny.
Can you explain (or direct me if already addressed) how we wound up with various Orthodox churches that claimed to be the Church and then formally split from the Catholic Church.
It seems to me that the Apostles formed Churches based on the Kingdom Gospel and the Heavenly gospel if Paul was lost.
What church group maintained the Gospel of Paul?
If there were none, then how can Protestants claim to have rediscovered 1500 years later?
Cigmd,
The record from church history shows most of Christendom abandoned Pauline theology, especially the understanding that his apostleship was unique, that he was not an appendage to the Twelve, that to him alone the ascended Christ revealed all Church doctrine, that the Church began with him. These truths remain unknown by the vast majority in Christendom. What the Reformers recovered was the Pauline truth that salvation today is by faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. This was wonderful but they did not recover the significance of Paul’s apostleship, his secrets, revelations.
EVANGELICALS TELL US that God has a separate plan for the Jews and a separate plan for the Church. But St Paul distinguishes 3 classes of society in I Corinthians 10 and Galatians 6 with the emphasis on “The Israel of God,” which is the Church:
1. Jews: “Enemies of the Cross”
2. Gentiles: “Pagans & Idolaters”
3. The Church of God: “The Israel of God”
THE ONLY PLAN that God has for the “enemies of the Cross and “idolaters” is that they become Christians and join the Mystical Body of Christ. St Paul wrote, God has broken down the middle wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles to make in Himself one new man, so making peace. (Ephesians 2)
But the Jews are at war with the New Testament vision for the brotherhood of man. The Jews hate Jesus Christ and are hell-bent on eradicating Christianity throughout the world. They even created a State dedicated to the denial of Jesus Christ! How then could Israel be a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy when it denies the Messiah Jesus Christ?
Alex,
The Church is never declared “the Israel of God.” Israel is Israel. The Church is the Church. Paul declared there is no Jew or Gentile in the Church. The phrase, “the Israel of God” in Galatians 6 refers to Jews. They were the ones who were giving Paul problems. The passage makes no sense, indeed, the entire letter makes no sense if the Church is identified as Israel. Israel is the key in God’s prophetic plan. He will deal with them. Look at Saul of Tarsus. Would anyone have thought he would become the Lord’s greatest servant and lover of Jesus Christ? See my article, The Olive Tree.
Sorry, not trying to clutter anything up, but I am confused and would be grateful for your response.
“And you will not see Me until you say, “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord”
How is possible that the nation of Israel will accept Christ before He comes (again)? The Jews didn’t believe the first time, and today’s Pharisee rabbi led Talmudic and Kabbalist system is hostile to everything Christ and Christian. They want a supremacist messiah.
So, it would seem that Christ would have to show up first, not after, to try an convince them a second time. And absent Christ showing up again, there is no way the Jews will convert to Christianity on their own volition claiming the quote above. What possibly could occur that would make Jews change and accept Jesus first? Thanks.
Alex,
It appears the Jewish people, as a nation, will not say these words until they see Him appear in the sky. God will bring them to the precipice of annihilation. It will take this to straighten their thinking.
So, they will see Him first, then convert? But that isn’t what the words actually say: “And you will not see Me until you say, “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord”
Alex,
I think these two things must occur at the same time. I think Jesus will appear in the sky, the Jews will see Him, recognize it is Jesus of Nazareth, and say the words, “Blessed…. The Lord will then return to earth. It’s a difficult question but I think it is another example of how the divine will and the human will cooperate in salvation.
Paul said: “not all who are of Israel are Israel.”
This indicates the existence of two Israels. One—”all who are of Israel”—indicates the ethnic people, not all of whom believe in Jesus. The other Israel, the context reveals, does not include those who have rejected the Messiah. This new Israel, founded by Messiah, exists in spiritual continuity with the Old Testament saints and so counts as a “spiritual Israel.” It includes Gentiles who believe in the Messiah.
Thoughts?
Alex,
Paul states an Israel exists within Israel, that is, within biological Israel, the children of Jacob, some who are believers, “spiritual Israel.” This has always been the case. The term “Israel” always refers to ethnic Jews or the the Jewish land. No exceptions exist.
So is it in the millennium that the people of the nation of Israel become priest to be the light to the nations they were prophesied to be? I was of the understanding that at the end of the seven years of tribulation would be when they turn to Christ as a nation. Hope that’s not a confusing question?
Bren,
Every Jew alive will believe Jesus is the Messiah at the end of the Tribulation and will enter the kingdom. During the kingdom, God will fulfill all His covenant promises and the Jews will serve as priests and lights to Gentiles.
How will the Jews serve as priests and light in the kingdom when no unbeliever will enter the kingdom
I thought the promise of Israel serving as a priest and light to the gentiles will be fulfilled by the 144,000 sealed Jews during the tribulation
Gideon,
Only believers enter the kingdom but they will have children and those children will need to find salvation.
What happens to the billions of Chinese, Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims and atheists during the Kingdom which will only include maybe tens of millions of Jews, a small minority of humanity?
DJ,
Only believers enter the kingdom. Most of humanity is killed during the Tribulation. The world population at Christ’s return will probably be less than 20 million.
Hi Don,
Pls, what city and country (“heavenly country”) is Paul referring to in Hebrew 11:16
According to 1cor 11:5-6, is Paul encouraging covering of head while praying? Are women to cover their head or not?
Was it sin in the time of paul for women not to cover their head? Pls help me understand
Thank you
Gideon,
The “heavenly country” meant that its source was heaven, “from heaven.” This is what Jesus meant in John 18.36 when He said his kingdom was “not from this world,” ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, that is, its source is not from this world, and emphasized the point, closing the verse with, “not from here” or “not from this place,” οὐκ ἔστιν ἐντεῦθεν.
In Paul’s day, women wearing a head covering was a symbol of submission to their husbands. It no longer has such a cultural meaning. Instead, God has given women a natural indicator of this, long hair. Paul point was to uphold God’s natural order of creation. The woman was from the man and for the man. In Paul’s day, a woman wearing something on her head was an sign to the angels that they were obeying God’s creative order.
What about women who have short hair? Do you think they’re not fulfilling the requirement of this verse? Would they need to cover their head?
Thank you
Gideon.
Paul is speaking in general terms. Generally speaking, men have had short hair throughout history and women have had long hair.
Thank you
What is the difference between the Lord super and the holy communion (1cor11:23-25)
Thank you once again
Gideon,
No difference. Different churches have different names for it.
Just wondering where to place the prophetic words of Jesus in Luke 19:41-44..past,present,or future?
If future then, how could we pray against what Jesus announced will happen.?
In this present dispensation only Paul’s Glorious Gospel of the Grace of God is available to anyone.
Also in those verses would the “not one stone upon another” include the wall that still stands?
Thanks
Donc,
This was fulfilled when Titus destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 A.D. No stone of the Temple remains. The stones that exist, Western wall, compose a retaining wall for the Temple mount, not a wall of a building.
Well, then is Zechariah Ch 4:1-4 also to be placed as 70AD or is it the Lord’s future second coming?
Donc,
Zechariah 4 concerns the two witnesses during the Tribulation (Revelation 11).
I’m sorry Don, my mistake I meant for that ref to be Zechariah Chapter 14:1-4.
The way it reads makes it sound like an additional “70AD” similar the Titus
one that is so popular.
Thanks
Donc,
Zechariah 14.1-4 concerns the Lord’s 2nd Advent at the end of the Tribulation.
Don, thank you so much for the excellent articles. I’m confused on the matter of who was ministering to whom during the Acts period. You stated that after Acts 15, Jews had to be saved as Gentiles. So to whom were the 12 going to/ministering to during the middle to end of the book of Acts? Their epistles were written during this Acts period, correct? Were the 12 just “holding ground” and awaiting a possible soon return of Christ while Paul is out gathering both Jew and Gentile under the gospel of grace? Were any of those under the umbrella of the Kingdom Gospel choosing to opt into the Body during this time? Could you lay out a timeline-for-dummies on this? Please and thank you
Chris,
The 12 continued to minister to Jews who had believed the gospel of the kingdom. They fully believed they would go through the Tribulation. The letters of James, Peter, John, and Jude show this clearly. One could not “opt into” the body of Christ. The only way into the body of Christ is to believe Paul’s gospel. Jews who believed that gospel, the only valid message of salvation after the Council of Jerusalem, likely associated with Paul’s churches (which had a lot of Jews).