Has the church replaced Israel

What is Supersessionism?

Another word for “Replacement Theology.”

Supersessionism comes from 2 Latin words - super (on or upon) and sedere (to sit). It carries the idea of one person sitting on another's chair, displacing the latter. - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 9). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Replacement Theology - Is also known as “fulfillment theologians.” theology.' Israel was simply a picture of the true people of God, which the church fulfills." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (pp. 9-10). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

The meaning

the Church, Abraham's spiritual seed, had replaced national Israel in that it had transcended and fulfilled the terms of the covenant given to Israel, which covenant Israel had lost because of disobedience." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 11). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

"the Church completely and permanently replaced ethnic Israel in the working out of God's plan and as recipient of OT promises to Israel." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 11). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

"According to this teaching [supersessionism], God chose the Jewish people after the fall of Adam in order to prepare the world for the coming of Jesus Christ, the Savior. After Christ came, however, the special role of the Jewish people came to an end and its place was taken by the church, the new Israel." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 11). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Supersessionism, therefore, appears to be based on two core beliefs: (1) the nation Israel has somehow completed or forfeited its status as the people of God and will never again possess a unique role or function apart from the church, and (2) the church is now the true Israel that has permanently replaced or superseded national Israel as the people of God.

In the context of Israel and the church, supersessionism is the view that the NT Church is the new and/or true Israel that has forever superseded the nation Israel as the people of God. - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 12). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Variations of Supersessionsim - Three major forms of supersessionism have been recognized: punitive supersessionism, economic supersessionism, and structural supersessionism. - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 12). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

"Punitive" or "retributive" supersessionism emphasizes Israel's disobedience and punishment by God as the reason for its displacement as the people of God. Or in other words, Israel is replaced by the church because the nation acted wickedly and has forfeited the right to be the people of God. - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 13). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

This was common in the Patristic era.

Martin Luther held to this belief. He argues the destruction of Jerusalem was proof of God’s permanent rejection of Israel.

Economic - God's plan in history for the people of God to transfer from an ethnic group (Israel) to a universal group not based on ethnicity (church). In other words, economic supersessionism asserts that God planned from the beginning for Israel's role as the people of God to expire with the coming of Christ and the establishment of the church - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 14). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

With economic supersessionism, Israel is not replaced primarily because of its disobedience but rather because its role in the history of redemption expired with the coming of Jesus - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 14). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Structural Supersessionism.

Unlike the first two forms of supersessionism we have looked at, which are primarily theological positions concerning Israel, structural supersessionism is more of a hermeneutic or perspective concerning the Jewish Scriptures - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 16). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Soulen argues that the standard canonical narrative model, which the church has accepted since Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, turns on four key episodes: (1) God's intention to create the first parents, (2) the fall, (3) Christ's incarnation and the inauguration of the church, and (4) the final consummation - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (pp. 16-18). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

What is the result of this leap over the Hebrew Scriptures? God's identity as the God of Israel and His history with the Jewish people "become largely indecisive for the Christian conception of God.” - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 18). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

They remove the OT Scriptures from having a voice.

Supersessionism and the Future of Israel

Salvation and Restoration

Some SS believes there will be a future salvation for Israel but no national restoration.

The restoration of Israel means that Israel will have a role and a place that is uniquely theirs - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 19). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

"Strong supersessionism" asserts that Israel will not experience salvation as a nation.

"Moderate supersessionism," though, holds that the nation Israel will experience salvation - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 20). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Dualistic view - rejection and acceptance.

Factors leading to SS

The origin of SS - Three factors contributed to the acceptance of supersessionism in the early church:

The increasing Gentile composition of the early church.

The church had begun within Judaism as an all-Jewish sect, but by the early part of the second century its adherents—especially in the Diaspora—were predominately non-Jews." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 29). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

The failed second Jewish revolt of 132-135. Jews were forbidden to enter Jerusalem. Therefore, the Jerusalem church got its first Gentile Bishop in Marcus.

BY the time we get to the council of Nicea in 325 A.D. 18 men came from Palestine everyone one was a Gentile. and not a single Jew attended.

The church's perception of the destructions of Jerusalem in AD 70 and 135,

Jewish Christians did not help with the Jewish revolts; therefore, the Jews became more anti-Christian.

Justin, for example, in his Dialogue with Trypho, argued that these destructions of Jerusalem were God's judgment on the Christ-rejecting Jews. He stated that the Jews "justly suffer" and that the Jewish cities were rightly "burned with fire."24 He also described the Jews as "desolate" and forbidden to go to Jerusalem.25 In speaking to the Jews about the destructions of Jerusalem, he said, "Accordingly, these things have happened to you in fairness and justice, for you have slain the Just One . . . and now you reject those who hope in Him." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 31). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Origen (c. 185–254): "For what nation is an exile from their own metropolis, and from the place sacred to the worship of their fathers, save the Jews alone? And these calamities they have suffered, because they were a most wicked nation, which, although guilty of many other sins, yet has been punished so severely for none, as for those that were committed against our Jesus.” - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 31). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Richardson states, "The war of A.D. 132–5 did what the Synagogue Ban did not: to all intents and purposes it severed the two groups, freeing later Christians from the need to assert close contact with Judaism and providing for them evidence of the full 'judgment' of God upon Israel."31 Thus, these two destructions, especially the one in AD 135, caused many in the church to believe that God had permanently rejected Israel and that the church was the new Israel. - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 32). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

A hermeneutical approach that allowed the church to appropriate Israel's promises to itself. Together these factors contributed to the belief that the church had permanently replaced Israel as God's people. - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (pp. 28-29). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

3 significant factors

The Greek Septuagint

The second significant hermeneutical factor was the rise of Greek philosophical interpretation and, in particular, the adoption of the allegorical method of interpretation by many in the church. - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 32). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

There was a tendency to interpret OT in a non-literal manner.

A continuation of OT faith - As House says, "Church fathers saw Christians as the proper inheritors of the Old Testament faith, and saw proof for this in the teachings of Christ when he said, 'Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it' (Matt. 21:43)." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 33). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

The church had believed they had inherited the covenants of Israel

Patristic views

They began to see non-converted Jews not as potential converts but opponents to the Gospel.

They stereotyped the Jews as Christ-killers

The Jews rejected by God and that the church is true Israel.

Many believed the Jews would be converted.

Medieval Era

Little progress was made on SS.

SS was a well accepted fact during this period

Reformation Era

There was no unified voice

Martin Luther

Early on was very positive towards the Jews. Believing that a great number of Jews will come to faith.

Summarizing Luther's later supersessionist views concerning Israel and the Jews, Hillerbrand states, "There is no more promise for Israel. God is silent. Israel experiences the silence of God, which is his wrath. . . . In his later writings Luther appears to have abandoned the notion of the permanence of Israel's election."15 - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 57). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

John Calvin - Calvin held to a moderate form of supersessionism. For him, the church was the new Israel, but a future conversion of the Jews into the church was also to be expected - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 59). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

SS in the modern era

Perspectives concerning supersessionism have been seriously affected by two twentieth-century developments—the Holocaust and the establishment of the modern state of Israel - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 68). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Holocaust

More than any other event, the Holocaust has caused the church to reconsider SS

Dispensationalism rose in the 19th century:

There will be a restored Israel

The Hermeneutics of SS

"correct biblical principles of interpretation are ultimately far more crucial than the exegesis of isolated texts and words, not only because such principles affect and guide all exegesis, but also because they determine how false exegesis and misinterpretation can be corrected." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 79). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

The doctrine of supersessionism is largely controlled by three interrelated beliefs:

belief in the interpretive priority of the NT over the OT

the NT is the interpreter or reinterpreter of the Hebrew Scriptures. - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 80). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

They argue that Jesus and the Apostles reinterpreted the OT.

Ladd: "The fact is that the New Testament frequently interprets Old Testament prophecies in a way not suggested by the Old Testament context." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 81). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

The result of this approach, as Ladd has argued, is that physical promises to Israel are reinterpreted and find their spiritual fulfillment in the church: - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 81). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

belief in nonliteral fulfillments of OT texts regarding Israel

"many Old Testament prophecies are indeed to be interpreted literally, many others are to be interpreted in a nonliteral way." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 83). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

They point to a series of texts in which some NT writers appear to apply OT prophetic texts regarding Israel's restoration in nonliteral ways to the NT church. Three important texts in this regard are:

Acts 2:16–21;

"Pentecost is therefore merely a new aspect of Christ's continuing reign . . . by which Old Testament prophecy concerning the messianic age is fulfilled (Acts 2:16–21)." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 84). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Acts 15:15–18.

Hoekema argues that the Amos passage "is being fulfilled right now, as Gentiles are being gathered into the community of God's people." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 84). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Rom 9:24–26. - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 83). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Ladd believes that Rom 9:24–26 is evidence that the Christian church fulfills promises made to national Israel. He states, "Paul deliberately takes these two prophecies about the future salvation of Israel and applies them to the church. The church consisting of Jews and Gentiles has become the people of God. The prophecies of Hosea are fulfilled in the Christian church." - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 85). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

belief that national Israel is a type of the NT church.4 - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 79). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Many Theologians believe in OT types. For example, the sacrifices in the OT were types of Jesus Christ.

Typological interpretation is a hermeneutical approach that attempts to understand the connection between the OT and NT based on the type-antitype relationships found in the two Testaments. - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 86). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Typological interpretation is about more than just understanding that there are types in Scripture; it is an interpretive approach that views the relationship of the Testaments as being primarily typological. - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (pp. 86-87). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Those who hold to the Typological argument assert that the OT has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ and His church.

The relationship between OT types and NT antitypes is an eschatological completion - Therefore, Canaan, temple, sacrifices, Jerusalem, Jews and the throne are typologies that find their fulfillment in the first coming of Christ. The shadow has passed away never to be restored.

Essential to typological is that grammatical-historical-literal approach to scripture is not sufficient in the OT. Therefore, reading OT in light of the NT is necessary.

Typological argues that the types of national Israel in the OT are fulfilled with the church in the NT.

Thus, Israel’s role has been completed with the advent of the NT church.

Evaluating the Hermeneutics of SS

When discussing the hermeneutical approach of how the NT uses the OT is difficult and complex. Questions in this area include:

Are sensus plenior and additional meanings given to OT texts beyond the literal sense as determined by historical-grammatical-literary hermeneutics?

What is the relationship of typology to the Testaments?

Do NT authors pay close attention to the contexts of OT texts?

Are NT authors operating according to interpretive principles associated with Second-Temple Judaism?2

Are the interpretive principles of the NT authors something we should adopt in our interpretation of the OT? - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 91). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

There are two extremes that must be avoided:

The NT deals with OT text in a straight forward, literal manner every time.

Matthew 2:15 “And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”

Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, And called my son out of Egypt.”

Matthew’s use is not contrary to the literal meaning of Hosea 11:1 but goes beyond the literal meaning of what Hosea was thinking. He was not thinking of Christ when he wrote Hosea 11:1. Hosea was writing of Israel’s exodus from Egypt and Matthew makes a typological connection between Israel and the church.

The second extreme is concluding that since NT writers sometimes quote or appeal to OT passages in nonliteral or less than literal ways, then we should not expect any literal fulfillment of OT promises and covenants to Israel - Vlach, Michael J.. Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation (p. 92). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

While there are occasions when this happens, more often they quote literally.

Examples

Matthew 3:5–6 “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.” Micah 5:2 “But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

Matthew 21:4–5 “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.” Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; Lowly, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

NT Priority

Non SS supports NY priority but not in the same way.

We believe in progressive revelation; therefore, the NT adds clarity and insight into the OT but does take away what the OT says but adds to it.

We believe the authority of the NT does cancel certain national and ceremonial laws given to the Jews.

Lev. 11 speaks of dietary restrictions - Mark 7:19 “Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?”

We believe the NT does add application and referents to OT revelation. That is, an application or referent not seen by the original author. Examples are: Matthew 2:15 “And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.” Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, And called my son out of Egypt.” There are some promises made to Israel that are clearly given to the church. There is an addition to the referent but this does not mean the original referent is now excluded.

The NT church is made up of Gentiles who are ministering the New Covenant. At the same time Paul explains how the New covenant will redeem Israel - Romans 11:26–27 “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” This is taken from Isaiah 59:21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, And my words which I have put in thy mouth, Shall not depart out of thy mouth, Nor out of the mouth of thy seed, Nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, From henceforth and for ever.”

We believe there are typological connections between the OT and the NT

Romans 5 - Adam and Christ

The Passover and the Death of Christ.

In general:

We disagree that the NT is the interpretive lens that helps us to understand OT text.

We disagree that the NT supersedes the authorial intent.

There is no reference in the NT for this belief system.

Non SS views of SS hermeneutics

We believe that the NT does revoke and add referents but does not remove the authorial intent of OT writers.

SS view creates integrity issues with OT - if the promises made to the original audience was not intended for the original audience then this compromises the promises of the Bible. There are OT promises, prophecies and covenants made to specific audiences at a certain time in history for those people groups.

SS views the OT does not adequately account for the perpetuity of Israel - Jeremiah 31:35–37 “Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, And the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, Which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, Then the seed of Israel also shall cease From being a nation before me for ever. Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, saith the Lord.”

NT upholds many aspects of Israels expectations as revealed in the OT.

Matthew 19:28 “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Luke 22:36 “Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.”

Acts 1:6 “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”

SS believes the NT takes priority over OT they assert that there are non-literal fulfillment of OT passages.

Acts 15:13–18 “And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”

Amos 9:11–15 “In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, And close up the breaches thereof; And I will raise up his ruins, And I will build it as in the days of old: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, Which are called by my name, Saith the Lord that doeth this. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; And the mountains shall drop sweet wine, And all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, And they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; And they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; They shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, And they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, Saith the Lord thy God.”