The Israel of God
Who consitutes Israel? Well, there is a nation with that name and they do have a history to back up that name. Case closed.... But alot of Christians have a problem with that position.
Those Christians make questionable assumptions on this topic and provide a variety of reasons for their position. Firstly, they assume the name Israel applies to them. And in line with replacement theology they assume that the name Israel no longer applies to Israel as a national human people. Jews are not considered as "of Israel" since they aren't Christians !
The book of Romans, an epistle of Paul is one of the primary sources for some of these claims.
Romans 2 is also used to justify that only true christian believers can be considered a Jew.
On the contrary, this only says that anyone who should be considered truly Jewish has the inward character necessary. Paul's main point is to establish a place for gentile inclusion into the people of God, Israel. This shouldn't be turned backwards to displace nearly the whole of the Jewish nation.
Romans 3 is used to say that everyone is in sin and therfore out of relationship with God, the Jews are usually lumped into this side of unbelief and sin. The quotation that Paul supplies is concerned with the fact that gentiles are all cut off from the covenant arrangement that God already has with Israel and by grafting "believing gentiles". There are clearly people in scripture who were considered righteous individually, see Hebrews 11, also Daniel, Job, Noah, Abraham, Moses, etc. Israel as a nation maintained a righteousness under the law arrangement that provided forgiveness of sins and atonement in God's eyes. Even if that is considered temporal it was the extent intended by God, to maintain a good life on earth and blessings in the land.
Romans 4 is used to say that Abraham is only the father of faith for those who believe in Christ.
Abraham provided an excellent example of faithfulness, by his own actions and belief. God also demonstrated his faithfulness to Abraham. Faith is nowhere stated to be only through Abraham, but is also implied as being possessed by those who observe Torah.
Romans 7 is used to say that Paul as a Jew considered himself miserable beyond desciption.
Paul's frame of reference isn't about himself personally, but pointed back to chapter 1. This deals with the situation of gentiles trying to reach to God by taking a route of Torah conversion but still maintaining a gentile identity. This was a common issue with Roman citizens who built relationships with first century Judaism.
Romans 9 is used to say that the prophets considered Israel as "not my people" and that Christians filled in for that failure. No where does this exclude Israel, in fact the first 4 verses say that to them belong the covenants and fathers, etc. The arguments about Pharoah and others are only building a case for inclusion of gentiles into God's people. God can make them righteous, just as he had taken other previously and dealt out negative examples. The quotations from Hosea allow for gentiles who were not God's people (as some of Israel was temporarily were also), to become God's people.
Romans 11 is used to say that Israel has stumbled and has been replaced by a grafted in true people. Israel throughout this section is either all the human Israelites or it's all spiritual Israelites, it's not taking only the good as spiritual. Therefore, I read this a consistently human and Jewish. When gentiles are mentioned, as Christians, they are put in as branches grafted in, but never called Israel. Verse 25 culminates in the phrase "so all Israel will be saved". To identitify this as natural Israel provides an answere to the pending conclusion, what of Israel? He wouldn't have to say that about gentile Christians. Thus all references to Israel apply to the obvious literal people of the Jewish nation.
Galatians 6 is read to apply Israel to believers in Christ.
The phrase can just as easily be translated with an "and" between the phrases.
15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.
so vs 16 is "to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God", the Jewish people.
It could also be read as an extention phrase:
vs15 the uncircumcision vs circumcision leads into vs 16 as a) all who follow this rule, and b) even as far as the Israel of God
Many points in the book of Acts imply that Paul, Peter, James still continued to deal with other Jews as if they were all still in relationship with the one God. No trace of the idea that they have been cut off from the covenant. Paul's last encounter with the Jews of Rome indicates a willingness to talk and listen with his fellow countryman.
So Israel is Israel, the Jewish nation.
Christians are grafted into Israel, but not Israel.
Recommended reading
Paul and Torah - Lloyd Gaston
Rediscovering Paul - John Gager
Those Christians make questionable assumptions on this topic and provide a variety of reasons for their position. Firstly, they assume the name Israel applies to them. And in line with replacement theology they assume that the name Israel no longer applies to Israel as a national human people. Jews are not considered as "of Israel" since they aren't Christians !
The book of Romans, an epistle of Paul is one of the primary sources for some of these claims.
Romans 2 is also used to justify that only true christian believers can be considered a Jew.
On the contrary, this only says that anyone who should be considered truly Jewish has the inward character necessary. Paul's main point is to establish a place for gentile inclusion into the people of God, Israel. This shouldn't be turned backwards to displace nearly the whole of the Jewish nation.
Romans 3 is used to say that everyone is in sin and therfore out of relationship with God, the Jews are usually lumped into this side of unbelief and sin. The quotation that Paul supplies is concerned with the fact that gentiles are all cut off from the covenant arrangement that God already has with Israel and by grafting "believing gentiles". There are clearly people in scripture who were considered righteous individually, see Hebrews 11, also Daniel, Job, Noah, Abraham, Moses, etc. Israel as a nation maintained a righteousness under the law arrangement that provided forgiveness of sins and atonement in God's eyes. Even if that is considered temporal it was the extent intended by God, to maintain a good life on earth and blessings in the land.
Romans 4 is used to say that Abraham is only the father of faith for those who believe in Christ.
Abraham provided an excellent example of faithfulness, by his own actions and belief. God also demonstrated his faithfulness to Abraham. Faith is nowhere stated to be only through Abraham, but is also implied as being possessed by those who observe Torah.
Romans 7 is used to say that Paul as a Jew considered himself miserable beyond desciption.
Paul's frame of reference isn't about himself personally, but pointed back to chapter 1. This deals with the situation of gentiles trying to reach to God by taking a route of Torah conversion but still maintaining a gentile identity. This was a common issue with Roman citizens who built relationships with first century Judaism.
Romans 9 is used to say that the prophets considered Israel as "not my people" and that Christians filled in for that failure. No where does this exclude Israel, in fact the first 4 verses say that to them belong the covenants and fathers, etc. The arguments about Pharoah and others are only building a case for inclusion of gentiles into God's people. God can make them righteous, just as he had taken other previously and dealt out negative examples. The quotations from Hosea allow for gentiles who were not God's people (as some of Israel was temporarily were also), to become God's people.
Romans 11 is used to say that Israel has stumbled and has been replaced by a grafted in true people. Israel throughout this section is either all the human Israelites or it's all spiritual Israelites, it's not taking only the good as spiritual. Therefore, I read this a consistently human and Jewish. When gentiles are mentioned, as Christians, they are put in as branches grafted in, but never called Israel. Verse 25 culminates in the phrase "so all Israel will be saved". To identitify this as natural Israel provides an answere to the pending conclusion, what of Israel? He wouldn't have to say that about gentile Christians. Thus all references to Israel apply to the obvious literal people of the Jewish nation.
Galatians 6 is read to apply Israel to believers in Christ.
The phrase can just as easily be translated with an "and" between the phrases.
15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.
so vs 16 is "to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God", the Jewish people.
It could also be read as an extention phrase:
vs15 the uncircumcision vs circumcision leads into vs 16 as a) all who follow this rule, and b) even as far as the Israel of God
Many points in the book of Acts imply that Paul, Peter, James still continued to deal with other Jews as if they were all still in relationship with the one God. No trace of the idea that they have been cut off from the covenant. Paul's last encounter with the Jews of Rome indicates a willingness to talk and listen with his fellow countryman.
So Israel is Israel, the Jewish nation.
Christians are grafted into Israel, but not Israel.
Recommended reading
Paul and Torah - Lloyd Gaston
Rediscovering Paul - John Gager
posted by J B at
Thursday, October 20, 2005
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