Jesus and the Land: How the New Testament Transformed 'Holy Land' Theology

Top Highlights

“In other words, the land is not a possession that may be enjoyed without reference to God. Possessing this land is contingent on Israel’s ongoing faithfulness to God and obedience to his law. The land therefore is a byproduct of the covenant, a gift of the covenant. It is not a possession that can be held independently.” (Pages 3–4)

“In a profound sense, Israel never ‘owns’ the land of promise. God owns this land. Leviticus” (Page 4)

“This book asks how Christians should understand these competing land claims. Given our theological framework, what is the relationship between land and theology in the New Testament? What did Jesus and the New Testament writers think about the territorial claims of ancient Israel? Did they retain the view of the sanctity of Jerusalem and its Temple? Were they rethinking the relationship between faith and locale? Or were they confident that a sacred place was still to be held for believers?” (Page xii)

“Walker concludes that for Paul—and here we may have a vital clarifying insight into Paul’s view of the land—Jerusalem and its Temple are places that enjoy historic respect but cannot claim a universal or lasting theological significance.” (Page 74)

“This is indeed a new beginning. But with a twist. The native-born aliens who live alongside Israel in the land should be treated as ‘citizens of Israel’ (47:22). The alien will gain an inheritance alongside Israel (47:23) and the land will be shared in a way not imagined before.” (Pages 8–9)