Perspectives on Israel and the Church: Four Views
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
The relationship between Israel and the church is one of the most debated issues in the history of theology. Some hold the view that there is almost seamless continuity between Israel and the church, while others believe there is very little continuity. Additional perspectives lie between these two. This debate has contributed to the formation of denominations and produced a variety of political views about the state of Israel.
To advance the conversation, Perspectives on Israel and the Church brings together respected theologians representing four positions:
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- Explores several issues in relation to Israel and the church
- Addresses the exegetical issues related to Israel and its relationship to God
- Presents the essays in the historical order that the various positions arose
- Chapter 1: The Traditional Covenantal View by Robert L. Reymond
- Chapter 2: The Traditional Dispensational View by Robert L. Thomas
- Chapter 3: The Progressive Dispensational View by Robert L. Saucy
- Chapter 4: The Progressive Covenantal View by Chad Brand & Tom Pratt Jr.
Top Highlights
“Still, Augustine further championed the view earlier advocated by the Epistle of Barnabas and Origen that the church has now replaced Israel as the people of God.” (Page 5)
“This book thus first set forth the schema that would later be known as amillennialism.” (Page 4)
“Terminology applied to Israel as the people of God is now applied to the church, which includes both Jews and Gentiles” (Page 190)
“The present state of Israel is not yet the fulfillment of that prophesied restoration” (Page 205)
“The church is the initial phase of the prophesied messianic salvation involving the creation of a new humanity in which both Jews and Gentiles share a new relationship with God as his people through the new covenant initiated by Christ’s saving work. It is not a new Israel replacing the Israel of the Old Testament prophecies and thus fulfilling the role of that nation in the as yet unfulfilled historic plan of salvation.” (Page 189)
The issue of the relation of Israel and the church is crucial in New Testament interpretation for soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology. Perspectives on Israel and the Church affords scholarly, well-articulated accounts of how traditional covenantal, progressive covenantal, traditional dispensational, and progressive dispensational theologies address these crucial issues from their distinctive perspectives.
Steve W. Lemke, Provost, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary