The New Christian Zionism: Fresh Perspectives on Israel and the Land
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Can a theological case be made from Scripture that Israel still has a claim to the Promised Land?
Christian Zionism is often seen as the offspring of premillennial dispensationalism. But the historical roots of Christian Zionism came long before the rise of the Plymouth Brethren and John Nelson Darby. In fact, the authors of The New Christian Zionism contend that the biblical and theological connections between covenant and land are nearly as close in the New Testament as in the Old.
Written with academic rigor by experts in the field, this book proposes that Zionism can be defended historically, theologically, politically and morally. While this does not sanctify every policy and practice of the current Israeli government, the authors include recommendations for how twenty-first-century Christian theology should rethink its understanding of both ancient and contemporary Israel, the Bible and Christian theology more broadly.
This provocative volume proposes a place for Christian Zionism in an integrated biblical vision.
This is a Logos Reader Edition. Learn more.
- Proposes a place for Christian Zionism in an integrated biblical vision
- Suggests that Zionism can be defended historically, theologically, politically and morally
- Contends that the biblical and theological connections between covenant and land are nearly as close in the NT as in the OT
- A History of Supersessionism: Getting the Big Story Wrong (Gerald McDermott)
- A History of Christian Zionism: Is Christian Zionism Rooted Primarily in Premillennial Dispensationalism? (Gerald McDermott)
- Biblical Hermeneutics: How Are We to Interpret the Relation Between Tanak and the New Testament on This Question? (Craig Blaising)
- Zionism in the Gospel of Matthew: Do the People of Israel and the Land of Israel Persist as Abiding Concerns for Matthew? (Joel Willitts)
- Zionism in Luke-Acts: Do the People of Israel and the Land of Israel Persist as Abiding Concerns in Luke?s Two Volumes? (Mark Kinzer)
- Zionism in Pauline Literature: Does Paul Eliminate Particularity for Israel and the Land in His Portrayal of Salvation Available for All the World? (David Rudolph)
- Theology and the Churches: Mainline Protestant Zionism and Anti-Zionism (Mark Tooley)
- Theology and Politics: Reinhold Niebuhr?s Christian Zionism (Robert Benne)
- Theology and Law: Does the Modern State of Israel Violate Its Call to Justice in the Covenant by Its Relation to International Law? (Robert Nicholson)
- Theology and Morality: Is Modern Israel Faithful to the Moral Demands of the Covenant in Its Treatment of Minorities? (Shadi Khalloul)
- How Should the New Christian Zionism Proceed? (Darrell Bock)
- Implications and Propositions (Gerald McDermott)
Part I: Theology and History
Part II: Theology and the Bible
Part III: Theology and Its Implications
Part IV: Theology and the Future
In this exciting and extraordinarily important work, Gerald McDermott and his contributors point us toward a fresh way of understanding the relationship between Christianity and Judaism—one in which Israel is not regarded merely as a voice from the past or a transitional entity consigned to a passing dispensational role, but regarded instead as an essential and enduring presence at the heart of the church's ongoing life. In their view, the 'scandal of Zionism' is an instance of the 'scandal of particularity' at the very core of the gospel—the paradox that the biblical God has conveyed a universal message by means of a particular people and a particular land whose particularity is never to be effaced or superseded. If they are right, the implications are enormous for Christians and Jews alike.
—Wilfred M. McClay, G. T. and Libby Blankenship Chair in the History of Liberty, University of Oklahoma
This book is rigorous in its scholarship and speaks with thoughtfulness and passion about an understudied and widely misunderstood subject. This important book is both learned and provocative. It is clearly written and argued throughout and displays a wealth of historical understanding, theological richness and exegetical savvy. This book is a must-read for all who are interested in the truly big questions of our day.
—Byron R. Johnson, Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University
The essays here offer a fresh perspective on Christian Zionism, one based on careful biblical exegesis and in dialogue with the historic traditions of the church. A paradigm-challenging volume.
—Timothy George, founding dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, general editor of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture