Theology of substitution , Supersessionism ( Eng. Supersessionism , from the Eng. "Supersession") is the conventional name for the ecclesiological concept within the framework of Christian theology , according to which the New Testament Church , as a community of the elect, replaced Israel as an elected people; and all the promises addressed in the Bible to Jews, after the conclusion of the New Testament, are addressed to Christians. The substitution was based on the tradition of the Messiah - Jesus Christ by the Jews to be crucified and renounced from Him, as a result of which the Old Testament (concluded only with Jews) is replaced by the New Testament , where representatives of all nations become God's chosen children. The "replaced" Jews at the same time become a God-given people. Matt. 23: 37–39 , Luke 13:34 [1]
The word "supersessionism" is a transliteration of the English word supersessionism , derived from the Latin verb supersede , in the meaning of "replace" first used in 1642 [2] . In the same sense, the Western Church Fathers used the word succedere , reinforced by the prefix super (also means to inherit , to enter into something ). Thus, supersessionism is a modern term used to describe pre-existing views.
Proponents of Christian Zionism identify the views of their opponents with theology of substitution and often see it as a theological justification of anti-Semitism [3] [4] . It is also emphasized that substitution theology has dominated the Church for many centuries [5] . According to these authors, it was followed by the Byzantine theologian John Chrysostom in “Words against the Jews” [6] (IV century), the Russian chronicler Nestor in “ Tales of Bygone Years ” (XIII century) and the German reformer Martin Luther in the treatises Jesus Christ was born a Jew and “ On the Jews and their lies ” (16th century).
Replacement theology was revised in the modern Catholic Church. During the reign of Pope Paul VI - historical decisions were made of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The Council adopted the Declaration “ Nostra Ætate ” (“Nowadays”), prepared under the reign of John XXIII , whose authority played a significant role in this. According to the declaration: “... despite the fact that the Church is a new people of God, Jews should not be presented as rejected or cursed by God, and that this seems to follow from the Holy Scriptures.” [7]
Content
Views
Under the name "supersessionism" three different systems of views are conventionally combined [8] :
- The punitive supersessionism is represented by Hippolytus of Rome , Origen and Luther . According to this view, the Jews, who reject Jesus Christ as the Messiah, are condemned by God and deprived of everything that was promised to them by God [9] . But, according to supporters of this theory, those who acknowledge Jesus Christ will receive the promise of God, and, according to Luther , with a sufficient number of converts to Christianity, it will even be possible to discuss legislative privileges for descendants of the Jews compared to other Christians.
- The iconic super- sessionism is represented by Justin Martyr and Blessed Augustine . According to this view, the mission of the Jewish people in this world, which was originally God's plan, was fulfilled by the Christian Church as a whole, including both descendants of former Jews (who inherited the promises to Israel) and descendants of former pagans, who, as the prophets predicted, joined Israel New Testament [10] .
- Structural supersessionism is a term introduced in the 20th century to refer to the actual marginalization of the Old Testament, characteristic of some Protestant theologians (and incompatible with the dogma of historical churches ).
Biblical Arguments
- The Fall of Israel ( Amos. 8: 2 ; Hos. 5: 5 ; Jer. 31:36 )
- The Abolition of the Old Testament ( Heb. 8:13 )
- Replacement of the elect: the seizure of the scepter of Judah ( Gen. 49:10 ), the parable of the evil growers who killed the Master’s Son ( Matthew 21:41 ).
- The acceptance of the promised Messiah as the “remnant” of the Jewish people in the person of the apostles and believing Jews ( Acts 2:39 ; Rom. 11: 1 ); joining the Christian community of believing pagans as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies ( Acts 15:14 )
- Lack of advantage in the circumcised ( Rom. 3: 9 ; Eph. 6:15 )
- Believers in Jesus as the promised Messiah is the true seed of Abraham ( Gal. 3:29 )
- The Multinational Character of the Church ( Gal. 3: 8 )
Notes
- ↑ Interpretations on Luke. 13:34
- ↑ 'supersede' , Online Etymological Dictionary.
- ↑ EXTRAORDINARY PLAN FOR ISRAEL
- ↑ Substitution theory or the promised kingdom
- ↑ Torah, Auschwitz and Mashiach
- ↑ EIGHT WORDS AGAINST THE JEWS OF JOHN JOHN ZALOUST
- ↑ Unofficial Russian translation of “Nostra Ætate”
- ↑ R. Kendall Soulen, The God of Israel and Christian Theology , (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996).
- ↑ Bray, Ancient Christian Commentary, VI Romans, page 291; Vol. VI, page 313.
- ↑ “On the City of God”, XX ch. 29.30