The Dangerous Heresy of Replacement Theology
Jul 29, 2021 0:35:06 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jul 29, 2021 0:35:06 GMT -5
THE DANGEROUS HERESY OF REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY
· How Does this Doctrine Hold Against Scripture? ·
I first came to the knowledge of Replacement Theology a couple of years ago. In retrospect, I realize that I had heard tidbits of what can be considered Replacement Theology in church growing up. I guess I never paid much attention to these statements, much less attributed them to a whole gamut of theology. But the roots of this heresy date back to the 2nd century. With time, this theological approach has gained momentum and has been the instigator of many atrocities carried out against the Jews.
But you’re probably wondering…
What is Replacement Theology? Why is it dangerous? And what makes it a heresy?
I will attempt to answer these questions using Scripture, as always, and hope to bring more light to this popular, albeit dangerous theology.
The Dangerous Heresy of Replacement Theology
Replacement Theology is also known as Supersessionism and Fulfillment Theology. In simple terms, it is the belief that the Church has replaced Israel and the Jewish people in the New Testament. This means that Israel plays no role in current and future world affairs and where the NT mentions “Israel” it refers to the Church. This belief stems from the idea that due to the Jew’s rejection of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, their place in the Promise has been forfeited to the Church.
There are different views and degrees to Replacement Theology. One claims that it was God’s plan from the beginning to replace the Jewish people with the Church. In other words, there was a predetermined time set for the Jews to be the children of the promise and their time ended at Pentecost. The other, I explained above; the Jews lost their place as the Chosen Ones to the Church.
Are you following this dangerous theology?CLICK TO TWEET
Replacement Theology Beliefs
There are many beliefs that make up Replacement Theology but the three main premises are:
Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, the Church has replaced them.
After Pentecost, whenever the NT mentions “Israel” it’s actually referring to the Church. Therefore, the Church is Spiritual Israel and the “Jews” are Gentile believers who are “inner Jews.”
The Mosaic Covenant was replaced by the New Covenant and the Abrahamic Covenant completely abolished. Therefore, the New Covenant through Jesus supersedes (thus, Supersessionism) or replaces the old covenant which was made exclusively with the Jews.
To better understand how Christians came to these conclusions we need to rewind back to 2nd century Christendom. A brief history lesson is at hand.
The Roots of Replacement Theology
After the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, Christianity continued to spread throughout the Gentile world. The relationship between Gentiles and Jews thrived and they viewed one another as brothers and sisters. Gentiles adopted Jewish traditions as practiced by Jesus Himself; Sabbath rest, Biblical feasts, et al. As Christianity spread and more Gentiles were converted, the Church began to estrange itself from its Jewish Roots. Soon, the Church consisted more of Gentiles than Jews causing the church to deviate from its Biblical roots.
Not much time later, Gentile Christians sought to distance themselves from Jews and all Jewish traditions. This was further sparked by the church fathers.
At the Council of Nicea, Constantine established Easter in place of Passover, removed the Biblical Feasts from Christian practice, and exchanged the Sabbath rest for Sunday worship. This was done to ensure the separation of the church from its Hebrew Roots.
Not only did Christians subtly stop practicing their Jewish traditions but they adopted a new and different approach to Biblical hermeneutics; the allegorization and spiritualization of Scripture. This enabled them to apply Israels’ promises to the church.
Because of these changes in theology, early apologists made strong and WRONG claims against the Jews as the chosen ones of YAH.
The writer of the Epistle of Barnabas claimed that the “carnal Jews” with their “earthly mindset” had failed to understand their own Scriptures and as a result forfeited the covenant promises made to the forefathers.
Justin Martyr’s “Dialogue With Trypho” made the claim for a New Israel as a replacement for Biblical Israel. It was Justin Martyr who also coined the term “the true spiritual Israel” in reference to the Church. He argued that God’s covenant with Israel was void and that Gentile believers had replaced the Jews.
Clement of Alexandria affirmed that since the Jews rejected Jesus Christ, they “forfeited the place of the true Israel.”
They believed that because of Israel’s rejection of the Messiah, it had been permanently removed from its promises. Thus the physical Kingdom mentioned in Scripture was spiritualized, withdrawn from Israel, and given to the Gentile believers.
Read Is Jesus 'the Reason for the Season'?
The Dangers of Replacement Theology
This theology is very dangerous. A close look at history demonstrates how Replacement Theology has wreaked havoc for the Jews and the Church. It has lead to unbiblical doctrines, which in turn have perpetuated disputes, rifts, and separation within Christians. The worst repercussions have fallen to the Jews, however. And is a blasphemous misrepresentation of the character of God.
Continued at link
· How Does this Doctrine Hold Against Scripture? ·
I first came to the knowledge of Replacement Theology a couple of years ago. In retrospect, I realize that I had heard tidbits of what can be considered Replacement Theology in church growing up. I guess I never paid much attention to these statements, much less attributed them to a whole gamut of theology. But the roots of this heresy date back to the 2nd century. With time, this theological approach has gained momentum and has been the instigator of many atrocities carried out against the Jews.
But you’re probably wondering…
What is Replacement Theology? Why is it dangerous? And what makes it a heresy?
I will attempt to answer these questions using Scripture, as always, and hope to bring more light to this popular, albeit dangerous theology.
The Dangerous Heresy of Replacement Theology
Replacement Theology is also known as Supersessionism and Fulfillment Theology. In simple terms, it is the belief that the Church has replaced Israel and the Jewish people in the New Testament. This means that Israel plays no role in current and future world affairs and where the NT mentions “Israel” it refers to the Church. This belief stems from the idea that due to the Jew’s rejection of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, their place in the Promise has been forfeited to the Church.
There are different views and degrees to Replacement Theology. One claims that it was God’s plan from the beginning to replace the Jewish people with the Church. In other words, there was a predetermined time set for the Jews to be the children of the promise and their time ended at Pentecost. The other, I explained above; the Jews lost their place as the Chosen Ones to the Church.
Are you following this dangerous theology?CLICK TO TWEET
Replacement Theology Beliefs
There are many beliefs that make up Replacement Theology but the three main premises are:
Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, the Church has replaced them.
After Pentecost, whenever the NT mentions “Israel” it’s actually referring to the Church. Therefore, the Church is Spiritual Israel and the “Jews” are Gentile believers who are “inner Jews.”
The Mosaic Covenant was replaced by the New Covenant and the Abrahamic Covenant completely abolished. Therefore, the New Covenant through Jesus supersedes (thus, Supersessionism) or replaces the old covenant which was made exclusively with the Jews.
To better understand how Christians came to these conclusions we need to rewind back to 2nd century Christendom. A brief history lesson is at hand.
The Roots of Replacement Theology
After the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, Christianity continued to spread throughout the Gentile world. The relationship between Gentiles and Jews thrived and they viewed one another as brothers and sisters. Gentiles adopted Jewish traditions as practiced by Jesus Himself; Sabbath rest, Biblical feasts, et al. As Christianity spread and more Gentiles were converted, the Church began to estrange itself from its Jewish Roots. Soon, the Church consisted more of Gentiles than Jews causing the church to deviate from its Biblical roots.
Not much time later, Gentile Christians sought to distance themselves from Jews and all Jewish traditions. This was further sparked by the church fathers.
At the Council of Nicea, Constantine established Easter in place of Passover, removed the Biblical Feasts from Christian practice, and exchanged the Sabbath rest for Sunday worship. This was done to ensure the separation of the church from its Hebrew Roots.
Not only did Christians subtly stop practicing their Jewish traditions but they adopted a new and different approach to Biblical hermeneutics; the allegorization and spiritualization of Scripture. This enabled them to apply Israels’ promises to the church.
Because of these changes in theology, early apologists made strong and WRONG claims against the Jews as the chosen ones of YAH.
The writer of the Epistle of Barnabas claimed that the “carnal Jews” with their “earthly mindset” had failed to understand their own Scriptures and as a result forfeited the covenant promises made to the forefathers.
Justin Martyr’s “Dialogue With Trypho” made the claim for a New Israel as a replacement for Biblical Israel. It was Justin Martyr who also coined the term “the true spiritual Israel” in reference to the Church. He argued that God’s covenant with Israel was void and that Gentile believers had replaced the Jews.
Clement of Alexandria affirmed that since the Jews rejected Jesus Christ, they “forfeited the place of the true Israel.”
They believed that because of Israel’s rejection of the Messiah, it had been permanently removed from its promises. Thus the physical Kingdom mentioned in Scripture was spiritualized, withdrawn from Israel, and given to the Gentile believers.
Read Is Jesus 'the Reason for the Season'?
The Dangers of Replacement Theology
This theology is very dangerous. A close look at history demonstrates how Replacement Theology has wreaked havoc for the Jews and the Church. It has lead to unbiblical doctrines, which in turn have perpetuated disputes, rifts, and separation within Christians. The worst repercussions have fallen to the Jews, however. And is a blasphemous misrepresentation of the character of God.
Continued at link
