Dual-covenant theology is a term found in contemporary inter-religious dialogue that teaches that Jews may simply keep the Law of Moses, because of the "everlasting covenant"[1] between Abraham and God expressed in the Hebrew Bible (which most Christians call their Old Testament, a term linked with Supersessionism), whereas Gentiles (those not Jews or Jewish proselytes) must convert to Christianity.
Contents |
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (2006), currently states [2]:
| “ | The covenant that God made with the Jewish people through Moses remains eternally valid for them. | ” |
However, the bishops recently voted to remove this from the next printing of the Catechism because it could be construed to mean that Jews have their own path to salvation and do not need Christ or the Church. [3]
Apostolic decree
The apostolic decree in the book of Acts (15:19-29) has sometimes been read as a form of dual-covenant theology. An alternative interpretation is that the text refers to converted Jews and converted Gentiles, meaning that it is an intra-Church debate that doesn't necessarily include Jews who did not accept Jesus as their Messiah.
Jewish views
Judaism teaches that non-Jews need only follow the Seven Laws of Noah to be assured of a place in the world to come.[4]
The Jewish Encyclopedia article on Gentile: Gentiles May Not Be Taught the Torah[5] notes the following Jewish-Christian reconciliation:
| “ | R. Emden, in a remarkable apology for Christianity contained in his appendix to "Seder 'Olam,"[6] gives it as his opinion that the original intention of Jesus, and especially of Paul, was to convert only the Gentiles to the seven moral laws of Noah and to let the Jews follow the Mosaic law — which explains the apparent contradictions in the New Testament regarding the laws of Moses and the Sabbath. | ” |
Christian views
Most traditional Christians believe that the Church is the true people of God (see also Supersessionism), and that it comprises both Jews and Gentiles, who form the mystical body of Christ.
Catholic criticisms
Cardinal Avery Dulles was critical of dual-covenant theology, especially as understood in the USCCB's document Reflections on Covenant and Mission. [7] In the article All in the Family: Christians, Jews and God, evidence has also been compiled from Scripture, the Church Fathers and official Church documents that the Catholic Church does not support dual covenant theology.[8]
Evangelical criticisms
In 2006, Evangelical Protestant Jerry Falwell denied a report in the Jerusalem Post that he supported dual-covenant theology:[9]
| “ | I have been on record all 54 years of my ministry as being opposed to dual covenant theology... I simply cannot alter my deeply held belief in the exclusivity of salvation through the Gospel of Christ for the sake of political or theological expediency. Like the Apostle Paul, I pray daily for the salvation of everyone, including the Jewish people. | ” |
See also
- Biblical law in Christianity
- Apostolic Decree
- Covenant (Biblical)
- John Hagee
- Supersessionism
- Antinomianism
- B'nei Noah
- Christian-Jewish reconciliation
- Legalism (theology)
- Liberal Christianity
- Hebrew Catholics
- Jewish Christians
References
- ^ Genesis 17:13
- ^ United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, (Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2006).
- ^ O'Brien: Bishops Vote to Revise U.S. Catechism on Jewish Covenant with God; CNS, http://www.usccb.org/stories/bishops_vote_catec.shtml
- ^ Mishneh Torah, Hilkhot M'lakhim 8:14
- ^ Jewish Encyclopedia: Gentile: Gentiles May Not Be Taught the Torah
- ^ Emden, R. "Appendix to "Seder 'Olam," pp. 32b-34b, Hamburg, 1752. http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/falk1a.htm, quoted by http://www.wikinoah.org/index.php/Yaakov_Emden_on_Noahides. Cf. http://www.bc.edu/research/cjl/meta-elements/texts/cjrelations/resources/articles/Brill.htm, which is also quoted by the aforementioned WikiNoah page.
- ^ Covenant and Mission
- ^ Forrest and Palm; All in the Family: Christians, Jews and God; Lay Witness, July/Aug 2009; [1]
- ^ Jerusalem Post, 2006-03-02, Hagee, Falwell deny endorsing 'dual covenant'. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
External links
- All in the Family: Christians, Jews and God
- Jerusalem Post: Mar 2, 2006: Hagee, Falwell deny endorsing 'dual covenant'
- Journal of Lutheran Ethics: Jewish-Christian Difficulties in Challenging Christian Zionism by Robert O. Smith: "...sometimes referred to as “dual covenant” theology. Any other understanding of the relationship, Christian Zionists argue, is a variation of supersessionism."
- Ignatius Insight interview of Roy H. Schoeman: "This "dual covenant" theology seems to have been adopted to avoid the intrinsic, basic conflict at the heart of the Jewish-Catholic dialog. That is that either the Catholic Church is itself the continuation of Judaism after the coming of the Jewish Messiah – i.e., the Church is post-Messianic Judaism – or it is nothing at all."
- What is dual-covenant theology: An article by 'Catholics for Israel' opposing dual-covenant theology and comparing it to supersessionism and to the Catholic position.
- THE PONTIFICAL BIBLICAL COMMISSION: THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THEIR SACRED SCRIPTURES IN THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE
- Jewish Tribune: 23 September 2009: A precarious moment in Catholic-Jewish relations
|
|||||||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
