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Replacement Theology

Replacement Theology is as old as Christianity itself, considering that the etimology of the expression acquired its real meaning with the rise of Christianity.

Some people object to the focusing on Christianity for the reason why Replacement Theology originated, because the Jewish People was not the only ancient people with the original claim to be God's chosen People.

It's true that a few other ancient peoples upheld the same claim, but there was never one to rise with the claim that a people had been replaced by another as God's chosen People.

Christianity became the first religious organization to rise with the claim that a change had occurred in the designs of God, which would
define the rejection of the Jewish People, and resplacement with Christianity.

The classical NT document, which would give rise to this Christian policy is found in Galatians 4:21-31.

Paul would compare God's Covenant with the Jewish People as Hagar, who was Sara's slave girl, and the Jews as her son, who was rejected even to share with Isaac, the inheritance of Canaan. On the other hand, he compares Christianity to Sara and Christians to her son Isaac.

To conclude, Paul appeals to cast out the slave girl together with her son for the obvious reason that Israel, the Jewish People, would never be an heir with the son of the one born free.

That's the picture of Replacement Theology and not simply a people claiming Divine election. A group of Interfaith Scholars have classified Replacement Theology as a kind of Antisemitism.

Ben

Hi Ben Masada;

Gal 4:26 But Sarah, the free woman, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. And she is our mother.

Gal 4:29 And we who are born of the Holy Spirit are persecuted by those who want us to keep the law, just as Isaac, the child of promise, was persecuted by Ishmael, the son of the slave-wife.

I have a bit of a different take on the 'illustration' of Paul's day.  I will be using an illustration device of my day, the television.

I watched a DVD of a show called NYPD Blue..have you ever seen it?  It doesn't matter if you have or not, for an illustration, you just have to use your imagination.

In the story a division lieutenant, LT. Fancy who happens to be black.  Is taking out a detective from his squad, first name Andy.  who happens to be white.  They are at a restaurant eating ribs.  Yes the whole restaurant has customers that happen to be black, and Andy is showing signs of being uncomfortable. He is looking all around and shifting in his seat and even comments that it is "not his kind of place"

Lt. Fancy, agrees that there may indeed be some, albeit only one or two in the whole restaurant, that may not 'like whites' and then Lt. Fancy   says to him, "what does it matter if there are people here who are 'hiding' their contempt or hatred for you?  The meal is good, you have been served, no problem..so what if they do hate you?  They did their jobs? right?" And Andy is silent staring at the Lieutenant for a minute.  and the Lt. says "now, imagine that they have badges and guns. Still doing their jobs."

born of the Holy Spirit, not being lumped together with ANY group just because of race, or location, or religion, or profession..that is for me the meaning of someone free born, and a citizen of the Spiritual Jerusalem.  Not under persecution to be man-made into the likeness of what any certain group would have take the place of G-d's promises, just because of time constraints or mass restlessness!

bye for now,
kimberly

Actually, when properly interpreted and understood, what Galatians 4:21-31 is actually saying is that man is not and has never been justified by or through the Law, through his own works in trying to physically keep the law, in other words; but freely, only through the blood of Christ. Just the way it has always been since the beginning of man, the first reference to this, if you are able to discern it properly, is man being able to "freely" eat from the tree of life and thus receive its eternal life "freely," by man not having to work for it or earn it.

The Law was only given to the children of Israel because they refused to come up to the mount when the trumpet sounded long (Exodus 19:13, Exodus 20:18-21; etc.), refused the call of God unto Christ, in other words. So after this tenth and final time (Numbers 14:22; etc.), God gave to them the desire of their murmuring, rebellious hearts, the bondage that they murmured about so often on their journey in the wilderness that they claimed to prefer over where God was trying to lead them (Genesis 16:3; etc.), the 'engraven images' they preferred to worship over worshipping the living, true God (Exodus 32; etc.); etc.

The written Law engraven on stone was never given to make any fallen man righteous, and it cannot make anyone righteous. Only the blood of Christ can redeem any man, and only the birth of the Holy Spirit afterwards, the Law engraven in the heart, can make a man truly good, by making a man's heart good, his spirit good; halleluiah (Isaiah 53:11; etc.).

The Law, engraven on stone, was a curse unto the children of Israel, not a blessing (Malachi 2:2; etc.);. They could have had the law engraven into their hearts by the Holy Spirit, had they come to the Lord when they were called.

If it is the written Law that makes a man good, then how was Abel good? Seth? Enoch? etc? all who lived and died long before the written Law was ever given? They were good because they trusted in God's grace, the coming Messiah, and were then born of the Holy Spirit, the Law engraven into their hearts; halleluiah.


God bless.

Love, Ruht


"Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked." - Deuteronomy 10:16

"For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts..." - Romans 2:14&15, New Testament

Havent you read in the Neviim about AV YHWH said," I have raised my hand but nothing comes to me, so therefore, I will go to the Goyim and will make Yisrael jealous..." What Rav Shaul said in Galatians is not replacement theology it was a prophecy fulfilled. Shalom!

Ruht,

You said:
"The written Law engraven on stone was never given to make any fallen man righteous, and it cannot make anyone righteous."

SMR:

I'm sorry, but the Hebrew bible disagrees with you.

Psalm 18:
21 HaShem rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me.
22 For I have kept the ways of HaShem, and have not wickedly departed from my G-d.
23 For all His ordinances were before me, and I put not away His statutes from me.
24 And I was single-hearted with Him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
25 Therefore hath HaShem recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.

or

19:8 The law of HaShem is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of HaShem is sure, making wise the simple.
9 The precepts of HaShem are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of HaShem is pure, enlightening the eyes.
10 The fear of HaShem is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of HaShem are true, they are righteous altogether;
11 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
12 Moreover by them is Thy servant warned; in keeping of them there is great reward.

How can you say they are a curse?

103:17 But the mercy of HaShem is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His precepts to do them.


Seems pretty clear to me!


and what is this about Malachi 2:2?  You say:
"The Law, engraven on stone, was a curse unto the children of Israel, not a blessing"

Where do you see that in this verse?

2 If ye will not hearken, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto My name, saith HaShem of hosts, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I curse them, because ye do not lay it to heart.

Looks like just the opposite to me. Hashem is telling them to listen and obey!! I mean really, please, anyone can read all of Malachi 2 and see that what you are saying is not true.

The replacement of Torah and Israel as God's Chosen People will occur when you no longer see a sun in the sky.  Any earlier dates for this replacement are unbiblical imagination.  Notice in the passage referred to in Galatians 4:  Hagar and Mt.Sinai represent a symbology of the present Jerusalem, in slavery due to breaking the Torah, in contrast to the HEAVENLY Jerusalem which is part of the new creation.  Isaac, the son of Sarah the free woman in the earthly history is a symbology of the new man of the new creation.

The New Super-Torah is already here spiritually and will be here physically in the new creation after the Messiah reigns for 1000 years on this old earth.  This New Torah compares to the Old Torah like Sarah compares to Hagar.  We should be reaching forward to the New Torah, not clinging to the Old Torah.  However, for the present age, while this old sun is still in the sky, the Old Torah is perfect for this life, and the Jews are God's fountain of blessing for this world, as irritating as some individual Jews may be at times.  I mean, when you think of Bernard Madoff, don't forget Ernst Chain and Jonas Salk.

The Christian policy referred to (which says that the Jews have been replaced by the Christian church) is distorting and force-fitting God's plan into the short-sighted, diabolical agenda of those who invented such a thing.

[color=blue][size=medium][b]The TV show about NYPD, you had already posted it. But regarding "being persecuted by those who want you to keep the Law," if you are referring to the Jews, the opposite is true. Jews never persecuted Christians. Now, Christian persecution of Jews has resulted in thousands of Jewish deaths throughout History.

Please, quote your statement if you want
a reply. Prophecy fulfilled? Wherefrom? Quote where the prophecy was given.

Habakkuk2:4. I have spoken faith , but still nothing comes of your faith to G-d, so shall He speak His words through the mouth of Gentiles. How about Zephaniah 3; Speaks of Jerusalems injustice; The Lords Justice ; The judgement of the whole earth; The promise of conversion, and the promise of restoration?How about Zechariah 1. How about Isaiah1. Always with rejection and exile comes forgiveness, and restoration. What a loving G-d Israel has!When knowledge ends Faith begins, and the dead in Yeshua shall rise, and be forgiven, and live eternally!

Habakkuk 2:4 - the just shall live by faith???? what has this to do with the replacement of Israel.  G-d says hundreds of times in scripture that he will never forsake Judah.  In fact, the end of Zephaniah is G-d's promise to Israel to take away her judgment...and ends with"For I will make you to be a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth..."  Doesn't look like replacement to me.  Read the entire book.

Robert...is English your second language?

Shalom,