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Pt.2 What made the Church turn against the Jews and Israel? Ignatius wrote that Jesus Christ suffered, “at the hands of the Christ-killing Jews.” (Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians11, ANF1:64.) Which if not understood correctly brings blame on the whole nation and not those who followed the religious leaders who plotted his demise. The epistle of Barnabus which is written later, (after his life) AD 100-131 speaks of the new covenant as never given to the Jews. Claiming the New Covenant is “OUR covenant,” (the church’s), not for the Jews. This is something the real Barnabas would not say. He would know what Jer.31:31 wrote and that the whole New Testament would say otherwise. It appears these false books were used to turn Rome away from the Jews and have the church be strictly for non Jews. The Epistle of Barnabas statement on the new covenant for the church only, shows it is a (late) forgery, it can also be considered the first book containing replacement teaching. It became more popular in the 2 nd to 4 th cent. Called ‘Supercessionist theology’, the Jews are considered permanently rejected and replaced by the Gentile church having no place in prophecy. the restored modern state of Israel speaks volumes against this being true even though this view is still popular. This was the beginnings of ‘Christian antisemitism,” which is an oxymoron. One cannot assume what it is spoken is Christian teaching. The Bible tells us the Gentiles are grafted into the covenant (Rom.11) made with the house of Israel and Judah, and the gospel is to the Jew first. Which would not be possible if this were true. Both the Old and the New Testament teach that God’s plan includes Israel. Without Israel’s repentance and restoration, there is no second coming of Jesus. Justin Martyr’s Dialogue with Trypho the Jew (16, 19), gives us insight into how the Scripture was understood at this time. He declared, “For the true spiritual Israel, and descendants of Judah, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham . . . are we who have been led to God through this crucified Christ.” “ For the circumcision… which is from Abraham, was given for a sign; that you may be separated from other nations, and from us; and that you alone may suffer that which you now justly suffer; and that your land may be desolate, and your cities burned with fire; and that strangers may eat your fruit in your presence, and not one of you may go up to Jerusalem. For you are not recognized among the rest of men by any other mark than your fleshly circumcision… Therefore, to you alone this circumcision was necessary, in order that THE PEOPLE MAY BE NO PEOPLE, AND THE NATION NO NATION…” Justin Martyr, in his Dialogue with Trypho, a Jewin140 AD articulates the replacement Theology that the counterfeit Barnabas and others wrote of, calling Christians “the true Israelite race,” (making the Church a substitute for Israel.) “Christ is the Israel and the Jacob, even so we, who have been quarried out from the bowels of Christ, are the true Israelitish race…” “For it is not possiblefor the seed of Jacob to leave an entrance for the descendants of Jacob, or for [God] to have accepted the very same persons whom He had reproached with unfitness for the inheritance,and promise it to them again.” “Understand, therefore, that the seed of Jacob now referred to is something else , and not, as may be supposed, spoken of your people .” (Martyr’s Dialogue with Trypho) Instead of winning Trypho over he made a greater chasm with his own prejudice, basically saying Gods done with you. Justin Martyr may have been the first Christian we have on record to identify the church as “Israel.” (Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho11, ANF1:200, also ibid., 1:261, 267). And he gave no future reconciliation to Israel that was clearly written in Scripture. Identifying the church as “true spiritual Israel,” the separation was firmly being established. Peter Richardson's research (published in 1969, Israel in the Apostolic Church) concluded that the term "Israel" was not applied to the church until Justin Martyr applied it in A. D. 160. Though we find these spoken of earlier, and implied in the New Testament, the actual step did not take place until that point. Commenting on Galatians 6:16 Richardson concluded differently: "We suggest it [Ισραήλ του Θεου] is those within Israel to whom God will show mercy—all those Israelites who are going to come to their senses and receive the good news of Christ . . . . This means that Galatians 6:16 does not presuppose that the church has taken over the name Israel for itself." During this time period, the church began to interpret the Scriptures allegorically and mystically , denying literal words of prophecy that would pertain to Israel. Even the Scriptures that were formerly understood by the apostles to be fulfilled by Israel the nation before the New Testament was completed. What was related to Israel's future was allegorically reinterpreted, the promises of blessing were applied to the Church. Insisting that Israel was abandoned by God and the church is now the apple of God’s eye. Exactly what Paul warned of in Romans 11. The Roman church did this and more. A few other significant examples: Origen of Alexandria (184-253 AD): “We may thus assert in utter confidence that the Jews will not return to their earlier situation, for they have committed the most abominable of crimes, in forming this conspiracy against the Savior of the human race. hence the city where Jesus suffered was necessarily destroyed, the Jewish nation was driven from its country, and another people was called by God to the blessed election.”
While many in the church had correct doctrine on the basics, the subject of Israel and its people were weaponized. They did not understand prophecy which we are told is sealed until the end by Daniel. This separation of Jews and the church was brought to an extreme by their interpretive methods. This caused contention, and animosity because this was not God’s will. He wanted the Jews and Gentiles to be united as it was in the church's inception when the Jews first went out to the Gentiles. Now they were bringing converts in, strictly from the Gentiles, not the Jews. What is perplexing is that they would say the right things at times, but overall an attitude that can only be described as hate and rejection was ever present. John Chrysostom, AD 344-407 is considered the most prolific author next to Augustine recognized in the Roman Church, said … “theybecame dogs… we became the children.” they are fit for killing… they grew fit for slaughterThe Jews are the most worthless of all men. They are lecherous, greedy and rapacious. They are perfidious murderers of Christ. The Jews are the odious assassins of Christ and for killing God there is no expiation possible, no indulgence or pardon. Christians may never cease vengeance and the Jews must live in servitude forever. God always hated the Jews. It is incumbent upon Christians to hate Jews .” (Homilae Adversus Iudaeos) Using the saying of dogs in reverse (Mt.15:26-27; Mk.7:27-28), stating that “God always hated the Jews. It is incumbent upon Christians to hate Jews.’ (ibid.). Which was an outright lie, it rallied others into this unbiblical hatred of their older brethren. Gregory of Nyssa (Bishop ca 372-395) not to be left out – also claimed: “ Jews are… murderers of the Lord, God haters … advocates of the devil, race of vipers… slanderers… assembly of demons…haters of righteousness”
Jerome was the translator of the Old Testament into the Latin Vulgate, he taught Augustine. Jerome said that if you call the synagogue, “ a brothel, a den of vice, the Devil’s refuge, Satan’s fortress, a place to deprave the soul, an abyss of every conceivable disaster or whatever else you will, you are still saying less than it deserves.” Augustine of Hippo, from North Africa 354-430 AD adopted the allegorical interpretations, rejecting Book of Revelation as canonical, that it was even written by John (Eusebius, Church History. Book 3. Ch.28). Which is important to understand, for it has the record of the 144,000 Jews that will evangelize the world at the end, showing a reconciliation occurs. He held to the new method popular in the church of allegorizing of Scripture and prophecy teaching the Millennium having begun with Christ. Augustine, “ we are Israel, the seed of Abraham … The Christian people then is rather Israel … But that multitude of Jews … for the pleasures of the flesh sold their birthright, so that they belonged not to Jacob, but rather to Esau.” ( Expositions on the Book of Psalms by Saint Augustine, 114.3) The Bible says it was Esau that sold his birthright, not Jacob nor his seed. Here we also have him turning Gentiles into Israelites, fully replacing them. A few examples“the word of God is a doubly sharp sword,… interpreting it, saying “the two edges, the two Testaments.”When the Word of God is all and not divided. “In like manner He says to His disciples, "Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Here we learn that Jesus shall judge with His disciples. And therefore He said elsewhere to the Jews, "If I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges ." Neither ought we to suppose that only twelve men shall judge along with Him, though He says that they shall sit upon twelve thrones; for by the number twelve is signified the completeness of the multitude of those who shall judge.” So 12 does not mean twelve, his allegorical method of interpretation changed it to not mean something different than what it actually said and meant. To interpret Bible prophecy allegorically destroys the meaning conveyed for understanding God’s Word. If prophecy does not mean what it plainly says, then it becomes whatever the individual wants it to mean, and becomes a person’s private interpretation (2 Pt.1:20). Augustine became the main voice of the institutionalized church of Rome and is still spoken of highly today; However many do not know what he really believed . “How hateful to me are the enemies of your Scripture! How I wish that you would slay them [the Jews] with your two-edged sword, so that there should be none to oppose your word! Gladly would I have them die to themselves and live to you!"(354-430 A.D., Confessions , 12.14) Then also saying, “ Do not slay the Jews, lest my people forget. By your power, make them homeless wanderers Therefore, God has shown the Church in her enemies the Jews, the grace of His compassion ” (Augustine The City of God, book 18, chapter 46) Augustine prayed for the oppression of God’s people who gave us the Scripture, who gave us the Messiah. Augustine’s Tract Against the Jews was so influential that derogatory arguments against Jewish people throughout the Middle Ages were usually labeled ‘Augustinian.’ And today much of the same errors can be attributed to him. The early church increased their criticism and animosity toward the Jewish people. The unbiblical view that God is finished with Israel promotes and upholds the persecution of Jews that came from the Catholic Church, rising to new heights in the Crusades. Christianity from its inception has always been understood to be a fulfillment of Judaism, this is what the Jewish prophets wrote. Bible prophecies have always been fulfilled literally. The whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation is contrary to replacement teaching. God is not finished with national Israel. Another example is Luther In his German translation stated: “In rendering Moses I make him so German that no one would know he was a Jew.”"We have no wish either to see or hear Moses." Sounds like the Pharisee’s position. Without the law of Moses how does one understand sin? The only way to not uphold this change is to allegorize, and spiritualize a large amount of plain Scripture, which is exactly what Replacement Theology does. This has been the stance of the Roman Catholic church for over a thousand years. Up to the 20 th cent. the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1910; in an article on “Judaism” describes Jews as a "race" that rejected the call of Jesus, unfit for salvation.” Dave Hunt explains “The rejection of Israel is essential to the unbiblical Reconstruction/Kingdom /Dominion teaching that a growing segment of the church are enticed with a mandate to take over the world and set up the Kingdom, (a theocracy), as a condition of Christ's return.This becomes more than a city of God but a world takeover in the name of God as this doctrine feeds Christian elitism. He explains, “It was a Jesuit priest Luis de Alcasar that interpreted the prophecies of the Book of Revelation as having already been fulfilled in the first century A.D. It wasn't until the early eighteenth century, however, that Preterism, the belief that most, if not all, biblical prophecies have been fulfilled, began to be espoused by Protestants. Amillennialism is the most common eschatological belief among professing Christians. It is the view of Roman Catholics, Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Episcopalians, the Church of Christ, some Independent Baptists, and most Calvinists (with some notable exceptions). In the last quarter-century Amillennialism has spawned Christian Reconstructionism/Theonomy, a latter-day attempt similar to Calvin's failed experiment to set up the "City of God" in Geneva. New covenant promised first in Jeremiah Even before the Nicene council Gentile Christians were distinguishing themselves from the Jewish brethren, treating them with disdain, and persecution; His statements brought what was festering in earlier centuries to be more of a policy. It becomes clear Roman Catholicism and the later Catholic Church of Rome had no clue or were purposely ignorant of Bible prophecies concerning the return of Jews to Israel and of the Messiah’s salvation for them. This separation kept the church from understanding the Judaic views, which resulted in their allegorical false teachings increasing. As they divorced themselves from the prophetic word and making up traditions. They conferred the titles, the "new Zion," the "Eternal City," and "The Holy City," designating to Rome what God bestowed on Jerusalem. “Christians abandoned their mission to the Jews and proselytized among the Gentiles they shifted blame for the crucifixion of Jesus from the Romans to the Jews—not just some Jews, but the Jewish people as a whole. The Jews were branded as deicides—killers of God. This accusation became a deep source of hatred against the Jews.” (Stephen M. Wylen, The Jews in the Time of Jesus(Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 1996) 191. The popes as they consolidated power have not been friendly to Israel in over a thousand years. More than 100 anti-Semitic Church documents were published between the sixth and twentieth centuries. The Vatican had never agreed to Israel's right to exist and had expressed wanting Jerusalem to be under international control. On June 22, 1943, less than a year before Israel was given nation status the Pope (Pius XII) wrote to President Roosevelt: It is true that at one time Palestine was inhabited by the Hebrew Race, but there is no axiom in history to substantiate the necessity of, people returning to a country they left nineteen centuries before.” Try reading the Bible. Today's Augustinians are still with us, a Jewish nation-state is unacceptable in our day though god has made it transpire. And yet the Vatican has there own religious state, are there not also Islamic states? A drastic change came about in 1965 when the Catholic Church adopted Nostra Aetate , changing its position, modern Jews could not be held collectively responsible for the killing of Jesus. Removing the theological justification spoken over a thousand years is a step in the right direction, but more steps are needed to heal the harm that is still taking place. Today too many Jews equate Roman Catholicism with Christianity. Millions of Christians were not Roman Catholic, but they too were persecuted through the centuries by the Roman Catholic Church, as were the Jews. The real believers who decided not to be part of Rome’s church were not exempt either. The fact remains, that Jew’s were treated more cruelly by the Roman Church than they were by the hands of pagan rulers. Rarely a pope was kind to the Jews'. Gregory I (590-604 AD)"forbade the compulsory conversion of Jews, and maintained their rights of Roman citizenship in lands under his rule.Unlike those who followed Constantines lead. Over the centuries there are a few like Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), considered to be a doctor in the Catholic Church, a title given by the Roman Catholic church to saints that have made a significant contribution to theology or doctrine through their writing. But He was much more, he brought reform to the Benedictines and is attributed to be the co-founder of the Knights Templar, along with being a mystic. But even he had the sense to say " For us the Jews are Scripture's living words, because they remind us of what Our Lord suffered. They are not to be persecuted, killed, or even put to flight.” MANY Jewish lives were saved by the preaching of Bernard of Clairvaux, who said to the crusaders "Whosoever touches a Jew to take his life is like one who harms Jesus himself ... for in the book of Psalms it is written of them, 'Slay them not, lest my people forget.'" In the meantime, despite the few voices that are contrary, the Roman church became a substitution for ancient Israel. As the new Israel they ignore the future prophecies of restoration What developed and was replaced by man was contrary to what God was doing in unity, with both Jew and Gentile. They were intent on developing a strict GENTILE CHURCH, that that inadvertently claimed to REPLACE THE ‘OLIVE TREE. ’Ignoring the Scriptures believing gentiles are grafted into the olive tree whose roots are in the covenantal Promises to the people of Israel. The church does not have an independent existence on its own. If it did, it would be devoid of all association to the root which is their foundation. Regardless of these denials, the people of Israel were and are still replaced by the gentile church making it exclusively of non-Hebrew origin. A certain segment of Christianity (that is Gentile) has mocked and rejected the Jews designating them to a non-covenant relationship, never to be restored, and having no need to exist. If we want to see what has been broken heal, a new attitude must present itself from the church so that we can see the last days' scriptures for the Jews be fulfilled and bring the Lords will on earth. |
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