Augustine on Israel and Jerusalem
This essay is written in view of the heartbreaking crisis in the Middle East, especially the terrible Gaza war. What did the influential (and for many still authoritative) church father Augustine think about Israel and Jerusalem? From his entire oeuvre, the texts in which he discusses Israel and Jer...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
2023
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In: |
Journal of early Christian history
Year: 2023, Volume: 13, Issue: 3, Pages: 115-129 |
IxTheo Classification: | BH Judaism CC Christianity and Non-Christian religion; Inter-religious relations HB Old Testament KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history KBL Near East and North Africa NBQ Eschatology |
Further subjects: | B
Augustine
B Jerusalem B Zionism B spiritual interpretation B Israel B Gaza war |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | This essay is written in view of the heartbreaking crisis in the Middle East, especially the terrible Gaza war. What did the influential (and for many still authoritative) church father Augustine think about Israel and Jerusalem? From his entire oeuvre, the texts in which he discusses Israel and Jerusalem have been examined. The conclusion is that he considers their material significance to be of only temporary value: he emphasises their “spiritual” and “eternal” significance. In close connection with his view of salvation history, Augustine never speaks of a lasting land promise for Israel in Palestine: the true Israel is a spiritual entity, as is the true spiritual Jerusalem. Based on his Christian views, Augustine would reject any Zionist zeal for present-day Israel and Jerusalem; and, a fortiori, any current war practice. |
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ISSN: | 2471-4054 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of early Christian history
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/2222582X.2024.2311924 |