Israel in the apostolic Church
This historical study is concerned with the adoption by Christianity of Jewish prerogatives and attributes, and in particular with its assumption of the name 'Israel'. Dr Richardson's claim is that this was not a simple development, as it is usually conceived to be, but one which took...
| Summary: | This historical study is concerned with the adoption by Christianity of Jewish prerogatives and attributes, and in particular with its assumption of the name 'Israel'. Dr Richardson's claim is that this was not a simple development, as it is usually conceived to be, but one which took place over a long period. The equation between the Church and the 'true Israel' does not occur, Dr Richardson argues, until the mid-second century in the works of Justin Martyr. The book is concerned mainly with an exegetical study of the New Testament passages relevant to the argument, concentrating on the Pauline epistles. There are other sections on the attitude of Jesus himself towards Israel, on post-Pauline developments, on political factors and on the early Fathers to A.D. I6o. The book ends with a synthesis of conclusions, and there are appendixes on the Sects of Judaism, Paul's Use of Laos and the Apology of Aristides. This comprehensive analysis of a vital problem in the early Church's life and witness has many important implications for a theology of the Church. 1. The church and Israel -- the historical problem -- the sociological problem -- the theological problem -- 2. The Church fathers to A.D. 160 -- Justin and the true Israel -- continuity and discontinuity -- 'Tertium Genus' -- newness, and the Old Testament -- conclusions -- 3. Political factors in the separation -- introduction -- Jewish revolts -- Roman law and persecution -- Jewish authorities and persecution -- 4. Jesus and His disciples -- introduction -- Jesus and His mission -- Jesus and the old entity -- Jesus and the new entity -- Gentiles in the disciples' mission -- 5. Paul -- introduction -- Galatians 6:16 -- the circumcisers in Galatia and Paul's opposition -- old and new in Galatians in relation to Israel -- eschatological hindering in Thessalonica -- Philippians: the beginning of the transpositions -- the 'New Covenant' discussions in Corinthians -- Romans: Paul's interpretation of God's purposes -- Colossians and Ephesians: the relaxation of hope -- 6. Post-Pauline developments -- pastorals, Acts and Luke -- Mark -- First Peter -- Hebrews -- Johanine writings -- Matthew -- 7. Concluding summary |
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| Item Description: | Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015) |
| ISBN: | 0511659717 |
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511659713 |