Has the Church Replaced Israel?

Type of Doctrine: Debated (typically secondary or tertiary)

"In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away."

-Hebrews 8:13 ESV

Why Does It Matter?

Has the church replaced Israel? Does God have a future plan for Israel? This article will cover the topic of replacement theology.

Though this issue is debated, it is typically thought of as either a secondary or tertiary issue.

What Is It?

Has the church replaced Israel? Does God have a future plan for Israel? Have the covenants with Israel been taken away?

Here we are talking about a subject called replacement theology. (Replacement theology is sometimes called supersessionism or fulfillment theology.) The basic idea goes like this: the church has replaced Jews as the people of God.

This topic is highly complex and nuanced. Some claim the view that the church has replaced Israel spans back to a few early church fathers. Throughout church history, some theologians have been for replacement theology while others have been against it. Sadly, some have even blamed replacement theology for mistreatment of Jews.[1]

It is important not to mischaracterize. Sam Storms provides this helpful explanation and illustration,

All biblical interpreters recognize development between the Old Testament and the New. Some say the Old Testament is the seed which becomes the flower in the New. Others speak of the relationship as one of symbol to substance, or type to anti-type.

The point is we must strive to understand the obvious progress in redemptive history. And when I look at the relationship between Israel and the church, I see something similar to the relationship between the caterpillar and the butterfly.

The butterfly doesn’t replace the caterpillar; the butterfly is the caterpillar in a more developed and consummate form. The butterfly is what God intended the caterpillar to become. Likewise, the church doesn’t replace Israel; the church is Israel as God always intended it to be.[2]

Many authors comment that perhaps the word "fulfill" should be used rather than "replace".

Cornelius Venema articulates four different views on Ligonier's website concerning replacement theology.[3] The following chart is adapted from Venema's article.

4 Views on Replacement Theology

View	Description
Premillennial Dispensationalism	There are two distinct peoples of God: (1) Israel (his earthly people) and (2) the church (his heavenly people). There are seven dispensations which God uses throughout the history of redemption. Thus, the church has not replaced Israel (since Israel and the church are two distinct peoples of God with different plans from God; God has suspended his plan for Israel until the future).
The Traditional Reformed View	There is one people of God (Israel and the church). The covenant of grace lasts from Genesis 3 through the end of Scripture. The gospel does not replace the older covenants but fulfills them (Dispensationalists often claim that this view is a form of replacement theology. Reformed people often claim that it is not.) Thus, the church has not replaced Israel (since Israel and the church are one connected people of God).
"Two-Covenant" Theology	There are two separate covenants: (1) one covenant between God and Israel and (2) one covenant between God and the church. Thus, the church has not replaced Israel (since God has two separate covenants that he has enacted, one for Jews and another for Gentiles).
Extreme Replacement	"Extreme replacement theology is the teaching that, because many of the Jews did not acknowledge Jesus Christ to be the Messiah of promise, God replaced Israel with the gentile (sic) church." Thus, the church has replaced Israel due to the fact that Jews did not acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah.

It may, however, be even more helpful to discuss one's view of the covenants. (Click here for a blog post discussing the four most common views) Why? Because these four views articulate more detail than a yes or no question concerning the church replacing Israel.

Here are a few relevant parts of Scripture to study:

• [Heb 8:13 ESV] 13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

• [Mat 21:43 ESV] 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.

• Romans 9-11

• Galatians 3

• Ephesians 2

Application

Thank God that Christ has broken down this hostility that existed between Jew and Gentile! We've been brought near by the blood of Christ. Paul writes,

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands-- 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

-Ephesians 2:11-16 ESV

Where Can I Learn More?

End Notes:

[1] Theopedia, s.v. "Supersessionism," accessed December 10, 2024, https://www.theopedia.com/supersessionism.

[2] Sam Storms, "Caterpillars, Butterflies, and Replacement Theology", The Gospel Coalition, November 18, 2019, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/caterpillars-butterflies-replacement-theology/.

[3] Cornelius Venema, "The Church and Israel: The Issue," Ligonier, accessed December 11, 2024, https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/the-church-and-israel-the-issue.