The orthodox view of the Jews and Judaism∗

Abstract

The whole subject of the relationship between Christianity and Judaism is beset by complexity and distorted by all kinds of contradictory historical developments. One can quote a range of individual theological opinions on the subject, but unfortunately they do not produce a coherent picture. God could very probably solve the problem with a single word, but for us it remains a mystery. We are seeking a solution by adopting a pluralistic approach, which acknowledges that human truth is multifaceted while it excludes anything that is a lie. We will offer some observations on aspects of the relationship between Judaism and Christianity, observations which on the whole do not contradict Orthodox teaching. First, let us consider Judaism before Jesus Christ. The New Testament undoubtedly has its grounding in the Old Testament and therefore Old Testament religion before Jesus Christ is also the religion of the Orthodox Church. Denial of the role of the Old Testament is a heresy and a perversion of Christianity, which is condemned by the Orthodox faith (for example, the gnosticism of Marcion). The question becomes more difficult after the advent of Jesus Christ and in the light of later developments within Judaism. Judaism after the advent of Jesus Christ is part of the religious history of the development of humanity. Contemporary Judaism and Old Testament theology, it would seem, cannot be placed on the same level, even though God is undoubtedly working in the development of Judaism just as in all other religions. We cannot approve of everything by any means in the history of Christianity. It is a history in which human beings have committed crimes and sins for which we are obliged to repent. The Jewish people were chosen by God. It is impossible to deny from a reading of the Bible that the 'gifts and call of God are irrevocable' (Romans 11 :29). God made His eternal covenant with the Jewish people and in His sight it is indissoluble. However, in not accepting Christ the Jewish nation was quite capable of unilaterally dissolving its covenant with God. God's covenant with the Jews thus remains in force today, but is onesided. With the advent of Jesus Christ God made a new covenant with humanity. God's chosen people include not only Jews but Christians the 'New Israel'. Christians become Jews of a new kind, 'spiritual Jews', the new children of Abraham, not of the flesh, but of the spirit. The New Israel is the inheritor of God's promises. Jews and Christians have the same God. We can state quite firmly that the God of