Replacement Theology

[Touma]

From wiki:

Supersessionism, also called fulfillment theology and replacement theology, is the Christian theological position that the New Covenant replaces the Mosaic Covenant, which is commonly referred to as the "Old Covenant". Supersessionism views Christendom and the Christian Church as being the inheritor of the promises made to the biblical Israelites and proselytes. This position is in direct contrast with dual-covenant theology which posits that both biblical covenants still apply.

What is the Orthodox Church's position on this? In Protestant circles, you will be called a heretic if you believe replacement theology. Well, that is an issue for me, because I do believe that. I haven't been able to find much from the Orthodox on the subject. So I am just curious to what is taught in the church.


Thanks!

 

[ArmyMatt]

well, one Covenant fullfilled the other, so it applies still in Christ. the New sheds light on the Old, clarifies the teaching, and the Old could only point out sin, the New allows sin to be overcome.

if you read the Scriptures, there is only ever one Israel, and it is God's people. since the Jews rejected their own God when they crucified Him, Israel has become the Jew and Gentile Church, the Orthodox Church.

so your position is actually correct.

 

[Cappadocious]

"For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second...

...When He said, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear..."

-Hebrews 8

 

[Knee V]

The real issue is not whether the New Covenant replaces the Old Covenant. Rather, the issue is what is the true fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham. Was the covenant made with Moses and the Israelites the true fulfillment and continuation of the covenant made with Abraham? No. The covenant made with Abraham is fulfilled only and truly in Christ. The covenant made with Israel in Mount Sinai served a purpose, which was to prepare them for Christ.

So the New Covenant doesn't so much "replace" the Old Covenant (although it does in a sense). Rather, the New Covenant does what the Old Covenant could never do, and what it was never designed to do.

That's in terms of covenants.

In terms of "God's people," there has always been one people of God. At no time did one group of people replace another group of people.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I would also point out, that Abraham was made righteous before the covenant was established. so the promises and blessings that are Abraham's and those who would follow him are based on his faith and relation to God, which Christians follow.

 

[Touma]

Thanks for the answers. Glad to see we are all on the same page.

 

[Macarius]

I would go so far as to say that the old covenant finds its true inspiration and meaning ONLY in the light of the new covenant. The 2nd and 3rd century Christians used this idea as their principle means of fighting the Marcionite heresy, which took a literal stance on the Old Testament as a means of discrediting its vision of God (in favor of the vision of God presented by Christ). By saying that the whole Scriptures constitute one movement of God, revealed most fully in Christ (who then becomes THE interpretive key for understanding the entirety of the Scriptures, both covenants) the early Christians were able to assert that the Old Testament is still completely valid precisely because Christ reveals how properly to understand the vision of God that it presents.

 

[rakovsky]

Dear Touma,

You asked a good question on what is the Orthodox position on Supersessionism.

I would like to bring to your attention my review of Orthodox writings on this topic, which I attached on post 76 of the Monachos Forum thread The Orthodox Church and Supersessionism.
(monachos.net/conversation/topic/7236-the-orthodox-church-and-supersessionism/page-4)

To summarize, Orthodoxy accepts Supersessionism in the simplest, most basic meaning of the word- that the New Testament in some way supersedes the Old one. Yet Orthodoxy also sees the Old Testament to continue in some form as well, for example in that it continues to hold spiritual value.

However, caution must be used, because Orthodox very rarely use the term, and some of its representations and meanings do not match ways in which many Orthodox think.


Take care.

 

[ArmyMatt]

what up rakovsky! welcome to TAW!