Are Jews saved?

[Pieman333272]

I am curious as to whether or not Jews are saved. I understand they accept God, but they deny the divinity of Jesus, the trinity and the church. So, are they saved? Or do they go to purgatory? Or do they go to hell? thanks ahead of time.

 

[Della]

It’s best to consult the Catechism for this question:

Possible salvation of non-Christians: #s 846-848.

“Outside the Church there is no salvation”
846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers?335 Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:
Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.336
847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:
Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.337
848 "Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men."338

Jesus’ redemptive death opened the possibility of all men to be saved. So, it is through him that all are saved who will be saved. Of course, we Catholics cannot take the chance that non-Christians will be saved, so we evangelize them–not target them, as if they are in need of salvation more than any other group of non-Christians, but as we would all who do not know our blessed Lord and Savior.

 

[pigtown]

Personally, I wouldn’t worry about it. Since Jesus Christ was a Jew, I’m sure He wants the Jewish people to be with Him so I just leave it to Him to make the decision. I had a Jewish Grandfather so I’ve always felt that he is spending eternity in Heaven where he belongs.

 

[pinctor]

Personally, I wouldn’t worry about it. Since Jesus Christ was a Jew, I’m sure He wants the Jewish people to be with Him so I just leave it to Him to make the decision. I had a Jewish Grandfather so I’ve always felt that he is spending eternity in Heaven where he belongs.

And Our Lady, St Joseph and the Apostles…

 

[UniversalistGuy]

I am curious as to whether or not Jews are saved. I understand they accept God, but they deny the divinity of Jesus, the trinity and the church. So, are they saved? Or do they go to purgatory? Or do they go to hell? thanks ahead of time.

Which Jews do you have in mind?

 

[Nine_Two]

The belief that the Jews have their own path to salvation, separate from the Christian path, has been decried as heretical from the very beginning of the Church.

 

[Pieman333272]

Which Jews do you have in mind?

Do you mean denominations of Judaism? If so, I guess any you want to answer about. If you mean specific people, I mean any Jewish person who is devout in his/her faith and practice basic Jewish customs, and lives a relatively good (ethically) life.

 

[UniversalistGuy]

UniversalistGuy;6920773:

Which Jews do you have in mind?

Do you mean denominations of Judaism? If so, I guess any you want to answer about. If you mean specific people, I mean any Jewish person who is devout in his/her faith and practice basic Jewish customs, and lives a relatively good (ethically) life.

I was thinking about the different branches in Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, and Humanistic) and also about individual Jews that, in the opinion of others, do not qualify for the “devout” category. Based on the goodness of God I don’t see why one couldn’t suppose that all Jews are saved. There doesn’t seem to be any good reason to go into the matter further than that. After all, there’s no way of proving that Jews aren’t saved any more than there is of finding a way to prove that Christians are saved. What’s your idea about it?

 

[Thyme]

I asked once asked my priest about the salvation of non-Christians.

He said the truth is revealed to us when we die. If non-Christians accepts the truth and are repentant of sins, they will go to Purgatory, where they are prepared for Heaven.

He gave the example of when Christ breathed His last breath on the cross. Scripture reports that souls rose. Christ descended. He went to preach the Gospel to the dead and when they accepted it, the gates of Heaven were opened and they all went there with Him.

He also gave the example of the two sinners He was crucified with. One rebuked Jesus, but when dying, the other asked Jesus to remember him when He entered His kingdom. Jesus told the sinner that he will be in paradise.

I wonder if God will accept the repentance of non-Christians who actively rebuke Christianity. But luckily, the majority of non-Christians aren’t like this- if they knew the truth, they would accept it and God is the Just Judge and Merciful Saviour.

 

[davec66]

I am curious as to whether or not Jews are saved. I understand they accept God, but they deny the divinity of Jesus, the trinity and the church. So, are they saved? Or do they go to purgatory? Or do they go to hell? thanks ahead of time.

If they believe in Jesus they will be saved and some Jews do believe. Also, in the end times many Jews will be saved, supernaturally. Also, purgatory is not a real place. It is made up. Sorry.

 

[UniversalistGuy]

If they believe in Jesus they will be saved and some Jews do believe. Also, in the end times many Jews will be saved, supernaturally. Also, purgatory is not a real place. It is made up. Sorry.

Are you quoting official doctrines of your Christian church or is this something you made up?

 

[Della]

If Pieman is asking what the Catholic Church teaches about the salvation of the Jews, then we’ve answered him. What other Christian ecclesial bodies teach would have to be explained by them. Suffice it to say, the Catholic Church does not hold exactly the same position as davec66, although we do believe salvation is through Christ alone–we just define what that means a bit differently.

 

[GerardMajella]

This particular topic under debate, in theological circles, is dubbed “dual-covenant theology”. It is important to note as part of this discussion that there have been major positive advances in Jewish-Christian relations since Vatican II.

 

[Pieman333272]

Thanks all. And @devecc, and you prove purgatory doesn’t exist?

 

[Della]

Thanks all. And @devecc, and you prove purgatory doesn’t exist?

You’re welcome. As to the existence of purgatory (or indeed any other teaching) it might be better to ask “is it reasonable?” rather “can you prove it doesn’t exist”. No one can prove a negative, you see.

According to davec66’s understanding of salvation theology, purgatory is not only unnecessary, it denies Christ’s sacrificial death. Of course, he doesn’t understand Catholic theology in which purgatory is a part of salvation theology, nor what purgatory is and what it isn’t. He should look it up in the Catechism of the Catholic Church purgatory if he truly wishes to know that.

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

I am curious as to whether or not Jews are saved. I understand they accept God, but they deny the divinity of Jesus, the trinity and the church. So, are they saved? Or do they go to purgatory? Or do they go to hell? thanks ahead of time.

A few things to consider:

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” [Matthew 10:32-33]

“…and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.” [John 5:38]

“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.” [John 5:45-46]

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” [John 14:6; ESV]

I’m afraid that any one who says “Yes they are saved” is simply falling into semi-universalism, and anyone who says “We don’t know” is simply avoiding giving the true response as it is presented in scripture.

 

[Nine_Two]

I think many like to believe the Jews in particular are saved simply because they hold an affinity for them, being that Christianity originated within the Jewish faith at an earlier stage in its development. People like to quote verses speaking of Jews in heaven (especially in the Apocalypse), forgetting that Christ said that one who does not know him is not a Jew, and that God can make the stones into children of Abraham.

By the way, long time no see BW, how goes it?

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

I think many like to believe the Jews in particular are saved simply because they hold an affinity for them, being that Christianity originated within the Jewish faith at an earlier stage in its development. People like to quote verses speaking of Jews in heaven (especially in the Apocalypse), forgetting that Christ said that one who does not know him is not a Jew, and that God can make the stones into children of Abraham.

I especially hate (I mean hate) the argument, “Well Jesus was a Jew!” :doh2: Yes, of course the Eternal Word became incarnate into the Jewish tribes - who else were expecting to see Him? Ancient Mongols? But saying “Jesus was Jewish” means about as much as saying “Woody Allen is Jewish.” Christ, in His humanity, may have been raised in the Jewish faith, but He was also God.

People also forget that often when Paul speaks of “Jews” in his epistles, he’s referring to the ethnic Jews who were believers, not religious Jews.

By the way, long time no see BW, how goes it?

Going a lot better than a year ago, thanks for asking. After a long hiatus, I thought I’d poke my head around CAF and see how things are going. Kind of surprised to see you still here, but it’s a good kind of surprise.

 

[Nine_Two]

I especially hate (I mean hate) the argument, “Well Jesus was a Jew!” :doh2: Yes, of course the Eternal Word became incarnate into the Jewish tribes - who else were expecting to see Him? Ancient Mongols? But saying “Jesus was Jewish” means about as much as saying “Woody Allen is Jewish.” Christ, in His humanity, may have been raised in the Jewish faith, but He was also God.

People also forget that often when Paul speaks of “Jews” in his epistles, he’s referring to the ethnic Jews who were believers, not religious Jews.

The argument Jesus was a Jew only works insofar as the fulfillment of prophecy. Prophecy states that he would be a Jew come to establish God’s kingdom. It does not state that he would feel a particular ethnic bond with his Jewish compatriots that would lead him to grant them salvation no questions asked (and if anyone believes it says otherwise, I suppose this would be the thread for them to share).

Going a lot better than a year ago, thanks for asking. After a long hiatus, I thought I’d poke my head around CAF and see how things are going. Kind of surprised to see you still here, but it’s a good kind of surprise.

I’m still here off and on, but to be honest I feel an “off” period coming up. But enough OT reminiscence.

 

[StrawberryJam]

I thought Jesus could save whoever he wanted to, and is never bound by anything.
Never gave this much thought before, so I could be very wrong.
I would think they cetainly are not “saved” wholesale simply because they have the Jewish ancestry. Again, I am willing to be corrected. It just would not make sense if that were the case. I would take the safer approach, and think all would be judged by Jesus on a one on one basis, not a tribal association.