Are We Catholics Replacement Theologians?

[Antonius_Lupus]

I was wondering about Church teaching concerning the Jews. I am inclined to believe that the Church teaches that Christianity is a continuation of Judaism and the fulfillment of it.

But I read James Akin’s article on Israel and the Church (type in search on Catholic.com) and he seemed to advocate a dual Covenant theology.

Needless to say, I am totally confused.

Any thoughts?

 

[Teflon93]

Any thoughts?

As ever, see what the Catechism has to say first:

The Church and non-Christians

839 "Those who have not yet received the Gospel are related to the People of God in various ways."325

The relationship of the Church with the Jewish People. When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People,326 "the first to hear the Word of God."327** The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God’s revelation in the Old Covenant**. To the Jews “belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ”,328 **“for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.”**329

840 And when one considers the future, God’s People of the Old Covenant and the new People of God tend towards similar goals: expectation of the coming (or the return) of the Messiah. But one awaits the return of the Messiah who died and rose from the dead and is recognized as Lord and Son of God; the other awaits the coming of a Messiah, whose features remain hidden till the end of time; and the latter waiting is accompanied by the drama of not knowing or of misunderstanding Christ Jesus.

And:

The Old Testament

121 The Old Testament is an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture. Its books are divinely inspired and retain a permanent value,92 for the Old Covenant has never been revoked.

122 Indeed, "the economy of the Old Testament was deliberately so oriented that it should prepare for and declare in prophecy the coming of Christ, redeemer of all men."93 "Even though they contain matters imperfect and provisional,"94 the books of the Old Testament bear witness to the whole divine pedagogy of God’s saving love: these writings "are a storehouse of sublime teaching on God and of sound wisdom on human life, as well as a wonderful treasury of prayers; in them, too, the mystery of our salvation is present in a hidden way."95

123 Christians venerate the Old Testament as true Word of God. The Church has always vigorously opposed the idea of rejecting the Old Testament under the pretext that the New has rendered it void (Marcionism).

The Church therefore views the Jews as sheep truly called by the Shepherd who will indeed return to the flock before the end.