Chosen People

[mullenpm]

As a Catholic, I have always taken the term “Chosen People” to mean that the Jewish people were considered the Chosen People of God because God chose to have his Son born to a Jewish woman in Israel.

After talking with two different non-Catholic friends (Greek Orthodox; Episcopalian) I find that Protestants have a different understanding.

My Greek Orthodox neighbor said that it means that Jews will be the only people going to Heaven; and my friend the Episcopalian, said that the Jewish people believe they are more important and much better than all other peoples.

I still hold my understanding of the term but would be interested in hearing from others (especially, Jewish members) as to their belief what the term “chosen people” means to them.

 

[tomarin]

As a Catholic, I have always taken the term “Chosen People” to mean that the Jewish people were considered the Chosen People of God because God chose to have his Son born to a Jewish woman in Israel.

Chosen as in they are the people whom God chose to reveal Himself to through the Old Testament prophets. That’s what “chosen people” meant to the Jews throughout history and up to the present day.

My Greek Orthodox neighbor said that it means that Jews will be the only people going to Heaven; and my friend the Episcopalian, said that the Jewish people believe they are more important and much better than all other peoples.

I thought it was the reverse of what your Orthodox friend said: that Jews believed non-jews went to heaven whereas we Catholics believed that in most cases you must be Catholic to enter heaven. Or as I’ve heard it put on these fora: everyone in Heaven will be Catholic.