Theological Views On Israel's Nationhood Restoration
The concept of Israel's nationhood restoration is a significant theme in biblical prophecy and theological discourse, particularly concerning the future role of the Jewish people. The Old Testament frequently emphasizes Israel's unique status as a nation chosen by God. For instance, 1 Chronicles 17:21 and 2 Samuel 7:23 both declare, "What one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people?" [1, 2, 3]. This highlights a distinct national identity and divine purpose.
Theological traditions have interpreted these prophecies in various ways. Charles Hodge, a prominent Reformed theologian, argued for a future national conversion of the Jews [10]. He contended that the preservation of the Jewish people as a distinct entity through centuries, likened to "a river flowing through the ocean without mingling with its waters," suggests a divine purpose for their future [13]. Hodge pointed to passages like Romans 11, which he considered a decisive text, to support the idea that God has not entirely cast off Israel as a nation [5]. He believed that when Christ returns, the Jews will have been converted and become a Christian nation, visible to all [4]. This national conversion, according to Hodge, will involve mourning and repentance, as described in Zechariah 12:10, where "the land shall mourn" [5].
The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary, representing a Presbyterian perspective, also anticipates a future restoration and conversion of Israel. They interpret Micah 5:7 as indicating that a "remnant of Jacob" will exercise a spiritual influence on other nations after their restoration, similar to the refreshing effect of dew [7]. This commentary also suggests that the "veil" will be taken off Israel first, leading to a general conversion among them and the heathen world at Christ's coming [8]. Jeremiah 31:7 is cited as urging prayers for universal restoration, implying that God has determined to grant this restoration and puts it into the hearts of people to pray for it [11].
However, Hodge also critiques certain interpretations of Israel's restoration, particularly those that suggest a preeminence for Jews in a future kingdom that Gentile Christians do not share [6]. one tradition notes that the apostles recognized no future for Jews in which Gentile Christians would not participate, emphasizing the unity in Christ [6]. He also identifies the idea of Christ establishing a visible, external kingdom in Jerusalem as a "modern novelty" that is not found in the standards of the Reformation churches [9].
Augustine, from the Patristic tradition, interpreted prophecies concerning Israel's remnant as encompassing both the Jewish people and other nations, seeing it as a promise of the "washing of regeneration" now imparted to all nations [12]. This perspective emphasizes the spiritual inclusion of Gentiles into God's people, rather than solely a national restoration of ethnic Israel.
Sources
- 1 Chronicles “What one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, to make you a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeem out of Egypt? -- 1 Chronicles 17:21”
- 2 Samuel “What one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, and to make himself a name, and to do great things for you, and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeem to yourself out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods? -- 2 Samuel 7:23”
- II Samuel “II Samuel 7:23 (LEB) — Who is like your people, like Israel? Israel is the one nation on earth whose God ⌞led them⌟, in order to redeem a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to do for you the great and awesome things for your land in the presence of your people whom he redeemed for himself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 88: the name of the Lord’ — so it is certain that, when Jesus comes, who will be visible to all the world, as the lightning which cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, whom all eyes, even of those who pierced Him and all kindreds of the earth shall see ( Rev. i. 7 ; Zech. xii. 10 ), — the Jews must have been converted and have become a Christian nation. . . . . And further when Peter ( Acts iii. 19-21 ) exhorts to repentance and conversion until the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord shall come; so it appears ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 88: is in bitterness for his first-born.” This is to be a national conversion, for it is said “the land shall mourn” every family apart. 4. The most decisive passage, however, bearing on this subject, one which may be taken “ instar omnium ,” is the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Romans . Paul had taught, (1.) That God had cast off the Jews as a nation because they as a nation, represented by the Sanhedrim, the High Priest, the scribes and the Pharisees, by their rulers of every class, and by the popular voice, had rejected Christ. “H”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 88: that if there be any difference between them, it is not in virtue of national or social distinctions, but solely of individual character and devotion. That we are all one in Christ Jesus, is a doctrine 811 which precludes the possibility of the preeminence assigned to the Jews in the theory of which their restoration to their own land, and their national individuality are constituent elements. 5. The Apostles uniformly acted on this principle. They recognize no future for the Jews in which the Gentile Christians are not to participate. As”
- Micah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Micah 5:7: remnant of Jacob--already mentioned in Mic 5:3. It in comparative smallness stands in antithesis to the "many people." Though Israel be but a remnant amidst many nations after her restoration, yet she shall exercise the same blessed influence in quickening them spiritually that the small imperceptible dew exercises in refreshing the grass (Deu 32:2; Psa 72:6; Psa 110:3). The influence of the Jews restored from Babylon in making many Gentile proselytes is an earnest of a larger similar effect hereafter (Isa 66:19; Zac 8:13). from the Lord--Israel's rest”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 20:6: Blessed--(Compare Rev 14:13; Rev 19:9). on such the second death hath no power--even as it has none on Christ now that He is risen. priests of God--Apostate Christendom being destroyed, and the believing Church translated at Christ's coming, there will remain Israel and the heathen world, constituting the majority of men then alive, which, from not having come into close contact with the Gospel, have not incurred the guilt of rejecting it. These will be the subjects of a general conversion (Rev 11:15). "The veil" shall be taken off Israel first”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 95: in the standards of any of the Churches of the Reformation; by several it is expressly repudiated. It is a modern novelty, suggested but one hundred and fifty years ago by Whitby, and avowedly as ‘a new hypothesis.’” According to this view, (1.) The nations are not to be converted, nor are the Jews to be restored to their standing in the Church, until the second coming of Christ. (2.) His advent is to be personal and glorious. (3.) He will establish Himself in Jerusalem as the head of a visible, external kingdom. (4.) When He comes, the m”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 88: § 5. Conversion of the Jews. The second great event, which, according to the common faith of the Church, is to precede the second advent of Christ, is the national conversion of the Jews. First, that there is to be such a national conversion may be argued, — 1. From the original call and destination of that people. God called Abraham and promised that through him, and in his seed, all the nations of the earth should be blessed. He entered into a solemn covenant with him engaging to be his God and the God of his posterity to the latest gen”
- Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 31:7: The people are urged with praises and prayers to supplicate for their universal restoration. Jehovah is represented in the context (Jer 31:1, Jer 31:8), as promising immediately to restore Israel. They therefore praise God for the restoration, being as certain of it as if it were actually accomplished; and at the same time pray for it, as prayer was a means to the desired end. Prayer does not move God to grant our wishes, but when God has determined to grant our wishes, He puts it into our hearts to pray for the thing desired. Compare Psa 102:13-17, ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 34.--THE FOURTH RULE OF TICHONIUS. (part 3): "For though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall be saved,"(6) but also the other nations which were promised to their fathers and our fathers; and that there is here a promise of that washing of regeneration which, as we see, is now imparted to all nations, no one who looks into the matter can doubt. And that saying of the apostle, when he is commending the grace of the New Testament and its excellence in comparison with the Old, ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 88: descendants. 3. A presumptive argument is drawn from the strange preservation of the Jews through so many centuries as a distinct people. They have often been compared to a river flowing through the ocean without mingling with its waters. There must be some purpose in this wonderful preservation. That people must have a future corresponding to its marvellous past. 4. Reference is also made to the fact that the land promised to the Jews is now empty, as though waiting for their return. It once teemed with a population counted by millions; ”