The Israelites & the Nations: A Systematic Theology of Israel, Ethnicity, and Covenantal Inclusion

Abstract

The present essay is primarily an attempt to define biblical Israel. Because of recent events in the Middle East, namely, the attacks on 7 October 2023, and the unfolding war in Gaza, the work aims to be a resource for both pastors and practitioners who seek a more comprehensive biblical understanding of how ‘Israel’ is used in the Bible, and how this differs from the modern State of Israel. Through briefly surveying the origins of Christian Zionism and the use of ‘Israel’ in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, the author contends for clarity on what is meant by ‘Israel’ in current Christian discourse, and how this can affect the Church’s witness in the Middle East today.