Bible Question: How do we know which promises in the Bible are for us and which ones are for the Jews and/or Israel? |
Bible Answer: Hi Joerick, you need to read context. If the context of the passage is addressing Israel or the Jews then you know the promise is for them, if the promise is general then you know the promise is for everyone. There is a line of thought called replacement theology, which wants to replace the word “Jew” or “Israel” with the word “church”. They mostly do it for the promises and seldom do it for the curses. This is an over simplification but I think you have the idea. However there is no Biblical basis to such. The bible contains two types of promises limited and general, limited promises made to a person, specific nations or for a special situations that we can’t claim because we don’t fit as that person, nations or situations. God promise to Abraham is a limited promise made only to Abraham and can not be claimed by anybody else. General promises do not specify a particular person, nation or situation these we can claim. Of these there are two additional classes. Conditional promises and unconditional promises. A conditional promise has as it name states a condition attached to it. John 3:16 is conditional in that you must believe in Jesus to receive eternal life. Unconditional promises again true to their name have no conditions. John 14:3 is unconditional where Jesus promises to return. Read the context and see if God is talking to everybody or to a particular individual, nation, or situation, then you will know. |