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I know there is some complicated theology, which I am not an expert in, regarding what I am about to ask. I honestly don't even know the technical terms for what I am trying to describe. I would like an overview of how different Protestant Christians understand this relationship, explaining the different bases for the following possibilities:

  • The belief that Israel "became" the Church
  • The belief that the Israel is still important and hasn't been entirely replaced by the Church
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  • Would evangelical be considered a denomination with respect to your question?
    – Pistachio
    Oct 9, 2015 at 20:47
  • @Pistachio No, that would be too broad still.
    – curiousdannii ♦
    Oct 9, 2015 at 23:58
  • @Pistachio I converted the question to an "overview" to make it on-topic. Let me know if that works for you.
    – ThaddeusB
    Oct 10, 2015 at 16:31

2 Answers 2

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It sounds like you are wondering about the debate between covenant theology and dispensationalism. These are big questions, and only a very high-level summary can be provided here.

Covenant theology holds that there is one people of God, and that the saved from both Israel and the Christian church are members of that people. Thus, God's promises to Israel in the Old Testament apply to the Christian church as well.

Dispensationalism sees Israel and the Christian church as distinct groups, and that the promises to Israel in the Old Testament generally do not apply to the Christian church.

Take note too that there are many other categories besides these two frameworks. Ideas like dual-covenant theology and supersessionism ("replacement theology") are sometimes seen to be more extreme forms of dispensationalism and covenant theology, while frameworks like New Covenant Theology are seen to be somewhere in the middle.

Regarding denominations, remember that there are thousands of Protestant denominations, so the best we can do on a site like this is a high-level summary. That said, Reformed and Presbyterian denominations tend to be adherents of covenant theology. Baptist denominations and especially "non-denominational" churches tend to be dispensational. But most denominations do not take an official stance, or their stance is general enough that it allows for friendly disagreement within their churches.

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  • Thanks for the reply. Is there by chance a page that goes into depth on that spectrum you described laying out the extremes while explaining the categories in the middle?
    – Jrod95
    Jan 31, 2016 at 5:11
  • @Jrod95 Unfortunately, I'm not sure an in-depth treatment of this could be much less than the size of a book. The Wikipedia articles linked in my answer contain helpful introductory material. I'd suggest reviewing those, and then if you still have specific questions, ask them here. Hope this makes sense; sorry that there isn't an easy answer to this!
    – Nathaniel is protesting
    Jan 31, 2016 at 13:40
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How do different Protestant denominations view the relationship between Israel and the Church?

The different views frequently track what a denomination teaches about end times.

There can also be various views within a denomination. The views run a spectrum.

  1. There is no more Israel (as far as God is concerned) and the church has inherited all of the promises made to Israel. This is frequently called replacement theology.

  2. God is finished with Israel and now and in the future will only deal with humanity through the church. This view is often denied as being the same as replacement theology, but it does sound similar.

  3. Israel is irrelevant and God may or may not do something with humanity in the future. This might be called de-facto amillennialism. Here there may not be any specific teaching or doctrine just more of a focus on the present.

  4. A more formal view of amillennialism is that at some future point God will return to earth and either make the world better or receive a world improved by Christians. This view was more popular when it was parallel to the political progressivism of the early 20th century. WWI took a lot of the wind out of its sails. This view is more popular with covenantal, reformed, reconstructionist, and dominionist theologies. This view has no regard for Israel other than just another nation from which some might be called to be Christian.

  5. A millennial view would be one that sees Jesus returning to rule on earth for a thousand years. Dispensationalists often hold this view. This view is also often associated with a restoration of a faithful remnant of Israel such that all of the promises made to the nation of Israel will be fulfilled to Israel as promised.

  6. There is a less popular perspective that can fall under the category of Messianic Judaism where Christians observe some of all of the laws given to Israel and may see no place for a separate gentile church.

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  • I think your description of Messianic Judaism is incorrect. Messianic Jews certainly see the need for a gentile church. Also you are omitting the view where God maintains his relationship with Israel, and Jews have at least the theoretical capacity to be 'saved' through it.
    – DJClayworth
    Jan 8, 2016 at 18:24
  • This seems to unnecessarily mix some other issues. Probably because of trying to fit within the covenant vs dispensational discussion. Millennial beliefs may include a view of Israel, but these views on Israel can be held independently. Such as #5, your first two sentences are entirely irrelevant and distracting making it seem like only dispensationalists believe in future restoration. Cut out the other info on larger systems and focus on what each view itself is and you've got a decent answer here.
    – Joshua
    Jan 10, 2016 at 5:59

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