The Catholic Church’s View on the Jewish People and Religion in Salvation History, Covenant, and the End Times

 

The Catholic Church’s View on the Jewish People and Religion in Salvation History, Covenant, and the End Times

The relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people is deeply rooted in theology, history, and Scripture. This connection, particularly in regard to salvation history, the covenant, and the end times, has evolved significantly over the centuries. The Catholic Church recognizes the Jewish people as the chosen people of God, acknowledges the eternal significance of their covenant with God, and understands that God’s promises to Israel have not been revoked. However, the Church also believes that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God's salvation plan, which includes the offer of salvation to all peoples, including Jews.

1. Salvation History and the Jewish People

In Catholic theology, salvation history refers to the story of God’s plan for humanity’s redemption. This story begins with the covenant made with the Jewish people and is brought to fulfillment in Jesus Christ, whom Catholics believe is the Messiah promised to the Jews.

The Church recognizes the pivotal role of the Jewish people in salvation history. The Second Vatican Council’s document Nostra Aetate (1965), which addressed the relationship between the Church and non-Christian religions, specifically acknowledges the Jewish roots of Christianity:

"The Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to the divine plan of salvation, the Jews are the first to hear the Word of God. They have a special relationship to the Church, since they are the descendants of Abraham and the recipients of God’s promises."
— Nostra Aetate, 4.

This statement affirms that the Jewish people hold a special place in the history of salvation. Catholics believe that Jesus, though He came from the Jewish people, fulfilled the promises made to Israel, and that this fulfillment is open to all, not just the Jewish people. This idea is rooted in the New Testament, where Paul writes:

"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
— Romans 11:29 (New Revised Standard Version).

This passage highlights the Catholic belief that God's promises to Israel remain intact, despite the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by most Jews. In Catholic theology, this means that, while salvation is through Jesus Christ, the covenant with the Jewish people remains eternal.

2. The Covenant and the Jewish People

The Catholic Church teaches that the Jewish covenant with God is still valid. Nostra Aetate affirms that the Jewish people remain in a special relationship with God, even as the Church believes that the fullness of this covenant is realized in Christ:

"The covenant that God made with the Jewish people through Moses remains eternally valid for them."
— Nostra Aetate, 4.

This statement emphasizes that Catholics do not believe the Jews have been superseded by the New Covenant in Christ, a theological position known as supersessionism or replacement theology. Rather, Catholics understand the New Covenant as an extension or fulfillment of the original covenant with Israel. Jesus is seen as the fulfillment of the promises made to Israel, but the Jewish people continue to maintain a special role in salvation history.

In his writings, Pope Benedict XVI also highlighted this enduring relationship:

"The covenant that God made with Israel has not been revoked. We believe that Israel’s history and its covenant with God continue."
— Jesus of Nazareth, Volume 2: Holy Week, p. 213.

Pope Benedict’s words reflect the Church’s ongoing acknowledgment that the Jewish people’s covenant with God remains significant and that the Jewish faith continues to be part of God’s unfolding plan.

3. The End Times and the Jewish People

Catholic teaching on the end times is framed by the belief in the second coming of Christ and the establishment of God's Kingdom. Regarding the role of the Jewish people in the end times, the Church teaches that there will be a recognition of Christ as the Messiah at the time of the eschaton, the end of days.

In Nostra Aetate, the Church acknowledges that, despite the current rejection of Christ by many Jews, God's promises to Israel are not nullified. There is a belief in the possibility that, in the fullness of time, the Jewish people will come to recognize Jesus as the Messiah:

"The Church awaits that day, knowing that the full realization of God's plan will come when the Jewish people recognize their Messiah."
— Nostra Aetate, 4.

This concept aligns with certain Jewish eschatological views, which anticipate the coming of the true Messiah. In Catholic teaching, the ultimate reconciliation of Israel with the Messiah is part of the hope for the final fulfillment of God’s plan for humanity. The recognition of Christ by the Jewish people is viewed as a key event in the unfolding of the end times.

Pope John Paul II, in his 1994 document We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah, further reflected on the relationship between the Church and the Jewish people:

"We believe that the Jewish people, to whom we are linked by the Covenant and by the faith of the Patriarchs, will be among those who enter the Kingdom of God, though we also believe that the ultimate realization of God’s promise requires their recognition of Christ."
— We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah, 4.

This recognition is viewed as a process that may unfold over time and culminate at the end of days. Catholics believe that, in the eschatological future, Jews and Gentiles will both acknowledge the true Messiah, and all people will live in unity under the reign of God.

4. Similarities and Differences with the Jewish Perspective

The thesis in the previous article, which proposes that some Jewish rabbis and theologians view Catholicism as a path that will ultimately lead to the recognition of the true Jewish Messiah, has certain points of overlap with Catholic views on salvation history, the covenant, and the end times. Both perspectives share the belief that God’s plan includes a universal acknowledgment of the true Messiah and that the Jewish people continue to have an enduring role in that plan.

However, there are key differences. Catholics believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies, while many Jews await a different Messiah. The Catholic view posits that salvation is ultimately found in Christ, while acknowledging that the Jewish covenant remains valid and that Jews have a special relationship with God. The Jewish perspective, as discussed in the article, may suggest that Christianity—while imperfect—plays a role in spreading knowledge of the one God, which could prepare the world for the ultimate recognition of the true Jewish Messiah.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Catholic Church’s view of the Jewish people is one of deep respect and acknowledgment of their continuing role in salvation history. Catholics believe that the Jewish covenant remains valid, even as they believe Jesus Christ fulfills the promises made to Israel. The Church also teaches that the Jewish people will ultimately recognize Jesus as the Messiah in the end times, though the timing and manner of this recognition are part of God’s divine plan. This understanding shares some common themes with Jewish eschatological hopes, particularly the anticipation of the coming Messiah, though the two perspectives differ in their understanding of who that Messiah is. Ultimately, both faiths anticipate a future in which God’s promises to humanity are fully realized, and all people acknowledge the one true God.