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Rating: 
Summary: Balanced exegesis
Review: It's widely stated that the holocaust has led to theological reexamination on the relationship between Christianity's understanding of Jesus and the relationship between Israel and the Church. Actually, that reexamination has been going on in Fundamentalist and Evangelical circles for a long time. In the 19th century, ex-Anglican John Nelson Darby developed a theory known as Dispensationalism. Prior to that time, theologians of all stripes saw the Church as the "New Israel" and saved Gentiles as replacing the Jews as God's people. It was believed that the Old Testament promises to the Jews had been fulfilled in the church. This view is known as "supersessionism" (sometimes called "replacement theology"). Dispensationalism advanced a novel interpretation of the covenantal structure of the Bible: the church is a "parenthesis" in history and as soon as Christians are "raptured," God will again deal with the Jews, who remain heirs to the Old Testament's promises. (This is why Fundamentalists are pro-Israel and see the Jews as the rightful owners of a good chunk of Middle East territory.) In recent years, liberal Christians (such as Cardinal Walter Kasper, head Vatican bureaucrat for Jewish/Catholic dialogue) have advocated a similar theory widely called "dual covenant theology" which teaches that God's covenant with the Jews hasn't been revoked they are in a saving covenant with God. This theory has more to do with religious pluralism than with the high view of Scripture advocated by Dispensationalists. (Most Dispensationalists do not think Jews can be saved without faith in Jesus.)
Prof. David Holwerda has advanced an excellent defense of the traditional view (at least as its understood by many Calvinists). He shows that the Old Testament promises (such as the temple and the land) find their fulfillment in Jesus. Besides refuting Dispensationalism, it is a "positive" presentation of the supersessionist case. Because he sees only one covenant, there is much more emphasis on fullfilment instead of "replacement." As Holwerda says, under New Testament teaching the children of Abraham have inherited the world, so it's hard to assert that the New Testament is attempting to take something from the Jews. Nonetheless, his exegesis of one of the New Testament's more difficult portions, Romans 9-11, indicates that Paul sees a continuing role for the Jews. (This is contrary to some Calvinists who see Romans 9-11 as dealing with spiritual Israel.)
My only complaint about this book is that Prof. Holwerda's historical survey in chapter 1 deals mostly with current thinkers. There is some discussion of contemporary thinkers such as Pinchas Lapide, Karl and Marcus Barth, and Rosemary Ruether. I would be interested in Prof. Holwerda's opinion of how orthodox thinkers have evaluated the relationship between Israel and the church.
Rating:
Summary: Balanced exegesis
Review: It's widely stated that the holocaust has led to theological reexamination on the relationship between Christianity's understanding of Jesus and the relationship between Israel and the Church. Actually, that reexamination has been going on in Fundamentalist and Evangelical circles for a long time. In the 19th century, ex-Anglican John Nelson Darby developed a theory known as Dispensationalism. Prior to that time, theologians of all stripes saw the Church as the "New Israel" and saved Gentiles as replacing the Jews as God's people. It was believed that the Old Testament promises to the Jews had been fulfilled in the church. This view is known as "supersessionism" (sometimes called "replacement theology"). Dispensationalism advanced a novel interpretation of the covenantal structure of the Bible: the church is a "parenthesis" in history and as soon as Christians are "raptured," God will again deal with the Jews, who remain heirs to the Old Testament's promises. (This is why Fundamentalists are pro-Israel and see the Jews as the rightful owners of a good chunk of Middle East territory.) In recent years, liberal Christians (such as Cardinal Walter Kasper, head Vatican bureaucrat for Jewish/Catholic dialogue) have advocated a similar theory widely called "dual covenant theology" which teaches that God's covenant with the Jews hasn't been revoked they are in a saving covenant with God. This theory has more to do with religious pluralism than with the high view of Scripture advocated by Dispensationalists. (Most Dispensationalists do not think Jews can be saved without faith in Jesus.)
Prof. David Holwerda has advanced an excellent defense of the traditional view (at least as its understood by many Calvinists). He shows that the Old Testament promises (such as the temple and the land) find their fulfillment in Jesus. Besides refuting Dispensationalism, it is a "positive" presentation of the supersessionist case. Because he sees only one covenant, there is much more emphasis on fullfilment instead of "replacement." As Holwerda says, under New Testament teaching the children of Abraham have inherited the world, so it's hard to assert that the New Testament is attempting to take something from the Jews. Nonetheless, his exegesis of one of the New Testament's more difficult portions, Romans 9-11, indicates that Paul sees a continuing role for the Jews. (This is contrary to some Calvinists who see Romans 9-11 as dealing with spiritual Israel.)
My only complaint about this book is that Prof. Holwerda's historical survey in chapter 1 deals mostly with current thinkers. There is some discussion of contemporary thinkers such as Pinchas Lapide, Karl and Marcus Barth, and Rosemary Ruether. I would be interested in Prof. Holwerda's opinion of how orthodox thinkers have evaluated the relationship between Israel and the church.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent treatment of God's Redemptive plan
Review: The term "replacement theology" is a misnomer at best, and unnecessary "mud-slinging" at worst. The church did not "replace" Isreal, but the church IS Israel in a fuller sense of the word and is made up of JEWS and GENTILES. In Christ there is NO DIFFERENCE! "Realized theology" is much more accurate term. This book is excellent in pointing out that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the covenant promise made to Abraham. I would put this book second to "The Isreal of God" by O. Palmer Robertson, but well worth while for anyone desiring to gain an understanding of prophecy and the promises. Overall, the book was well written, not too technical, quite charitably, and convincing to anyone ready to let go of the errors of dispensational theology.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent treatment of God's Redemptive plan
Review: The term "replacement theology" is a misnomer at best, and unnecessary "mud-slinging" at worst. The church did not "replace" Isreal, but the church IS Israel in a fuller sense of the word and is made up of JEWS and GENTILES. In Christ there is NO DIFFERENCE! "Realized theology" is much more accurate term. This book is excellent in pointing out that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the covenant promise made to Abraham. I would put this book second to "The Isreal of God" by O. Palmer Robertson, but well worth while for anyone desiring to gain an understanding of prophecy and the promises. Overall, the book was well written, not too technical, quite charitably, and convincing to anyone ready to let go of the errors of dispensational theology.
Rating: 
Summary: Perpetuating the old Dogma
Review: This is an excellent book for getting to know the standard but flawed Replacement Theology Christianty has handed down since the early gentile Church Fathers. It is very sad, however, that authors like Mr. Holwerda are not aware of the destructive and unsupportable nature of this old theological position. Thier heads are in the 2000 year old theological sand. For accurate theological balance and history concerning crucial Jewish - Christian dialogue see books like: "The God Of Israel and Christian Theology" by Kendall Soulen, or "Has God Only One Blessing?" by Mary C. Boys, or "Our Father Abraham" by Marvin Wilson, or "Irrenconcilable Differences?" by both Christian and Jewish scholars, among many other sources of good, current information from respected Christian and Jewish theologians.
Rating:
Summary: Perpetuating the old Dogma
Review: This is an excellent book for getting to know the standard but flawed Replacement Theology Christianty has handed down since the early gentile Church Fathers. It is very sad, however, that authors like Mr. Holwerda are not aware of the destructive and unsupportable nature of this old theological position. Thier heads are in the 2000 year old theological sand. For accurate theological balance and history concerning crucial Jewish - Christian dialogue see books like: "The God Of Israel and Christian Theology" by Kendall Soulen, or "Has God Only One Blessing?" by Mary C. Boys, or "Our Father Abraham" by Marvin Wilson, or "Irrenconcilable Differences?" by both Christian and Jewish scholars, among many other sources of good, current information from respected Christian and Jewish theologians.
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