Sanna Erelä master of Theology, Sower International
sanna.erela@flom.fi
Erelä S. Messianic Jews — Who are they and why do we need them?, Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], pp. 62–85.
doi: 10.24412/2308-0698-2025-14-62-84
Language: English
This article explores the role of Messianic Jews in the worldwide body of believers in Jesus and their significance in understanding the relationship between the Church and Israel. Christianity began as a Jewish movement, but the Church distanced itself from its Jewish roots early on, especially after the Council of Nicaea. Supersessionist theology, which sees the Church as replacing Israel, has shaped Christian thought and contributed to anti-Jewish attitudes for centuries.
Messianic Jews — Jewish believers in Jesus who maintain their Jewish identity — challenge this tradition. They build their identity on the promises God made to Israel in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, they rely on Paul’s teachings, especially in Romans 9–11, emphasizing Israel’s enduring election and the unique role of the Jewish people in God’s plan. Messianic Jewish theology blends Christian and Jewish perspectives, aiming to build bridges between the Church and the synagogue.
This article argues that the Messianic movement is an eschatological sign, calling the Church to reevaluate its stance toward Israel. The visible presence of Jewish believers within the Church is essential to its identity and future. Their calling is to be a blessing to both the Church and the nations, preparing the way for the return of the Messiah.
Key words: Messianic Jews, Supersessionism, Israel, Church, Election, Eschatology, Identity, Torah, Jewish-Christian relations, Ecclesia ex circumcisione
URL: https://rcs-almanac.ru/erela2025-en/
