"The God of Israel and Christian Theology" by R. Kendall Soulen challenges the traditional Christian notion of supersessionism—the idea that Christianity has replaced Judaism in God's plan. Soulen argues that this view distorts the biblical narrative and undermines the significance of the Jewish people. He proposes a revised Christian theology that respects and incorporates the enduring covenant between God and Israel. Soulen's work emphasizes the importance of the Hebrew Scriptures and calls for a deeper understanding of God's relationship with the Jewish people, ultimately advocating for a more inclusive and respectful Christian theology.

The legacy of the early church fathers remains influential in shaping Christian theology and practice today, especially in American churches. This respect stems from their significant contributions to defining core doctrines, preserving historical continuity, and providing a unified framework for interpreting the Christian Bible. However, it's important to critically engage with their views, especially regarding supersessionism and the perceived obsolescence of Israel in God's plan. Understanding both the strengths and the limitations of the early church fathers' teachings can help modern Christians appreciate their historical context while also addressing theological shortcomings. This critical engagement is essential for a more inclusive and accurate understanding of God's ongoing relationship with Israel and the broader narrative of salvation.

In R. Kendall Soulen's insightful book, "The God of Israel and Christian Theology," the author critiques the historical trend of supersessionism, where the Church is seen to replace Israel in God's plan. Soulen emphasizes the importance of developing a theology that honors the ongoing covenant with Israel, contrasting this with Enlightenment thinkers like Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Schleiermacher, who redefined Christianity by removing its Jewish roots. This redefinition led to a more abstract spirituality, distancing Christian theology from its biblical and historical foundations, and highlighting the need for a renewed connection to Jewish traditions and the Hebrew Scriptures.

In this chapter, R. Kendall Soulen delves into the theological contributions of Karl Barth and Karl Rahner, two pivotal figures of the twentieth century. Despite their divergent backgrounds, both theologians aimed to transcend the simplified doctrines of early modern theology, seeking to reinvigorate Christian thought through innovative interpretations of traditional dogma. Soulen examines their critique of narrative models in theology, their interactions with Friedrich Schleiermacher's ideas, and their approaches to God's ultimate purpose for creation—consummation. However, Soulen argues that Barth and Rahner's Christocentric focus and resultant supersessionism ultimately limited their ability to offer a completely new theological framework, highlighting the enduring challenge of fully integrating covenant history into Christian theology.

In these chapters, Soulen argues that instead of seeing Israel's role as temporary, Christians should recognize it as central to God's work in history. He emphasizes that God’s covenant with Israel continues beyond Jesus’s resurrection and remains vital to understanding God’s ultimate plan. By focusing on the Scriptures of Israel, Soulen offers an alternative perspective that integrates the history of God’s covenant with Israel into a broader and more inclusive understanding of God’s work. This approach aims to overcome the limitations of traditional models and provides a hopeful vision of mutual care and blessing, where God's actions as Consummator and Redeemer are seen as part of an ongoing divine economy involving both Israel and the nations. Soulen’s proposal encourages Christians to see their faith as part of this broader divine plan, inviting believers to live out this hope in their daily lives.

In chapter seven of his book, R. Kendall Soulen explores the profound themes of curse and redemption within the biblical narrative, particularly emphasizing God's role as the Consummator of creation. Soulen asserts that God's ultimate promise is to bring fullness of life through economies of mutual blessing, where the distinctions among people—such as those between Israel and other nations—are not temporary fixes but integral to God's plan. He explains that human attempts to secure blessings independently often result in God's curse, transforming potential blessings into sources of conflict and suffering. Soulen illustrates this with stories from Genesis, such as Cain and Abel and the Tower of Babel, showing how humanity's rejection of God's way leads to discord. The chapter underscores that understanding and respecting the differences among people, especially between Israel and the nations, is crucial for realizing God's blessings and achieving a life of fullness and peace.

In the final chapter of his book, R. Kendall Soulen delves into the profound themes of the gospel and God's reign, emphasizing that the gospel is the good news about the God of Israel's coming kingdom. Soulen argues that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection demonstrate God's victory over destructive powers, affirming God's ultimate purpose to bring fullness of life through mutual blessings. This perspective challenges traditional Christian views that often downplay the significance of the Hebrew Scriptures and God's identity as the God of Israel. By emphasizing the importance of the distinctions and relationships between Israel and the nations, Soulen highlights how the gospel assures the completion of creation's intended harmony and peace.

David C. Mitchell's "Messiah ben Joseph" provides a comprehensive exploration of the lesser-known yet significant figure in Jewish messianic tradition. Mitchell delves into the historical, theological, and literary contexts of Messiah ben Joseph, tracing his origins from Genesis and Deuteronomy, and examining interpretations through rabbinic literature and modern scholarship. The book highlights the dual nature of this messiah as both a suffering servant and an exalted ruler, prefiguring and complementing the better-known Messiah ben David. Mitchell argues that Messiah ben Joseph is not a rabbinic invention but an intrinsic part of ancient Jewish tradition, symbolizing hope and redemption through sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection. Through meticulous analysis, Mitchell reveals how this figure's narrative has evolved and persisted, influencing both Jewish and Christian eschatological thought.

In this chapter about "Messiah ben Joseph in the Prophets," the author explores the diverse prophetic visions of the restoration of the Ephraimites and their eventual reunification with Judah. Various prophets, including Micah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah, each presented different expectations for a future leader who would guide this reunified nation. Micah anticipated a hero from Joseph's line who would come to Migdal Eder at Bethlehem, while Habakkuk looked for another Joshua. Jeremiah and Ezekiel envisioned a future king from the house of David, with Jeremiah painting Josiah in Josephite colors. Isaiah's prophecies introduced a suffering servant with Josephite characteristics, who would atone for many through his suffering and triumph. Zechariah synthesized elements from all these prophets, portraying a coming king who embodied traits from both the house of David and Joseph, enduring suffering and death like a second Joseph and Josiah. This convergence of messianic expectations illustrates the rich tapestry of prophetic traditions, accommodating the concept of an Ephraimite Messiah within the broader narrative of Israel's restoration.

Chapter Four of the book review discusses the Psalms' dual role in celebrating historical kings like David and prophetically pointing to a future Messiah, with Joseph highlighted as a savior figure. Chapter Five examines pseudepigraphic texts from the second century BC to the first century AD, which suggest an anticipation of a second Joshua from Joseph's lineage. Texts like I Enoch, the Testament of Naphtali, and the Testament of Benjamin depict a sacrificial Messiah from Joseph's line who dies for the impious and is later transformed. The Sibylline Oracles and the Apocalypse of Ezra also envision a second Joshua who suffers and returns gloriously, while "Joseph and Aseneth" and Ben Sira present Joseph as a redemptive figure. These texts, despite potential Christian interpolations, reflect pre-Christian views of a sacrificial second Joshua as foretold in Moses's Blessing on Joseph.

In Chapters Six and Seven of the book, the blog post reviews the presence of Messiah ben Joseph in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Targums. Chapter Six highlights texts like 4QTestimonia (4Q175) and 4Q372.1, which depict a Josephite Messiah figure, a future redeemer associated with prophet, king, and priest roles. The chapter discusses how these texts align with eschatological traditions, presenting a righteous, suffering Messiah. Chapter Seven delves into the Targums, such as the Targum Yerushalmi on Exodus 40:9–11, which links messianic figures to Israel's tribes and introduces a Messiah bar Ephraim alongside other prominent redeemers. Both chapters emphasize the complex, yet coherent eschatological vision within Jewish apocalyptic thought, portraying the Josephite Messiah as a pivotal figure in ultimate redemption.

This lesson explores the intimate connection between God's Spirit, His Word, and the act of creation. From the beginning, the Spirit of God breathed life into all of creation, sustaining it through His ongoing presence. Through passages like Psalm 33:6-9 and Job 33:4, we see how God's Spirit is both the breath of life and the means by which all creation is sustained. Ultimately, this lesson points toward the eschatological hope of resurrection, where the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead will raise the righteous, renewing all things in the new heavens and new earth.

This chapter review of The Gospel of Christ Crucified: A Theology of Suffering Before Glory delves into the messianic hope as understood in both Jewish and Christian traditions. The chapter explores how the Messiah’s role, rooted in biblical covenants, has been shaped by apocalyptic expectations and fulfilled in Jesus. It examines the distortion of this hope through Hellenistic, Gnostic, and Constantinian influences and critiques modern eschatological interpretations like dispensationalism and inaugurationalism. Ultimately, the chapter reaffirms the centrality of Christ’s return as "the blessed hope" (Titus 2:13) for believers, emphasizing its importance in the church’s proclamation and mission.