A Beginner’s Guide to Enlargement Theology
A number of people have asked for a simple (and brief) introduction to Enlargement Theology and the issues discussed in my book The Case for Enlargement Theology.
Theology is simply talking (or thinking) about God and His purposes. Enlargement is a term I have chosen to explain how the biblical covenants ‘change’ in response to the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. Enlargement theology fits into the wider world of Christian Theology and especially connects with specific areas within Jewish-Christian relations. Enlargement Theology also engages with ecclesiology (theology about the church) soteriology (theology about salvation) and eschatology (theology about end times).
I present Enlargement Theology as a new theological approach which I hope draws faithfully from key biblical texts (especially Paul’s teaching in Romans chapters 9 - 11) and from a largely sympathetic engagement with the contemporary Messianic Jewish movement.
I argue that Enlargement Theology provides a better way forward than other prevailing theologies such as Replacement Theology (the belief that the New Covenant replaces or supersedes the Old Covenant given to the Jews. The church replaces Israel within God’s purposes. The promises given to Israel are either now dead or transferred to the church) or Two CovenantTheology (the belief that God deals with Jews and Gentiles in different ways. Jewish people are in a ‘right relationship’ with God through their election implemented through the covenants with Abraham and Moses. This relationship has not and never will be revoked. Gentiles however are not in this covenantal relationship, but a new and separate covenantal relationship is ‘opened up’ for Gentiles through the person and work of Jesus Christ. These two covenantal relationships work alongside each other within the purposes of God)
Enlargement Theology is built upon 5 key foundations (these foundations are known in the book as tenets and are outlined in some detail see pp 181-188)
1) God’s relationship with the Jewish people is eternal, but it is not static.
2) Gentiles (non Jews) are brought into this covenant through the covenant being enlarged (not replaced) through the person and ministry of Jesus.
3) This enlarged covenant needs to be embraced by all people through faith/trust in the person and ministry of Jesus.
4) The ongoing purposes of God are being worked out today through three different yet mutually inter-connected communities:- a) ethnic Israel, b) the Church (Jews and Gentiles) and c) Messianic Jewish believers in Jesus.
5) This threefold understanding of these communities has a creative link to Christian understandings of God expressed within Trinitarian models.
Enlargement Theology is not intended to be a complete theological system, yet it does shed light upon our understanding of God’s covenantal faithfulness and the relation between Jews and Gentiles and the Church and Israel. In the book, I also deal with questions such as the legitimacy of the Church’s evangelistic mission to Jewish people along with the issue of Israel and the Land.
In conclusion, I hope Enlargement Theology will provide a useful tool within the vital field of contemporary Jewish-Christians relations and will bring about a significant shift in the understanding of many people, a shift which is based upon a clear application of Biblical truth (especially Paul’s teaching in Romans chapters 9 to 11) and a deep appreciation of the importance of the Messianic Jewish movement.
For further study I do recommend (well I would wouldn’t I!) my book – the first three chapters deals with the historical and theological development of Jewish-Christian relations and then in chapter 4 there is an introduction to the key text, namely Romans 9 to 11. This is followed in chapters 5 to 11 with a detailed commentary and analysis of Romans 9 to 11 with a particular focus upon the development of Enlargement Theology. The book concludes in chapters 12 and 13 with a presentation of Enlargement Theology and a strong plea that Enlargement Theology may be considered carefully and hopefully may lead to a new understanding (paradigm shift) in Jewish-Christian relations. The book also contains an exhaustive bibliography which will give to the serious reader many opportunities to explore and reflect at a deeper level.
I also recommended the Olive Press research papers (you can download these free from the website). These papers deal with a number of important theological issues from a CMJ perspective.
Alex Jacob 2010