Dual-covenant theology

Dual-covenant theology (DCT) is a theory within the Christian theology concerning the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament in Christianity.

Overview

The key idea of the DCT is that the Old Covenant and the New Covenant exist in parallel, with the Old Covenant staying valid for Jews while the New Covenant valid for non-Jews.

Background

It has been a common view among Christians since ancient times that the Old Testament has been superseded by the New Covenant between God and Christians.[1] Meanwhile, some Christians believe that the Mosaic Covenant – or the Old Covenant – is no longer valid due to the perception of Jews being guilty for the Crucifixion of Jesus.[1] As a result, some other Christians came up with the DCT to try to improve the mutual understanding between Christians and Jews.

Catholic views

Pope Eugene IV

In the papal bull of Pope Eugene IV at the Council of Florence in 1441 AD, he maintained that

The Holy Roman Church [...] firmly believes [...] that the matter pertaining to the law of the Old Testament [...] after our Lord's coming had been signified by them, ceased [...] the New Testament began [. ...] they cannot be observed without the loss of eternal salvation [. ...] who after that time observe circumcision and the Sabbath [...] the holy Roman Church declares alien to the Christian faith and not in the least fit to participate in eternal salvation.

The Roman Catholic Church upheld the above position until 1965 AD,[2] when the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) closed with the decision that

What happened in His passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today.

Since then, the Catholic Church has become divided, ensued by the rise of the radical traditionalist Catholics,[3][4] who are active in current American politics.[5] The Vatican II's position was supported by Pope John Paul II,[2] when he led the Catholic Church between 1978 and 2005. However, the Catholic Church does not support the DCT.[6]

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

On December 11, 2024, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop (USCCB) announced the adoption of the Translate Hate: The Catholic Edition[7] drafted together with the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in response to worsening antisemitism in America since 7 October 2023.[8]

As of February 28, 2025, the 1985 revision of the USCCB Guidelines for Catholic-Jewish Relations, which was written in response to the matter, is still in place.[9] The General Principles of the Guidelines include but not limited to[9]

  1. Prayer in common with Jews should be encouraged when mutually acceptable
  2. Proselytism, which does not respect human freedom, is carefully to be avoided
  3. Catholic–Jewish meetings are dedicated to fostering mutual respect and eliminating misunderstandings
  4. A commission or secretariat is recommended to be assigned to Catholic–Jewish relations in each diocese

Meanwhile, the Recommended Programs under the Guidelines encourage the[9]

  1. Advancement of Catholic–Jewish relations on all levels
  2. Removal of content from catechesis and homilies that blames all Jews for the Crucifixion of Jesus
  3. Rejection of the historically inaccurate notion that Judaism was a "decadent formalism and hypocrisy"
  4. Further analysis of such phrases as "the Jews" by St. John in modern context to erase negative undertones about Jews

Protestant views

In 2006, Evangelical Protestant Jerry Falwell denied a report in The Jerusalem Post that he agreed with the DCT:[10]

I have been on record all 54 years of my ministry as being opposed to dual covenant theology [...] cannot alter my deeply held belief in the exclusivity of salvation through the Gospel of Christ for the sake of political or theological expediency. Like the Apostle Paul, I pray daily for the salvation of everyone, including the Jewish people.

Academic views

Daniel Goldhagen, the former Associate Professor of Political Science at Harvard University, advised the Roman Catholic Church to change its teachings by removing content that is considered antisemitic in present times.[11][12] A way proposed by Goldhagen is to make it clear that "The Jews' way to God is as legitimate as the Christian way".[12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1
    • Summa Theologica, I-II, q. 100
    • Dayton, Donald W. (1991). "Law and Gospel in the Wesleyan Tradition" (PDF). Grace Theological Journal. 12 (2): 233–243.
    • "God's Law in Old and New Covenants". Orthodox Presbyterian Church. 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wojtyła, Charles (17 November 1980), "3", Meeting of John Paul II with the Representatives of the Jewish Community, Mainz (Google translation), Vatican, Rome, IT: Roman see
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "Translate Hate: The Catholic Edition" (PDF). American Jewish Committee (AJC). Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  8. ↑ "New Glossary Breaks Ground in Tackling Antisemitism Through a Catholic Lens". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Guidelines for Catholic-Jewish Relations". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  10. ↑ Hagee, Falwell deny endorsing 'dual covenant', Jerusalem Post, 2006-03-02, Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  11. ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/01/the-guilt-of-the-church/304824/
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Riebling, Mark (January 27, 2003). "Jesus, Jews, and the Shoah". National Review. Archived from the original on March 18, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
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