8.127.1a. Are you saying that the “nation of Israel” in the Bible and the modern State of Israel are not the same?
The modern State of Israel, established in 1948, is not a continuation of biblical Israel. The misunderstanding comes from confusing the ancient people of God—those chosen under the Old Covenant—with a political entity that has appropriated their name but not their covenant. This confusion has been compounded by Protestant Zionism and modernist errors after Vatican II, but it has no basis in traditional Catholic teaching.
1. Who Were the Biblical Israelites?
The Israelites were the descendants of the patriarch Jacob, whose name was changed by God to Israel (Genesis 32:28). He was the grandson of Abraham. The term “Israelites” refers to the twelve tribes that came from Jacob’s sons. God made a covenant with Abraham that his seed would inherit the land of Canaan and be His chosen people—conditional upon their fidelity (Genesis 17:9-14).
2. What Was the Promised Land and the Nation of Israel?
The "Promised Land" was a specific territory granted by God to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. Under Moses and Joshua, the land of Canaan was taken by conquest (Joshua 1–12). The land was then distributed among the twelve tribes. Eventually, they formed a united kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon. This is the closest thing to a “biblical nation of Israel.” However, the kingdom later split into the northern kingdom (Israel) and southern kingdom (Judah), and both fell into apostasy.
God sent prophets to warn them, but they persisted in idolatry. As a result, the Israelites were exiled, and the temple was destroyed (cf. 2 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 36). God’s covenant was repeatedly broken by the people, and He foretold their punishment (Deuteronomy 28:15–68).
3. Who Are the True Children of Abraham?
St. Paul teaches clearly:
“Not all they that are of Israel are Israelites... neither are all they that are the seed of Abraham, children... That is to say, they that are the children of the flesh, are not the children of God: but they that are the children of the promise, are accounted for the seed.”
The true heirs of the promises to Abraham are those who have faith in Christ. The Church is the New Israel, the true continuation of God’s people.
“And if you be Christ’s, then you are the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.”
Thus, ethnic lineage does not guarantee a share in God’s covenant—faith in Christ does.
4. The Jews’ Rejection of Christ and Dispersion
When the Jewish leaders rejected Christ, the Messiah sent to them, they rejected the very fulfillment of their own Scriptures.
“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.”
Christ foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple as punishment for their rejection of Him (Luke 19:41–44). In AD 70, the Romans destroyed the Temple, and the Jews were scattered—fulfilling Christ’s prophecy.
St. Augustine wrote:
“The Jews who slew Him, and would not believe in Him, because He was to die and rise again, have themselves been slain, and dispersed all over the earth.”
5. The Modern State of Israel
The modern political state calling itself "Israel" was established in 1948 by Zionist Jews—mostly secular, many anti-Christian—as part of a nationalist and geopolitical movement. This was not a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. It was a man-made state, not the restoration of biblical Israel. Many of its founders were atheists or socialists and rejected belief in Christ. No pope, saint, or doctor of the Church ever taught that Jews would return to Palestine in unbelief and establish a valid covenant nation.
The Catechism of the Council of Trent (16th century) teaches that the Old Covenant was revoked and fulfilled in Christ. After Pentecost, the Church became the only ark of salvation, and Jews were called to conversion, not to reclaim land.
6. The Church Is the New Israel
Pope Pius XII reaffirmed:
“By the death of our Redeemer, the New Testament took the place of the Old Law... the New Law took the place of the Old Law which had been abolished.”
The Second Vatican Council, however, reversed this. Nostra Aetate (1965) states that the Jews “remain dear to God,” and that the covenant with them was not revoked—a contradiction of all prior teaching.
This has led to the heresy of Dual-Covenant Theology, the false belief that Jews do not need to convert to Christ to be saved.
| Category | Traditional Catholic Teaching | Post-Vatican II Position | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identity of Israel | The Church is the New Israel (Gal. 6:16) | Jews remain God's chosen people | Contradicts St. Paul’s clear teaching |
| Covenant Status | Old Covenant fulfilled and revoked | Old Covenant still valid for Jews | Dual-Covenant Theology is heretical |
| Modern State of Israel | No theological link to biblical Israel | Implicit support from Vatican diplomacy | Founded by Zionists, not Scripture |
| Conversion of Jews | Absolutely necessary for salvation | Not emphasized or encouraged | Pope Pius X refused Herzl’s Zionist request |
| End-Time Role | Some Jews will convert before Christ’s return | Ambiguous or silent | St. Paul teaches this clearly in Romans 11 |
Summary:
The modern State of Israel is not the same as the biblical people of God. In the Old Testament, “Israel” referred to a specific group: the descendants of Jacob, chosen to prepare the way for the Messiah. But when the Messiah came and was rejected, the covenant with the Jews was fulfilled and ceased to bind. The Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, became the New Israel.
This is not a theory—it is the constant teaching of the Church for 1900 years. From the time of the Apostles until Vatican II, every pope and saint taught that conversion to Christ was necessary for Jews. The true seed of Abraham are those who believe in Christ, not those born to a certain ethnicity.
The Zionist movement was a political revolution, not a divine fulfillment. Many of its founders were openly hostile to Catholicism. Their goal was to re-establish a Jewish homeland—but not to seek Christ, the true fulfillment of their Scriptures. The Catholic Church has always opposed this kind of nationalism divorced from the true faith.
Unfortunately, since Vatican II, the Catholic hierarchy has abandoned its mission to convert the Jews. In its place, it has promoted ecumenical dialogue and ambiguous gestures of goodwill that have confused the faithful and emboldened error. The modern Vatican speaks of Jews as our “elder brothers,” and even hosts joint prayers and blessings—practices that would have horrified every pre-Vatican II pope.
Yet Scripture remains clear:
“He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
Catholics must not be deceived. The modern nation called “Israel” has no divine mandate, and the Church must continue praying for and seeking the conversion of the Jews, not their political or religious endorsement in their unbelief.
As Pope St. Gregory the Great said:
“Judaica perfidia”—the faithlessness of the Jews—must not be imitated but overcome through the Gospel.”
To bless modern unbelieving Israel as if it were still in covenant with God is to participate in a deception.
Further reading:
Watch Bishop Donald Sanborn’s response to the question: Must Christians Support Israel?