INTRODUCTION
1. " Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord" (II Tim 1:2) A new hope has just been born in the history of our country, opening new perspectives for peace and reconciliation between our two peoples, Jews and Palestinian, and with all the Arab world. The pursuit for justice will continue, but from now on it will be through collaboration and no longer through confrontation. For that we give thanks to God and we invite you to share, through your prayers, your presence and your action, in any initiative which aims to strengthen this peace and reconciliation, based on justice and security for all. This new phase in the history of our country follows sad events which all of us have experienced, and which some of us are still experiencing. Anguish and fears as well as human suffering are still present, due to the long situation of conflict between two peoples. However the past must not consume the present and the future and make them immovable. We mow have to struggle in order to maintain and to build peace with justice. The spiritual struggle will always be necessary for the Christian who whishes to remain loyal to his/her faith, to his/her church and to society.
The purpose of our letter: the Bible
2. In order to support your loyalty to Church and society, we address to you this letter, which is about the Bible, the way to read and understand it, in order to make it the object of meditation and prayer. Indeed "the Word of God is living and active" (Heb 4:12). It is our spiritual food, our light and our guide in the action we take in the circumstances of our daily life in the Holy Land. In the recent past of confrontation, many among you were seized by anguish and assailed by doubts when confronted in the Bible, because it appears to be directly liked to the difficult situation which we have experienced and the new period of peace which we have to build together. It is in the Bible and in our faith that we seek our comfort, according to what is said in the second letter to Timothy: "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and training in righteousness, so that one belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work" (II Tim 3:16-17) Sharing in the building of peace and justice in the land of the Bible is certainly a " good work". Thereof re we must share in the building of a more fraternal society, founded on dignity and mutual recognition of rights and responsibilities for everyone and every people in the same country of the Bible. Throughout this process, the Word of God will be our best guide, even in the midst of doubts and denials. Therefore we are invited to read the Bible, to study it and to live it.
Humility before the Word of God
3. It is not easy to read and understand the Bible. It is a task that requires a particular effort on our part and a special grace from God. It is, therefore, of prime importance to know how to read the bible in order to discern the authentic word of God in it. This cannot be done by one's own strength alone. Only together, in community, in the Church, in the light and strength of the Holy Spirit can such a task be undertaken. Before God's Word, we must humbly acknowledge that this Word is not our own. We must confess that we are frequently unable to understand what God wishes to tell us with this word. Therefore we have no right to set ourselves up as judges of this Word of God, according to our own views, as to our stand of the adversary regarding the Word of God to the demands of our own positions and human struggles. Reading the Bible, the Word of God, is a difficult, sensitive and delicate task, since the matters to be tackled are related to our daily life. They even concern our very national and personal identity as believers, because unilateral, partial interpretations run the risk for some people of bringing in to question their presence and permanence in the land which is their homeland.
To whom is this letter directed?
4. The questions to be raised are many. We wish to deal with them in our capacity as pastor, thinking of our responsibility to our faithful, but also to all Christians living within the area of our Patriarchal diocese which includes Israel, the occupied Territories of Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus. All of the faithful are directly affected by the past conflict ( already described in our 1990 Pentecost letter), by the reconciliation which has just started and by the problems raised. the great majority of them are Palestinians or Jordanians who speak Arabic and whose cultural heritage is Arabic. A small community in our diocese in Hebrew speaking and is part of the Jewish people or lives in the midst of the Jewish people. In our reflection, we shall endeavor to be attentive to the different points of view. Dialogue and sharing, along with prayer and meditation are essential elements for a better mutual knowledge, in the hope that together, we may becomes sowers of peace. Common witness and dialogue with all 5. In the framework of the Middle East Council of Churches of the region, we are committed to seeking complete unity and a common witness. We dare to hope that these reflections might contribute ins some ways towards this end. We also believe that the Church of Jerusalem and the Holy land, through her experience and reflection, has a unique contribution to make together with the Churches in the region and with the universal Church. The Church of Jerusalem will be please to have been listened to by the others and to receive their response. We also hope that our message might be heard beyond the Christian community by our Muslim and Jewish brothers and sisters as a contribution to coexistence and peace, respecting the beliefs of each person, while at the same time, we are open to dialogue with all because the most difficult path still lies ahead. Pastoral character 6. This letter is first and foremost pastoral in nature. Hence, it will not be possible here to show explicitly at every stage of thought, all the studies and theological approaches which have been taken into account and which form the basis of these statements. It should that these pages have been prepared by prolonged reflection of a group of priests and theologians of the Church of Jerusalem, each of whom is a witness to the sufferings and expectations of the different communities. They have pooled their experiences of pastoral ministry, biblical studies, and ecumenical and inter-religious reflections.
I. THE QUESTION RAISED
The Palestinian Christian confronted by the Bible
7. For the Palestinian Christian, the Bible is an integral part of his faith and religious heritage. One reads it and meditates upon it individually or in community ( catechesis, liturgy, prayer groups). During time of conflict, the questions raised by such reading and prayer have been numerous. These questions persist until now as we journey and build together.
a. How is the Old Testament to be understood? What is the relationship between the Old and New testament?
b. The Bible narrates stories of violence which have a striking resemblance to our present history, and which are attributed to God. How are these to be understood, when "peacemakers are to be called children of God"? (cf. Mt. 5:9)
c. What is the relationship between ancient Biblical history and our contemporary history? Is Biblical Israel the same as the contemporary State of Israel? What is the moaning of the promises, the election, the Covenant and in particular the " promise and the gift of the land" to Abraham and his descendants? Does the Bible justify the present political claims? Could we be victims of our own salvation history, which seems to favour the Jewish people and condemn us? Is that truly the Will of God to which we must inexorably bow down, demanding that we deprive ourselves in favour of another people, with no possibility of appeal or discussion?
Though many other Jews have different views, some of them, by what they say and sincerely believe, seem to confirm the fears and anguish of the Palestinians. They maintain that the land has been given to them by God. Such is their title to the exclusive ownership of the whole of the Promised Land.
Some Christians, too, would say the same thing. Indeed, fundamentalist Christians would go so far as to directly link all of the present history with fulfillment of specific Biblical prophecies. They even accuse local Christians who do not agree with their views as being " unbiblical" and not true believers. It is understandable that such positions should lead to spiritual confusion and religious rebellion among those who have been driven away from their homes and their land, who have lost their loved one in a succession of wars, or who have experienced prison and torture for having desired to reclaim their rights.
Outline of the letter
8. The questions we will try to answer can be summarized under three categories: a. What is the relationship between the Old and New Testament? b. How is violence that is attributed to God in the Bible to be understood? c. What influence do the promises, the gift of the land, the election and the covenant have for relations between Palestinians and Israelis? Is it possible for a just and merciful god to impose injustice or oppression on another people in order to favour the people He has chosen. This last question in particular is addressed to the faith of every believer in the Land of the Bible and Jew, the Christian and Moslem. It is addressed to whomever would wish to justify all modern political facts by the Word of God revealed in the Bible. This question is a challenge to the local Church and to all Churches throughout the world, and to every person who is sincerely seeking peace and justice in this Holy Land. It is in order to strengthen the journey towards peace that the answers to these questions of the past must be given. The journey towards peace must be the same time a journey together to discover the "truth which sets us free"(cf. Jn 8:32). Before answering these questions, we have to explain what the Bible is for the Christian and how it can be understood by him/her. We will first say that the Bible is the Word of God. Second, it is a history of salvation. Third, it is our salvation history. Fourth, the Christian can understand the Bible only in the light of Jesus Christ.
II. WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
The Christian Bible
9. For the Christian the Bible, or Sacred Scripture includes the Old and New Testaments. The Hebrew Old Testament contains 39 books, divided into the books of the Law, the Prophets and the Writings. The Old Testament, in the Christian Tradition, (Catholic and Orthodox), contains these same 39 books, and the eight Deuterocanonical books, written in Aramaic or Greek. The Protestant Tradition has only 39 books of the Hebrew Bible. The New Testament contains 27 books: the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the 14 Letters attributed to St. Paul, the 7 Catholic Letters and Apocalypse of St. John. For the Christian, the two Testaments for a single book, containing the whole of Revelation given by God for the salvation of humankind. No part of the Old or New Testament can be separated from it for any reason, whether political or otherwise. All of Sacred Scripture is the Word of God.
II.1 The Bible is the Word of God
How is the Bible to be understood?
10. God has revealed Himself in the history of the world and in the history of the people. He wished to choose in view of the salvation of humankind. This is why the Bible is a collection of facts and words recounting divine events which are to be discerned in human deeds. The latter have been lived and then handed on first of all orally, and then by written word. (cf. DV2).
The Bible is therefore not to be seen as a rigid, dead text, but as a history of salvation accompanying the history of the whole of humankind. It is a living of dynamic history, unfolding throughout the centuries within every event, and God makes use of it to reveal Himself and to make known His message.
For this to be fully understood and accepted, it is necessary to have faith . And those who believe must be grateful for the faith they have received.
The sacred writers are inspired by the Holy Spirit
11. At different periods of time, this salvation history was written down by writers inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that "with Him (God) acting in them and through them, they, as true authors, consigned to writing everything and only those things which He wanted. Therefore, since everything asserted by the inspired authors or sacred writers must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit, it follows that the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error, that truth which God wanted put into the sacred writings for the sake of our salvation" (DV II), Therefore the author of the Bible is at the same time God and the sacred writers.
God has spoken through human beings in a human way.
12. These writers did not receive God's word by way of material dictation, word for word. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, they expressed themselves in their language, according to their intellectual ability, in accordance with their customs, culture and the different literary genres and styles proper to each person.
" However since God speaks in sacred Scripture through men in human fashion, the interpreter of Sacred Scripture, in order to see clearly what God wanted to communicate to us, should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writer really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words" ( DV 12).
Progressive Revelation
13. Concerning revelation, the Second Vatican Council said: " In His goodness and wisdom, God chose to reveal Himself and to make known to us the hidden purpose of His will" (cf. Eph.1:9) " by which through Christ, the Word made flesh, man might in the Holy Spirit have access to the Father and come to share in the divine nature" (cf. Eph 2:18; IIPt 1:4) ( DV 2).
Through Revelation, God wanted to reveal himself to us, so that we may be able to know Him and to share His divine life. this is the salvation of humankind: to know God and share His divine life. the fullness of Revelation was reached in Jesus Christ, the Word of God who became flesh for our sake. This revelation was progressive. this means that the truth concerning God and the message of salvation was not communicated only at one time, once and for all. God adapted Himself to the history of humankind and its ability to understand His revealed Word (cf. DV12) . A level of knowledge and understanding of God's Word corresponds to each stage of the history of the people of God.
Understanding Revelation in the light of Tradition
14. God's people have never separated the sacred book from the oral tradition, i.e. from its living liturgical, cultural or historical interpretation(cf. DV 8-10). For us, too, the Word of God is inseparable from the life of the people which received it. We also must follow the same path as we try to understand this Word. Today, we can develop a true understanding of Scripture only in communication with the Church, in the light of Tradition, and through the living liturgy and progress in Biblical studies. " Sacred tradition and sacred Scripture form one sacred deposit, the entire holy people united with their shepherds remain always steadfast in the teaching of the Apostles, in the common life, in the breaking of the bread and in prayers..." (DV 10)
II.2 The Bible is a History of Salvation
Salvation is the fullness of life
15. The Bible is our history of salvation. This history is that of God with the whole of humankind. It is this light that the historical facts recounted by the Bible must be read and understood. In the history of our salvation, all the events are a model and a guide for us: " Now these happenings were examples, for our benefit...and they were described in writing to be a lesson for us." (ICor10:6,11). Pope Paul VI wrote: " The kernel and center of Christ's Good News is Salvation, this great gift of God which is liberation from everything that oppresses man, but which is, above all, liberation from sin and the evil one, in the joy of knowing God and being known by Him, of seeing Him and of being turned over to Him" (Ev Nunt.9). In fact, each and every one of us, as individuals, and as communities, aspires to the total liberation of our being, from everything that prevents us from being truly free in all areas of our life, the economical, political, social, and cultural, and, above all, spiritual areas. We aspire to total liberation from everything that separates us from god and God's children, in order to be with God and to enjoy fullness of the divine blessings. This is the salvation history we must read and understand in the Bible, God's Word, and the Good News of God to each of us and to each of our peoples.
Stages of salvation
16. The history of salvation revealed in the Bible is situated between two visions which form the beginning and the end of the human drama: the vision of paradise lost and the vision of the new Jerusalem which descends from God. We comer from God, and we return to Him. These two visions are the two beacons which shed their light on everything that comes between them concerning the history and fate of humankind made up of human suffering and joy. Messianic times, i.e. the journey towards the New Jerusalem have already begun. The Spirit dwells among us. From him we take our strength, in spite of the evil which is in us or around us. This vision affirms that history has a meaning and that the world is not absurd. The last word will be God's victory over evil. The history of salvation passes through a number of vital moments which reveal the divine pedagogy dealing with humankind according to its ability to accept and understand His Word. They are marked by the succession of the different covenants deepening and compromising each other, yet not annulling one another, Every covenant goes beyond a stage deeply marked by the weakness and sin of humankind or of the chosen people, and begins a new stage of conversion to God and the process of reconciliation between human beings.
The Covenant with Noah
17. Since creation, human beings live in communion with God (cf. Gen 2:15;3:8) Adam and Eve already live in a state of salvation and blessedness. After the fall, a first promise of salvation was given to them. The first covenant was established with Noah, and through him, with humankind. It comes after a new rebellion against God, and shows God's kindness and the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise of salvation. With the image of the rainbow, Noah, representing humankind, is assured that God binds Himself "for all generations" to " ever living creature of every kind that is found on the earth", in particular to every human being, " for in the image of God man was made" (cf. Gen 9:1-17 ;1:27). In the covenant, God takes the whole creation, the work of His hands as witness, as St. Paul says in the Acts of the Apostles: God " has not left himself without a witness in doing good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with good and your hearts with joy" ( Acts 14:17)
The Covenant with Abraham
18. In order to gather this dispersed humanity, God calls Abraham" from his country, his kindred and his house" ( Gen 12:1). In him, He begins to prepare for himself a people, the Hebrew people, to be His witness among the nations, the bearer of God's promises to make Abraham "the father of many nations"( Gen 17:5) and a "blessing for the nations of the earth" (cf. Gen 12:3). In stressing the relationship of the Ishmaelites in particular with Abraham, the biblical genealogies recall that the other peoples will benefit from the blessings given to Abraham. That is why Jews, Christians and Muslims today venerate together Abraham as their common "the father of faith" in the one God who blesses all peoples.
The Sinai Covenant
19. After Abraham, God renew the same covenant with Isaac(cf. Gen 28:10-22). Before the Exodus from Egypt, God "remembers His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob"(cf. Ex 2:24). The Sinai covenant consecrates God's choice. By submission to the Law, a community is formed around Moses, whom God orders to serve Him. This community includes persons like Caleb(cf. Jos 14:6-14) or Rahab (cf. Jos 6:22-24), who are not descended from Jacob.
Israel then finds its identity in being the people submitted to the Law of the covenant given on Sinai, and the people who bear the Name of the Lord(cf. Dt 28:10). This election made by God is an act of gratuitous love, and not because of the merits of Israel(cf. Dt 4:37f;7:7;9:4f). It is an election to responsibility and obligation, not to privilege or favoritism.
The Covenant with David
20. The establishment of Israel in the promised Land is the historical and figurative fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham and Moses. the covenant is concentrated in the house of David (cf. II Sam 7:16). The culminating point in the life of Israel as a nation is the reign of David, followed by that of his son Solomon. the royal throne and the temple are the two signs of God's presence in the midst of His people. Their disappearance will lead to the tragedy of the exile.
Messianic expectations
21. By their disobedience God's people earned God's judgment. The exile means exclusion from the land. Israel no longer has a king nor a temple. But Israel has the Word of God and lives in God's covenant, through changes of political regimes and among other peoples. Just as it was for them in the desert, so too now: salvation can come from God alone.
The prophets look beyond the trial: they announce the restoration of David's throne. They announce a king who will be anointed. But their visions transcend the framework of an earthly restoration; they become a sign of the messianic times, the day when God will establish His reign. They announce a new covenant, when God will put His law in human hearts: "Then I shall be their God and they will be my people" (Jer 31:33; cf. Ez 36:26).
After the trial of the exile, a remnant regains the promised land. The nation is reduced to a religious community for whom the Law is the center. A new establishment without any political independence takes place in the land promised to the Fathers. It is accompanied by a spiritual renewal. The community passes through many crises which reveal the faithful and unfaithful Israel. The faithful or the remnant of Israel lives in expectation of the Messiah whose coming will inaugurate the kingdom of God. They await consolation of Israel...
The sorrowful experience of the exile transformed the poverty that had been experienced into a lived religious ideal. The "poor of Yahweh" place their trust in god alone. Apart from God there is now salvation. This renewed and purified Messianic hope awaits the coming of the Kingdom of God, not only as an era of political glory, but as a manifestation of justice, peace and goodness towards the poorest of the poor. We find among these small groups of the "poor of God" people like Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah, Anna and Simeon. They, too, awaited the Kingdom of God through lives of simplicity and trust.
Fulfillment of the promises and the new covenant
22. With the coming of Jesus, the times are fulfilled(Mk 1:15). The Kingdom of God has come. Jesus triumphs over the powers of evil and begins to fulfill the promises of the Old testament. He is the Chosen One of God, the Messiah. He promises the earth to the meek. Before His death, Jesus institutes the Eucharist as a sign of the sacrifice which fulfills the covenant. "This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you". ( Lk 22,20 cf. Mt 28:26). By His resurrection from the dead, His ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus calls believers to a new birth in the community of the New Covenant which is His Church and the new people of God. God does not belong exclusively to one people; but He acquired for Himself a people from those who "were once no people", and has made of them " a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation". ( I Pt 2 9, 10 Cathech. Cath. Ch. 782).
The Church convoked by the word of God was indeed prepared in a marvelous way through the history of Israel and in the Old Covenant. Then it was founded in these times that are the final age manifested by the gift of the Holy Spirit. At the end of times, it will be accomplished and achieved in glory.
Meanwhile, the chaff still present in the Father's field will not be burnt until the end of times, when Christ will come again to judge the world and submit all things to His Father. This time of waiting is the time of the Church, of God's patience (cf. II Pt.3:9), given to us to convert ourselves to God, to proclaim God's salvation to all nations , and to witness to His love by our life, and, if it is God's will, by our death.
II.3 The Bible is a history of our individual communal salvation
Sin and conversion in our lives
23. Biblical history is the history of our own salvation. In our lives as individuals and as a people, we encounter the same elements and the same processes: Revelation and the progressive discovery of God in the framework of our personal lives. We, too, follow the same stages of repeated sin and conversion or turning over to God. This is the same experience of our lives as persons and as peoples. It is the temptation to reduce God to our own points of view or desires, the need to purify these points of view or desires by listening to the prophets, and by meditative, attentive reading of the Word of God.
The history of God with the Jewish people is the model of the history of God with each of us, as individuals and as peoples. Our personal history is also lived in response to God's ever renewed call to holiness and forgiveness in the midst of our continuous sinfulness and repentance.
Biblical stages are the stages of our history
24. The creation of Adam and eve is our creation. their fall is our fall. the way God points out to them is our way.
The calling of Abraham and the choice of the Hebrew people implies both a particular dignity and a particular responsibility. But the choosing of a people is also the beginning of our own election. God also calls us, and Jesus opens this election to all, entrusting to each person and every people their own vocation, dignity and responsibility.
The other stages of biblical history throw light on ours: the promises to Isaac, Jacob and his sons; the difficulties of the Exodus; the schism between the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah' the deportation and the exile. all of these stages in the history of a people are real and spiritual stages which enlighten the history of every people. they help us to interpret our history, to better understand it and to correspond it better with our vocation.
We are invited to read our own personal history and that of our people in the Bible. But we are also invited to read the history of others, and above all, that of God in our own history and in the history of others. As readers of the Bible, and as readers who belong to our peoples, our cultures, and particular stages in our lives, it is our task to discern the ongoing action of God in human history. Biblical history and the reading of the signs of the times should help us to understand and interpret our present moment, in order to live our faith in the covenant with God, to choose good and to work for the blessing of all.
II.4 Christ is the key for a Christian reading of the Bible
Jesus applies Scripture to His person and His mission
25. When Jesus meets the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, He explains the Scriptures to them by applying them to Himself. "Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted for them every passage of Scripture which referred to Him". ( Lk 24:27)
In the synagogue at Nazareth, He directly applies the words of Isaiah to His own person and His mission. He clearly tells those listening to Him," Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. (Lk. 4:21)
To the disciples of St. John the Baptist who had come to ask Him who He was, He gives the prophecy of Isaiah fulfilled in Him as proof of His identity: "The blind regain their sight , the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them". ( Mt 11:46; cf. Is 26:19; 29 18; 35:5; 16:1).
In his discourse after the curing of the paralytic at the Sheep Pool, He tells His Jewish listeners: " You search the scriptures because you think have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf" (Jn 5:39) And He adds: " For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me" (Jn 5:46)
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Scriptures
26. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says " Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill".( Mt. 5:17) This fulfillment and non-abolition on the one hand indicates the fullness of the New, in which God reveals Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (cf. Mt. 28:19). In the New Testament, Jesus presents Himself not merely as the continuation or the end of the Old Testament, but as something completely new, original and superior in the New Testament.
Jesus does not help us only to gain a better understanding of the Bible, but He Himself is the perfect and comprehensive word of God, because He " is the very reflection of His glory, the very imprint of His being, the one who sustains all things by His mighty word" ( Heb 1:3) He is the Word who "Became flesh and made His dwelling among us (Jn 1:14). He is the " first and the last ,the one who lives"( rev 1:17,18) Everything in the Bible and history cannot be definitely understood except in the light of Christ.
In relation to the Law
27. On the one hand, Jesus knows the Law perfectly and observes it with devotion. on the other hand, however, He show Himself perfectly free with regard to the Law ( cf. Mt 17:24-27): the temple tax) . He wishes to give the authentic interpretation of the Law ( the Sabbath, forbidden foods, legal purifications, fasting etc.) cf. Mk. 2:18-20; 2:28, 7:1-13), and to show its depth and inferiority. He goes so far as to declare Himself the new lawgiver, with and authority equal to that of God. In fact, He says: " You have heard that it was said to your ancestors...But I say to you..." (Mt. 5:21-22) He Himself is the fulfillment of the Law (cf. Rm. 10:4)
In relation to the Prophets
28. On the one hand, Jesus shows that He is the genuine continuation of the prophets in His message and His life. Like them, He proclaims, faith in the "God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob"( cf. Mt. 2-32).
He defends the rights of God and of the poor (cf. Mt. 11:20-24). On the other hand, Jesus does not hesitate to declare Himself greater than all of them, not only in the prophetic line, but He is the first, as the origin and source of all prophetic inspiration. His is greater than Jonah and Solomon ( cf. Mt 12:41-43; Lk 11:31-32). He is greater than Moses (cf. Mt. 19;8-9). He is the first of all the prophets, before John (cf. Jn 1:15), Moses (cf. Jn. 6:46) and Abraham(cf. Jn 8:56-58). and it is important to note that His primacy is not only temporal, but existential. His "before" is infinite, because it is eternal: "Abraham, your father, rejoiced to see my day' he saw it and was glad...Amen, amen I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I am" ( Jn 8:56-58).
In relation to the Writers
29. Jesus also presents Himself as a fulfillment of the wisdom literature in the Old testament. these books, under the form of psalms, proverbs and popular narratives, show an awareness that the people of God is governed on one side by the Law, which indicated the way, and on the other side, by the Prophets, who correct the people, the kings and even the priests when they go astray. Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets by embodying this awareness in Himself: He embodies the way and reforms it by the witness He gives throughout His life, and even Hid death.
The wisdom literature also tends to develop the universal character of the tradition given to Abraham and his descendants. At a certain moment, the path of Wisdom passes through a paradoxical situation (cf. Jobs and Ps 22) in which the wise person is taken for a fool, the true prophet for a false one, the priest. There is a radical change in values, as if a new creation would emerge from a creation undergoing a major upheaval.
By His death, Jesus explains the apparent contradiction of these values in the wisdom literature and opens the path which had seemed to become as impasse for humankind. "Since in God's wisdom the world did not come to know Him through "wisdom", but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and a absurdity to Gentiles; but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's folly is wiser than men, and His weakness more powerful than men."(1 Cor 1:21-25).
A new creature and a new reading
30. The whole message and behaviour of Jesus, His person, His word and His deeds, although referring to the ancient traditions with which He shows Himself to be in continuity, are something new, and therefore a fulfillment, a confirmation and surpassing of the Old Law ( cf. Lk 22). From now on, all realities are make new in Him: the commandment of love is new (cf. Jn 13:14). His teaching is new (cf. Mt.9:17; Mk 1:17; Jn 2:9); the covenant is new (cf. Lk 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25).
Thanks to His Spirit, the one who believes in Jesus is a new creature ( cf. II Cor 5:17; Eph 4:24). In him, all peoples, Jews and Gentiles, become one new being (cf. Eph 2:15). This newness of being will reach its complete and total fulfillment in heaven. There, those who are saved by God will have a new name ( cf. Rev 3:12; 21:2), because " the one who sits on the throne has declared, See I make all things new"( Rev 21:5).
From now on, everything must be read, understood and lived in the light of this newness. The whole of scripture, before Christ and after Him, can have but a single source: the risen Christ. After Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth (cf. Jn 14:17), everything is seen in the light of Christ. In this manner, the Apostolic Tradition that has been handed on to us in an infallible way will be formed and developed, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
It is in this way that the Church throughout the centuries has read and understood the Scriptures. In the same way, we must read and understand the scriptures with the Church.
Continuity, Fulfillment and Newness
31. The most faithfully one searches the Scripture and finds " the unfathomable riches of Christ" (Eph 2:8), the more firmly one believes that Jesus embodies in Himself the continuity, fulfillment and newness of the history for salvation.
Continuity, because it consists of the same Revelation from the One and Only God who has revealed it and who desires that " all people be saved"( cf. Jn 3:17).
Newness and fulfillment, because there is a new covenant in the Redemption brought about by Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour.
Continuity because " the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable" (Rm 11:29) " That is why the apostle Paul maintains that the Jews remain very dear to God, for the sake of the patriarchs, since God does not take the gifts bestowed or the choice he made". ( Nostra Aetate 4).
Fulfillment and newness, because in and through the Church of the New covenant, Christ reveals that He Himself is the goal of God's plan " to bring everything together under one single head the Christ" (Eph 1:10). In Him, the unity of the human race has already begun to be realized, for the church has begun to gather together in her womb the peoples of "every nation, race, tribe and tongue" ( Rev 7:9) (cf. Cathech. Cath Ch 772, 775).
Accepting all of the Scripture in Jesus Christ
32. To be Christian means to believe in Jesus Christ and to accept everything that has been revealed about Him in the new Testament, and the way in which He understood and lived the Revelation of the Old Testament. He is also the key and supreme criteria for understanding the truth of the Bible, not only for everything that was said and done in Israel before His coming, but also for everything that will be done after him. (cf. Jn 16:7-11).
To be Christian is to accept the whole of the Scriptures, with the consciousness of Jesus, fully aware that He will reveal to us the fullness of the truth.
III. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS RAISED
The Word of God is the Word of truth
33. To be faithful to one's faith and to the Word of God, one must be set free from the conscious or unconscious influences stemming from one's cultural background, or from current political positions, whether favorable or contrary to one or the other of the two peoples involved, Palestinian or Jewish. Either of these two positions can deprive faith of its objectivity, and therefore of its faithfulness to God. Faithfulness to God can only mean faithfulness for the good of every person and every people, for the Word of God must always be a light and a guide, never an instrument with which to struggle for one side or the other, or against one side or the other.
The Word of God can be used only in the struggle for the truth. In such a case, this Word can only unite us. If, on the contrary, it fosters division or hatred among us, this would mean that we have deformed the divine Word, making of it a weapon of death, not of truth. And that would mean accepting the principle that we should only read the Bible from a political perspective, thus forgetting its religious essence. In this spirit, and in light of what was said above, we can now try to answer the questions we raised at the beginning of this letter.
The first Christian community
34. The first Christian community in the Acts of the Apostles was faithful to God's Word revealed in the Psalms and in all the Books of the Old Testament. In view of the difficulties arising from contact with pagan philosophies, it was not long before some voices were heard which maintained that the Old testament belonged to the past, or that it was in clear opposition to the New Testament.
The Church always condemned and tried to rectify those schools of thought or heresies that tried to separate the two testaments, the Old and the New.
Today, under the pressure of events and the way that some manipulate the sacred text, there are still some people who claim that the Old Testament is simply the history of the Jewish people, and a book which does not belong to Christian sacred Scripture.
The Teaching of the Church
35. The teaching of the Church has always been consistent and can be summed up as follows: The whole of the Bible, the Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God, revealed for the salvation of humankind. The two Testaments are intimately connected with one another, and they cannot be separated under and pretext.
The Gospel is very clear on this subject: " Do not imagine" says Jesus," that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke shall disappear from the Law" ( Mt 5:17-18)." Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Mk. 12:31; cf. Lk 16:17; 21:33)
The Church's teaching in this regard is summed up in the second Vatican Council's document on Revelation: " God, the inspirer and author of both testaments, wisely arranged that the New testament be hidden in the Old and the Old be made manifest in the New. For, though Christ established the New Covenant in His blood, still the books of the Old Testament with all their parts, caught up into the proclamation of the Gospel, acquire and show forth this full meaning in the New Testament and in turn shed light on it and explain it" ( DV 16).
The Old Testament, therefore, as defined by the Church, with all its canonical and Deuterocanonical books containing the Law, the Prophets and the Writings, does not disappear. It does not lose any of its value. As revealed word of God, it always continues to be God's Word and Sacred Scripture, while receiving a new light through its fulfillment by Christ, the incarnate word of God. When it is received as such it will be alight to guide us towards truth and justice in our present situation.
God's Word is sacred
36. Furthermore, God's word in the books of the Old Testament is addressed not only to Palestinian Christian and Jews, but also to every person and to every people, since God has spoken for all, for the salvation of all the peoples of the world, including Jews, Christians and Muslims, to gather them in fraternity and in the same economy of salvation.
In all circumstances God's word remains sacred. No one can touch it. Hence, if it is rejected or misunderstood, it becomes one more weapon in our hostilities and an instrument of death for individuals, peoples and civilizations, instead of an instrument of salvation and fraternity for us.
We have already said that if some manipulate the Sacred Scriptures, this is not a reason to abandon our faith in our Scriptures. On the contrary, it is not the Word of God but the manipulation that we must denounce and correct. III.2 Violence in the Bible.
III.2 VIOLENCE IN THE BIBLE
Examples of violence in the Old Testament
37. On more than one occasion in the Old Testament, violence is attributed to God in order to affirm His holiness .This occurs above all in two areas: as a punishment for certain violations of the Law, and in the law of anathema ( or total destruction) applied to defeated peoples.
In the first case, those guilty of idolatry are stoned ( cf. Dt.17:2;5). The person who profanes the Sabbath is put to death (cf. ex 31:14). Similarly, the foreigner who enters the sanctuary of the Temple is put to death (cf. Nm 3:38).
The Book of Numbers tell how the earth opened up and swallowed all those who had rebelled against Moses (cf. Nm 16:30). In the first Book of Kings (cf. 1K 18:40), the prophet Elijah orders the slaughter of the priests of Baal on Mt. Carmel, in God's name.
Regarding the second case, after the conquest of Jericho, Ai and other cities, the law of anathema is pronounced in God's name. All those who did not believe in God were to be killed. " They enforced the ban on everything in the town: men and women, young and old, even the oxen, sheep and donkeys, massacring them all".( Jos 6:21)
In the so-called "vengeance" Psalms, we see god "fighting" with the people, and supporting them in their battles against other peoples. In them, prayer is sometimes also seen to be used to curse and to seek revenge:" Let his life be cut short, let someone else take his office: may his children be orphaned and his wife widowed" (Ps. 109:8-9). "May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward" (Ps 129 5). "Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers" (Ps 10:15).
Condemnation and correction of violence in the Old Testament
38. Alongside these incidents in the Old Testament, we also find the condemnation and correction of violence.
God reprimands King David and rejects him because he has shed so much blood. He does not allow him to build the Temple(cf. I Ch 22:8). The Book of Proverbs orders the avoidance of the wicked for whom " wickedness is the bread they eat, and violence the wine they drink"(Prov 4:17). . It condemns the use of violence: " The oppression of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is right"( Prov 21:7) In Psalm 62 " Put no reliance on extortion no empty hopes in robbery"( Ps 62:11).
The Prophets fiercely condemned the acts of violence committed by Israel:" There is no fidelity, no tenderness, no knowledge of God in the country, only perjury and lies, slaughter, theft, adultery and violence, murder after murder"( Hos 4:1-2)
They also repeat Deuteronomy which demands that the rights of the stranger and the poor be respected." A curse on him who displaces his neighbour's boundary mark...A curse on him who tampers with the rights of the stranger, the orphan, the widow.( Dt. 27:19, cf. Dt. 24:17; Ezk 22:7; Jr. 22:3)
The book of Exodus insists on one and the same law for the citizen and the stranger: " There shall be one law for the native and for the alien who resides among you" (Ex. 12:49). Concerning the rights of every person in general, Jeremiah says: " When all the prisoners in a country are crushed and trampled underfoot, when a man's rights are overridden in defiance of the Most High, when a man is deprived of justice, does not the Lord see it ?"(Lam 3:35)
Physical strength is useless, says I Samuel, and Isaiah speaks of another source of strength: " For tis is not by strength that man triumphs"(ISam 2:9)., but " Your strength is in tranquility and in complete trust" ( Is 30:15)
The "suffering servant" in Isaiah is an introduction to the New testament and prefigures Christ, who suffered for the salvation of humankind. He is the "Just Man" who" has done no wrong", who is "crushed for our sins" and who " offers his life in atonement"(cf. Is 53)
How is this all to be understood?
39. We must keep in mind that we are faced by deep and complex truths. Hasty, superficial judgments must therefore be avoided. We are before the Word of God, of which St. Paul says " How impossible to penetrate His motives or understand His methods! Who could ever know the mind of the Lord? Who could ever be his counselor?" (Rom 11:33-34).
Second, it is the progressive character of revelation and its fulfillment in the New Testament which can help us to understand these facts.
We have already stated that Revelation is progressive (par13). God takes into account the sacred writers' ability to understand, despite their deficiencies and failings. Revelation is measured out to them in a way suited to them, and in spite of their faults and failings, they are appointed to proclaim the message of salvation to the whole of humankind in all times and all places. This is why we say that in Sacred scripture and in Revelation God behaves as a good teacher of peoples. He speak to them in a progressive manner through the ministry of the prophets and the sacred writers, in each stage according to the measure of their understanding.
To be able to explain these facts, one must know the language, the literature, the culture and the customs in which the sacred writers have transmitted revelation to us. Then we have to distinguish between the revealed message and the customs of the time that are often in apparent opposition to the message, but which are at the same time the literary form in which the message is transmitted.
Then we must consider that Sacred Scripture is a single book. If we wish to understand any part of it whatsoever, or any incident related in it, this part or incident must be reviewed in the context of Scripture as a whole, in all its stages, from the first book of the Old testament to the last book of the New Testament.
Only within this deep unity of the Bible, in the progression of Revelation and in the discernment of the truth that is transmitted by and through cultural elements of the past, can we find the answer to our questions.
The violence as related to the holiness of God
40. In the mind set of the times of the sacred writers, the use of violence is related first of all the concept of God's holiness, and secondly to the concept of justice and the way to preserve it among humankind.
Every transgression against God's holiness or against a commandment of His law was subject to a physical punishment, even death. this explains the examples given above. In the case of the conquered towns, the law of the ban expressed the obligation to uproot idolatry and affirm the holiness and oneness of God.
Violence is related to Justice
41. In this area we find the use of vengeance as a first stage in the establishment of justice between individuals and peoples. Vengeance consisted in responding to and evil with a greater evil. In the book of Genesis we read concerning Cain: " Of anyone kills Cain, sevenfold vengeance shall be taken for him" (Gen. 4:15) and in verse 24: " sevenfold vengeance is taken for Cain, but seventy-sevenfold for Lamech".
In a second stage, in spite of harshness, the "lex talionis" is a sign of progress in relation to the first stage. The excessive use of revenge is limited to an equal demand: one for one, and no longer sevenfold or seventy seven fold: " life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot" (cf. 19:21).
The book of Tobit reveals more progress in the way of dealing with one another: "Do to no one what you would not want done to you" (Tob 4:15).
The perfection of Revelation in the New Testament will bring tangible, revolutionary progress. The Golden rule in dealing with others commands not merely avoidance of wrong-doing, but doing to others the good you would wish to be done to you: " So always treat others as you would like them to treat you". ( Mt 7:12).
The law of love replaces the "lex talionis" ( eye for eye, tooth for tooth), and brings about a revolution which demands love even of our enemies: " You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I say to you: offer the wicked ones no resistance...You have learned how it was said: You must lobe your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say to you this: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you". (Mt. 5:38, 43-44).
Violence in the New Testament
42. The New Testament brings the Revelation of the commandment of love directed towards every person, including one's enemy. There is no longer any room for violence: " Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage" ( Mt. 5:4). But there is still room for the law and spiritual strength.
The "gentle" believer is the believer who is strong by reason of his love, a love which yields no rights nor abandons any brother or sister; a love which turns to the law to put right any wrong (cf. Mt 18:15-17). The kingdom of God is the kingdom of the "strong". "The kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence and the violent are taking it by storm".( Mt. 11:12).
In the mystery of Redemption the power and effectiveness of gentleness and love is revealed. Death itself is overcome by the Resurrection of the glorified Christ after His death: " He abolished death, and He proclaimed life and immortality".( II Tim 1:10). Violence, too , is overcome by Jesus' forgiveness , He converts violence into redemption. Accepting it out of love for His adversaries, He shows that evil in itself is a lie, and thus invites His opponents to liberate themselves from their lie and to engage in truth. The cross which is a manifestation of violence, becomes the strongest and the most definitive means of reconciliation between human beings and with God.
The power of the truth
43. The one who is "gentle" is also made strong by the word of truth. Yet all the violent of the world endeavor to justify their doings by claiming to possess the truth. We see this clearly in the media and in the need of the violent to seek their support.
In the book of Revelation and the description of the battle between the powers of good and evil, the weapon used by Christ, King of kings, Lord of lords and Word of God, is the word of truth coming out of His mouth: " All the rest were killed by the sword of the rider, which came out of his mouth"(Rev 19:21)
In the New Testament therefore, there is a transition from a battle with material weapons of destruction to the spiritual combat. Our weapons are " the weapons of light: ( cf. Rom 13:12). i.e., good deeds and the word of truth. It is in this sense that St. Paul says " Grow strong in the lord, with the strength of His power. Put on God's armour, or you will not be able to put up any resistance when the worst happens, or have enough resources to hold you ground. So stand your ground, with truth buckled round your waist, and integrity for a breastplate...receive the word of God from the Spirit to use as a sword" (Eph 6:10-14,17).
The question of "religious wars"
44. By "religious war", the believer claims he is using force or violence to defend the rights of God. He maintains he is acting in God's name, and he allows himself to destroy or to kill in God's name, and he allows himself to destroy to kill in God's name. It is also true that religion is frequently used in support of other motives for war, both national and cultural. This phenomenon closely resembles certain manifestations of violence in the Old Testament, is a frequent occurrence in the history of all religions, and is still present in people's psychology in our day. It is not only in biblical times that violence is attributed to God; the same mentally continues in our times as well.
In itself, a " holy war" is a contradiction in terms. In his closing address to the meeting of the Eastern Patriarchs and Western Bishops following the Gulf War, Pope John Paul II declared, " there can be no such thing as a holy war". Religion must lead man to love God and God's children, the whole on mankind. " Anyone who say, I love God, and his brother , is a liar, since a man who does not love the brother that he can see cannot love God, whom he has never seen"( I Jn. 4:20)
To declare a holy war is therefore to go against the very essence of religion, and shows a lack of understanding of ones own religion. It is reducing God to our human level of jealousy, quarrels and criminal hatred.
Violence today
45. The harshness of the measures commanded by God in the Old Testament narratives to safeguard God's holiness and justice among humankind seems strange to us today. We maintain that today we have more appropriate ways of showing these same truths through writing, explanation, preaching, the use ob best means available. There is no need for us to announce anathema, or declare a war of extermination against those who do not believe in God in order to convince ourselves or others of God's holiness, God's uniqueness, and of the need for God's law to be observed.
And yet if we are sincere, we must confess that in the 20th century, many of us still have the mentality which we condemn in the Old Testament. Even today, examples can be found of this mentality which demands the imposition of corporal punishment for the religious, spiritual transgression of God's law. Some still believe in wars of religion. Some still turn to violence or more insidious means to triumph or convince others in religious or other fields.
Our suffering in the conflict
46. In the conflict which is now coming to an end, it would appear for some people in the Holy Land today that the same violence is being repeated in the name of the Bible. There are indeed some who wish to continue using the Bible to justify their struggle.
To all we say that forgiveness and conversion of hearts are two elements needed in our land at this time. Forgiveness is the way of salvation for all. Because God forgives those who forgive" " Pardon your neighbor any wrongs done to you, and when you pray your sins will be forgiven".( Eccl28:2). Forgiveness does not mean concession or loss of rights. On the contrary, it helps to reacquire rights, and at the same time, it purifies the soul, converts sufferings into a source of redemption, and gives birth to peace in human hearts.
God cannot and does not want to oppress anyone, individuals or peoples, nor can God command that. His love for one people cannot become oppression for another people. Therefore, no one today has the right to invoke the name of this God who is just, kind and who loves humankind, to justify one's own human violence, whatever may be the supposed interest or good of religion or of the nation.
III.3 Election, Covenant, Promises and the gift of the land.
Faith and Concrete Realities
47. As we have said, the Bible is the Word of God, which gives life. It is a history of salvation for the whole of humanity, presented by Sacred scripture within the framework of human history. Therefore it is first of all a question of our salvation history, that of all of us, individuals, communities, and peoples. This religious perspective must be kept in mind, if we are to understand the realities of faith mentioned in Sacred Scripture, and their application to our daily life. This is the only way to find an adequate response to the questions concerning the concrete realities lived today by the two peoples, the Palestinian and Jewish.
Election
48. Scripture tells us that God chose a people to prepare the way for the coming of the Saviour " Therefore, say to the Israelites I am the LORD...I will take you as my own people and you shall have me as your God" (Ex 6:6-7) In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter addresses his Jewish audience: " You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when He said to Abraham: In you offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed" ( Acts 3:25)
We find the same idea in the Koran: " We chose them ( the children of Israel) deliberately out of all the peoples of the earth" ( 44:32)," O Children of Israel. Remember the benefits I have showered upon you. I preferred you above all the worlds" (2:47)
Every person is the object of God's choice and Love: " He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before Him, in love" ( Eph 1:4).
Election is a free, gratuitous initiative on the part of God, by which He calls a person or a people to walk according to His law, and to make this same law known to others, individuals, and peoples, as the way of salvation. In Scripture, God chose the Jewish propel through whom He would call all the peoples of the earth to faith in God and in the Messiah whom He would send as the Saviour of the world. For us Christians, this Messiah is the Eternal Word of God, sent to Mary, who conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and gave birth to Jesus, the promised Messiah and Saviour.
Election is therefore a gratuitous act of love on God's part, and on the part of the chosen people, a responsibility before God and humankind. Responsibility to God means the obedience of the people to God's commandments and fidelity to its very identity based on this choice, since its salvation depends on obedience and fidelity. To be responsible to humankind means bearing witness to others, and transmitting to them the message received.
Everyone who is chosen and called to salvation, whether an individual or a people, bears this same responsibility before God and others. To be faithful to oneself, and to be included among those who will be saved, on must obey God's commandments, and one must hand on to others what God has make known to him, and the grace granted to him by God.
Why the election of a people?
49. Why did God choose a people? It is not because of their excellence over other, nor because of their merits. Deuteronomy declares as words of God: " It is not because of your merits or the integrity of your heart that you are going in to occupy the land" (cf. Dt. 9:5). The choice depends on the infinite wisdom of God and His love. " How inscrutable are His judgments and how unsearchable are His ways" ( Rom 11:33)
It could be said that God chooses a people, or persons and grants each of them particular graces, in order to destroy the dynamic of jealousy and envy, and to liberate peoples and persons from such a dynamic. Sacred Scripture describes the beginning of this dynamic, in the story of Cain and Abel. Cain kills his brother Abel, because God accepted the sacrifice of Abel, thus putting Cain's love for Him to the test. This destructive
