Browsing by Author "Tessema, Teklu"

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    Formation of the New Israel and Its Mission In Luke-Acts
    (Tangaza University College., 2002-02) Tessema, Teklu
    It was just a few days before Christmas 2000 that Stephen alma, student of Law at Nairobi University and active member of the youth group at Consolata Holy Trinity Church. Kileleshwa, approached me with questions that troubled him. Stephen fired one question after the other do not understand at all the relationship between the God of Israel and the Christian God. How did the God of Israel become the God of Christians? Are we Israelites or are we Christians? I am really confused. Is there any possibility of tracing the relationship between the two from a purely biblical point of viewr Stephen's questions led me down a deep reflective path. I turned to Luke who wrote predominantly for Gentiles, many of whom probably also wondered, like Ouma. about the connection between the Israel of Old and the New Israel? Perhaps more than any other New Testament writer, Luke goes to great lengths to show his readers what constitute a New Israel. This work comes as the fruit of this reflection. However, the essay as such does not deal with the relationship between the God of Israel and that of the other nations. Rather, it attempts to analyse the fidelity of God to the divine promises made to Israel and to show how the New Israel that emerges out of the biblical people of God, is a fulfilment of these promises. I do not claim that I have discussed in this essay all the core values that both the OT and Luke narrate regarding the formation of the New Israel. Nevertheless, I have attempted to say something on most of them, at least in passing. My hope is that readers of this essay will come to understand how the New Israel that emerges out of the Old Israel is a testament of God's faithfulness. The essay has been divided into three chapters. Chapter one briefly presents OT background which I believe has played a significant role in the development of Lucan theology. It deals with the covenantal relationship between Yahweh mid Israel that has its future expectation based on prophecies and promises. Chapter two has two local points. First. it takes up these promises and prophecies as Mey climax !n the person of Jesus in the Lucan writings, and second, it shows how Luke portrays the formation of the New Israel. The third chapter deals with how the mission ot Jesus continues through the new community, making salvation available to all. As far as the biblical texts in this essay are concerned RSV is used.