N.T. Wright Calls Israel-as-Prophecy a 'Totally Unbiblical Idea.' Romans 11 Says Otherwise

As reported by The Christian Post, retired Anglican bishop and theologian N.T. Wright told an audience at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, that the belief that the modern state of Israel is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy is a "totally unbiblical idea." Wright is the featured speaker at "The Fresh Challenge of Romans," a four-day conference on Paul's epistle to the Romans that organizers expect to draw more than 600 people.

According to the report, Wright made the comments during a question-and-answer time on Monday, the eve of Election Day. He said several strands of teaching, particularly in America, have contributed to the idea, and he named Dispensationalism in the 19th century as one of them, though not the only one. He added that he once saw the belief as merely quirky but now considers it a dangerous thing to believe.

Wright went on to say that support for modern Israel is only one of many issues voters weigh. He warned both America and Britain about claiming to be Christian countries, pointing to the Sermon on the Mount and Psalm 72 as the measure of whether a nation is living out Christian priorities. He also said that refusing to vote is a dereliction of responsibility.

Where Wright Has a Point

I want to be fair here. Wright is right that no nation becomes Christian by putting the label on itself. Only individuals are born again (John 3:3), and the Lord Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). Bible believing Christians should also be honest that the modern state of Israel is a secular nation, and most of its people have not received Jesus as their Messiah. Supporting Israel's right to exist is not the same as approving everything its government does.

But What Does Romans Say?

It is striking that this was said at a conference on Romans, because Romans 11 speaks directly to this question. Paul asks, "Hath God cast away his people? God forbid" (Romans 11:1). He says blindness "in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in," and then, "so all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:25-26). And he explains why: "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Romans 11:29). God has not torn up His promises to Abraham's physical descendants.

Those promises include the land. God gave Canaan to Abraham's seed "for an everlasting possession" (Genesis 17:8). Through Jeremiah, He said Israel would cease "from being a nation before me" only if the sun, moon, and stars stopped their courses (Jeremiah 31:35-36). Isaiah foretold that the Lord would "set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people" (Isaiah 11:11). Ezekiel wrote, "I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land" (Ezekiel 36:24), and Amos ended his book with God promising, "they shall no more be pulled up out of their land" (Amos 9:15).

Notice the order in Ezekiel. God gathers Israel back to the land first (Ezekiel 36:24), and the new heart comes after (Ezekiel 36:26). In the valley of dry bones, the bones came together and were covered with flesh, "but there was no breath in them" (Ezekiel 37:8). A regathered nation still in unbelief is not a problem for prophecy. It is exactly what the prophets described.

Wright may call this view a product of 19th-century teaching, but the question is not when a teaching became popular. The question is what the text says. Even after the resurrection, the disciples asked, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). Jesus did not tell them the idea was unbiblical. He told them it was not for them "to know the times or the seasons" (Acts 1:7).

Theology does matter, and that is why every believer should do what the Bereans did and search "the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Don't take a famous scholar's word for it, and don't take mine. Open your Bible and read Romans 9-11 for yourself.

Source: The Christian Post. Cover photo: "Jerusalem Old City & Israeli Flag" by Gary Todd, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 public domain.

Recommended Reading

Want to go deeper? Get my book Doctrine Matters: Bible Topic Guidebook on Amazon.