1 Corinthians 10:16-18 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (17) For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. (18) Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
In this section, we will discuss the first of the two Israel's. Let me say at the outset; that Israel which we will discuss in this chapter is the only one recognized in the world, and is the one most recognized in the church. In the above-quoted passage of scripture, the apostle Paul teaches the church the biblical truth, that when we partake of the bread and the wine, we have communion with the Lord Jesus Christ; i.e. we partake of that one bread, who is Christ. And so in trying to explain the concept of communion to us, Paul uses the Jewish priests as an illustration; for he says that when they eat of the sacrifices made on God's altar, they are partakers of the altar. For this discussion, however, the point I want to highlight from this passage is Paul's comment about Israel. Notice that Paul does not say, “Observe Israel”, but rather he says, “Observe Israel after the flesh”. So why does Paul make that distinction? He does so because he understands that there are two Israel's, and in this passage, he is alluding to one of them, i.e. Israel after the flesh. So what does Paul mean, when he makes the statement “Israel after the flesh”?
Romans 9:1-5 “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, (2) that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. (3) For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, (4) who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; (5) of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”
In the previous passage, Paul referred to "Israel after the flesh"; and we asked what he meant by that statement. In the above-quoted passage of scripture, Paul points us to the answer to that statement; for in this passage Paul speaks about his countrymen according to the flesh, "who are Israelites". And so clearly we can see from this passage that the term "Israel after the flesh", refers to those who are classified as Israelis or Jews. Although we will not discuss it at this time, Paul alludes to the second Israel in this passage; for he speaks of his "countrymen according to the flesh", thus implying that he has other "countrymen who are not according to the flesh".
Philippians 3:4-5 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: (5) circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
We have established thus far that "Israel after the flesh", refers to those who are classified as Israelis. The question is then asked, who qualifies to be an Israeli? The apostle Paul answers that question for us in the above-quoted passage of scripture; for in this passage, Paul lists the two criteria that qualified him as an Israeli (Hebrew). Paul lists the two criteria in order of importance; the first criterion was that he had been circumcised on the eighth day, and the second criterion was that he was of the stock of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. We will first discuss the criterion of being of the stock of Israel. When Paul stated that he was of the stock of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, he was saying that, because he could trace his ancestry back to Jacob (Israel) through the tribe of Benjamin, he therefore qualified as an Israeli. That same principle applies to all Jews. And so we see that all Jews who can trace their ancestry back to Jacob, meet one of the two criteria to qualify as Israelis i.e. citizens of the nation of Israel.
Michael E.B. Maher
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