Correcting Gerald Morgan Jr; On Replacement Theology and the Church Fathers.
I work late nights, and when I do I enjoy watching Steven Crowder’s show, Lowder With Crowder. You might not agree with everything the man says, but he’s a really engaging host with a personality that does more than enough to carry the show on its own. He features guests that range in political views, from Conservatives to Libertarians (and a courageous leftist from time to time).
In episode 81, one of his many guests was Gerald Morgan Jr. Here I want to address some of the comments that he made regarding replacement theology and the church fathers. Now, Morgan does spend a lot of the episode discussing Islam, it’s here where I have nothing to correct him on. Many (but not all) forms of Islam are a socially deleterious force in the world. Now, it should be stated my problem is not in responding to regressivists that use “And you are lynching Negroes” style arguments. Rather, it’s using an incorrect understanding of Christian history to do so.
At around 1:58:30 of the video, Morgan claims that historically the reason replacement theology was born was the Church Fathers began interpreting the Bible in an allegorical fashion so that the Church could appease the government, since a literal reading of the Biblical text would entail pissing off their bosses (because such a reading entails Jesus overthrowing a corrupt government). Furthermore, Morgan alludes to three chapters in the Book of Romans to reaffirm his point.
To begin with the first claim, the Church Fathers were not beholden to the government for their pay check. The term “Church Father” applies to general groups from the late first century up until the medieval ages. The first of these groups are the apostolic fathers, usually St. Clement of Rome, St. Ignatius of Antioch, and St. Polycarp of Smyrna[1]. If this is the group that Morgan is referring to, then he hasn't a historical leg to stand on. Christianity wasn't tolerated (let alone made the state religion) until 311 A.D [2].
Now, Morgan might be making reference to Fathers that came after toleration, but the problem is that we find mention of abolishing the old covenant in the apostolic Fathers. Saint Ignatius says so much in his Epistle to the Ephesians,
Now the virginity of Mary was hidden from the prince of this world, as was also her offspring, and the death of the Lord; three mysteries of renown, which were wrought in silence by God. How, then, was He manifested to the world? A star shone forth in heaven above all the other stars, the light of which was inexpressible, while its novelty struck men with astonishment. And all the rest of the stars, with the sun and moon, formed a chorus to this star, and its light was exceedingly great above them all. And there was agitation felt as to whence this new spectacle came, so unlike to everything else [in the heavens]. Hence every kind of magic was destroyed, and every bond of wickedness disappeared; ignorance was removed, and the old kingdom abolished, God Himself being manifested in human form for the renewal of eternal life [3].
This passage above informs us of Ignatius’ eschatology. Earlier, Ignatius speaks about Jesus’ new “Kingdom of God”. In this above passage he speaks of the old kingdom abolished. This isn't the more general kingdom of man (otherwise he would have contrasted this as such, and refereed to it in the plural), the only other kingdom there is in reference to is specifically Israel.
Now, I'm not advocating replacement theology here (although, I would recommend this video to summarize the position I defend). What I am saying is that we begin seeing the church take prominence over Israel BEFORE there was even toleration of the Church, contrary to what Morgan claims, in terms of eschatology.
The last thing to mention is that just because the kingdom of Israel is abolished does not mean the Jews are out of the plan. For more on that, I cannot recommend with greater enthusiasm Kenneth Gentry’s post on the matter.
End Notes
[1] Peterson, J.B. (1907). The Apostolic Fathers. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved July 3, 2016 from New Advent:http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01637a.htm
[2] See Edward Gibbon’s Translation of Edict of Toleration by Galerius, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume 2, 131–134 Link
[3] Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1885.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0104.htm>.
