이스라엘의 역사신학과 이방민족에 대한 이해

Abstract

Most of the Old Testament traditions about the Gentiles are nationalistic and sometimes exclusive. However, although Israel was a small and weak state compared to the strong nations surrounding it, it dreamed the way of the central presence of the world, all while affirming the existence of the others. This way of reflective vision shows in the limited space in the Old Testament. This study shall investigate the origin of the positive understanding of the Gentiles shown in the course of Israel’s history, and the unique historical understanding resulting from such origin. The Book of Isaiah presents a unique theological thought, which tells that ‘the Gentiles were adopted by the Lord as a tool to judge the nation of Israel’. This theological thought evolved to an understanding of Israel’s history with regards to the Gentiles until the end of the Old Testament era, and developed even further into the New Testament era. This study shall track the development process of the traditions that reflect such theological thought from its origin, the starting point, in a reverse chronological order from the New Testament era. By looking into an aspect of the positive understanding of the Gentiles in the Old Testament, this study shall attempt to make an opportunity to rediscover the mission and challenges of the Korean church for world missions.