Israel Is Part of the Foundation of Biblical History

​

Anyone who wants to understand the Bible cannot ignore Israel. From the first books of the Holy Scriptures to the New Testament, we repeatedly encounter the people of Israel, the land, Jerusalem, the prophets, and the promises of God.

For Christians, Israel is therefore not simply a secondary topic. Much of what Christians believe, read, and proclaim has its roots in the history of Israel.

​

THE BIBLE IS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO ISRAEL

​

The story begins with God’s calling of Abraham and continues through Isaac, Jacob – Israel –, the twelve tribes, Moses, the kings, and the prophets.

From this history came the Scriptures upon which the New Testament also builds.

Terms such as covenant, Messiah, prophecy, redemption, Jerusalem, and the Kingdom of God can be understood much more clearly when their biblical background is known.

Understanding Israel therefore also means understanding the connections between the Old and New Testaments more deeply.

​

CHRISTIAN FAITH DID NOT DEVELOP APART FROM JUDAISM

​

Christianity did not emerge in an entirely new cultural environment. Its earliest decades were closely connected with Jewish history, the Scriptures of Israel, and biblical expectations.

For Christians, this means that the Jewish roots of faith are not merely an additional specialized subject. They are part of the historical background of the Bible itself.

Those who explore this context often discover connections that can easily be overlooked when reading the Bible without it.

​

ISRAEL REMINDS US OF THE HISTORY OF BIBLICAL PROMISES

​

The Bible repeatedly speaks about covenant, faithfulness, calling, judgment, repentance, and hope.

Israel stands at the center of many of these accounts. This makes Israel an important key for understanding how the Bible describes God’s actions throughout history.

For Christians, studying Israel is therefore above all an invitation to read the Bible as a connected story rather than only as individual verses.

​

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR CHRISTIANS TODAY?

​

Learning about Israel does not mean that every political question should automatically be answered in religious terms.

At Beit Or Ha'Chaim, we distinguish between biblical Israel, the Jewish people, and the modern State of Israel. These subjects are historically connected, but they are not simply identical.

For Christians, learning about Israel should above all lead to a deeper understanding of the Holy Scriptures – and to a respectful attitude toward the Jewish people and their traditions.

​

TO KNOW ISRAEL IS TO KNOW THE BIBLE MORE DEEPLY

​

Anyone who begins to explore Israel soon encounters larger questions:

Why does Jerusalem play such an important role?
What does covenant mean?
Why do the prophets speak so often about Israel?
How are the Old and New Testaments connected?
Why are the Jewish roots of Christian faith important?

These are exactly the kinds of questions we want to explore step by step at Beit Or Ha'Chaim in a clear and understandable way.

​

BEIT OR HA'CHAIM

​

Beit Or Ha'Chaim is a Messianic Jewish community in Vienna with online resources for people in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and German-speaking communities around the world.

We invite Christians from different denominations, as well as everyone interested in the Bible, to rediscover the Holy Scriptures in their Jewish and historical context.

Understanding Israel means understanding an essential part of the Bible more deeply.