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Over the past three thousand years, the name '''"Israel"''' has meant in common and religious usage both: 1) the [[w:Land of Israel|Land of Israel]], also called the [[w:Canaan|Land of Canaan]], constituting the [[w:Promised Land|Promised Land]] forming part of the Abrahamic, Jacob and Israel covenants, as well as referring to the modern state of [[w:Israel|Israel]]; and also 2) the entire Jewish nation, an ethnoreligious group originating in the [[w:Israelites|Israelites]] <ref>In modern Judaic usage, an Israelite is a Jew who is neither a [[w:Kohen|Kohen]] (descendant of [[Aaron]], the first high priest) nor a Levite (descendant of early religious functionaries). The distinction is significant, for if a Kohen is present for synagogue service, he must be called up first for the reading of the Law; he is then followed by a Levite. Normally, therefore, an Israelite is not called up until the third reading. (''"Israelite."'' '''Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica 2009 Ultimate Reference Suite.''' Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2009.)</ref> (Twelve Tribes) or [[w:Hebrews|Hebrews]] of the Ancient Near East. With the [[New Testament|New Covenant]], the [[Orthodox Church|Church]] of [[Jesus Christ]] becomes the New Israel, becoming the fulfillment of the Old Israel.

''Israel'' (probably meaning "God struggles", "God is strong") designates in the [[Old Testament ]] either a people or its eponymous ancestor, identified with the patriarch Jacob.<ref>Genesis 35:10,20f; 43:8; 50:2, etc..</ref> The story that explains the double name of the patriarch is based on the popular etymology for Israel: "he wrestled with God".<ref>Genesis 32:29; Hosea 12:4.</ref>

Through the covenant, God is in some way joined to Israel. He is their [[God]],<ref>Isaiah 17:6; Jeremiah 7:3; Ezekiel 8:4.</ref> their holy one,<ref>Isaiah 1:4; 44:14; Psalms 89:19.</ref> their strong one,<ref>Isiaih 1:25.</ref> their rock,<ref>Isaiah 30:29.</ref> their king,<ref>Isaiah 43;15.</ref> and their redeemer.<ref>Isaiah 44:6.</ref> The God of revelation thereby enters into the history of religions as the God proper to Israel. In return it is Israel alone that He chooses to make the trustee of His plan of salvation. Once again, the titles given to Israel are significant. Israel is the people of Yahweh,<ref>Isaiah 1:3; Amos 7:8; Jeremiah 12:14; Ezra 14:9; Psalms 50:7.</ref> His Servant,<ref>Isaiah 44:21.</ref> His chosen one,<ref>Isaiah 45:4.</ref> His first-born Son,<ref>Exodus 4:22; Hosea 11:1.</ref> His holy one,<ref>Jeremiah 2:3.</ref> His inheritance,<ref>Isaiah 19:25.</ref> His flock,<ref>Psalms 95:7.</ref> His vineyard<ref>Isaiah 5:7.</ref> His domain,<ref>Psalms 114:2.</ref> His spouse.<ref>Hosea 2:4.</ref> Therefore Israel does not belong only to the political history of humanity. By divine choice it is at the very center of religious history.

The sacred league of the twelve tribes concealed a political duality which is clearly seen during the royal epoch. [[David ]] became successively the king of Judah, in the South, and then of Israel in the North.<ref>2 Samuel 2:4; 5:3.</ref> When Solomon died, Israel broke off from the house of David<ref>1 Kings 12:19.</ref> with the cry: "To your tents, Israel!".<ref>2 Kings 12:16; 2 Samuel 20:1.</ref> In this way the people of God are broken up. The language of the prophets adapted itself to a condition that was contrary to the doctrine of the covenant, and which in the future distinguished Judah from Israel, which was frequently identified with Ephraim, the dominant northern tribe.<ref>Amos 2:4; Hosea 4:15f; Isaiah 9:7ff.; Micah 1:5; Jeremiah 3:6ff..</ref><br>

The eschatological oracles of the prophets [[prophet]]s have truly announced for the future of Israel a return to its original unity: a reunion of Israel and Judah,<ref>Ezekiel 37:15.</ref> a reassembly of the dispersed Israelites who belong to the twelve tribes.<ref>Jeremiah 3:18; 31:1; Ezra 36:24; 37:21; Isaiah 27:12.</ref> This is a fundamental theme of Jewish hope.<ref>Ecclesiasticus 36:10.</ref> But the profit to be derived from these promises will be reserved for a remnant of Israel.<ref>Isaiah 10:20; 46:3; Micah 2:12; Jeremiah 31:7.</ref> Yahweh will make a New Israel of this remnant. He will deliver it<ref>Jeremiah 30:10.</ref> and re-establish it in its country;<ref>31:2.</ref> He will make a new covenant with it<ref>31:31.</ref> and a new king.<ref>33:17.</ref> Then, Israel will become the center of the union of nations.<ref>Isaiah 19:24f.</ref> These nations, seeing in Israel the presence of the true [[God]]<ref>45:15.</ref> will turn toward Him; their conversion will coincide with the salvation<ref>45:17.</ref> and glory of Israel.<ref>45:25.</ref>

The order of providence has willed that the outcome of salvation be realized in Israel, and that Israel, as the covenant people, receive the first announcement of it. That is already the purpose of John's [[baptism]].<ref>John 1:31.</ref> During His lifetime, the Savior's mission, as well as that of His disciples, confined itself to Israel only.<ref>Matthew 10:6,23; 15:24.</ref> After His resurrection, the good news was first brought to Israel.<ref>Acts 2:36; 4:10.</ref> Israel and the nations, which participated together in the drama of the passion,<ref>4:27.</ref> have both received the call to faith,<ref>9:15.</ref> on an equal footing but in a different order: first the Jews who are "Israelites" by birth,<ref>Romans 9:4.</ref> then the others.<ref>Romans 1:16; 2:9f.; Acts 13:46.</ref> The salvation brouht brought by the [[gospel ]] fulfills the hope of those who are waiting for the consolation of Israel,<ref>Luke 2:25.</ref> the salvation of Israel,<ref>Luke 24:21.</ref> the restoration of the kingdom for Israel.<ref>Acts 1:6.</ref> Through [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]], [[God ]] has come to bring help to Israel,<ref>Luke 1:54.</ref> to show it mercy,<ref>Luke 1:68.</ref> to grant it a conversion and the remission of sins.<ref>Acts 5:31.</ref> Jesus is the glory of Israel,<ref>Luke 2:32.</ref> its king,<ref>Matthew 27:42; John 1:50; 12:13.</ref> its Savior.<ref>Acts 13:23f.</ref> The new hope based on His [[resurrection ]] is none other than the hope of Israel itself.<ref>Acts 28:20.</ref> In short, Israel continues the organic link which joins the realization of salvation to all human history.

In the meantime since the time of Jesus, the New Israel announced by the prophetic promise has appeared here below. To make it a positive institution, Jesus chose twelve Apostles, thereby modelling modeling His [[Orthodox Church |Church]] after the Old Israel which was formed of twelve tribes. Further His [[Apostles ]] will judge the twelve tribes of Israel.<ref>Matthew 19:28.</ref> This Church is the eschatological Israel for which God reserved the [[New Testament|new covenant]].<ref>Hebrews 8:8ff.</ref> In it is accomplished the reassembling of the chosen ones in twelve tribes.<ref>[[Book of Revelation|Apocalypse ]] 7:4.</ref> It is a holy city which rests on the foundation of the twelve apostles, and it has the names of the twelve tribes inscribed on its gates.<ref>[[Book of Revelation|Apocalypse ]] 21:12; Ezekiel 40:30ff..</ref>

The Church, the New Israel, is therefore the fulfillment of the Old Israel. In the Old Israel, membership was by birth,<ref>Phillipians 3:5.</ref> and pagans were excluded from its citizenship.<ref>Ephesians 2:12.</ref> It is no more than the Israel of the flesh and what is important is to belong to the Israel of God. But "all the descendants of Israel are not Israel".<ref>Romans 9:6.</ref> Confronted with Jesus and the Gospel, a sorting takes place:<ref>Luke 2:34f..</ref> the fall of those who look for the justice of the Law and who harden their hearts when they hear the announcement of justification by faith,<ref>Romans 9:31; 11:7.</ref> and the rescue of those others , the "true Israelites",<ref>John 1:48.</ref> who constitute the remnant of Israel announced by the Scriptures[[Scripture]]s<ref>Romans 9:27ff..</ref> and who are joined to the New Israel by the converted pagans. The Old Israel has not been definitively rejected, but at the time her incomprehension of the Gospel was manifested God wishes to awaken her jealousy.<Ref>Romans 10:19.</ref> When the pagans are converted in their totality, the partial hardening of Israel's heart will cease, "and thus all Israel will be saved".<ref>Romans 11:26.</ref> It will belong once again to that spiritual Israel which has entered into the way of salvation.