Dual-covenant theology

**Dual-covenant theology** (DCT) is a theory within the Christian theology concerning the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament in Christianity.

## Overview

The key idea of the DCT is that the Old Covenant and the New Covenant exist in parallel, with the Old Covenant staying valid for Jews while the New Covenant valid for non-Jews.

## Background

It has been a common view among Christians since ancient times that the Old Testament has been superseded by the New Covenant between God and Christians. Meanwhile, some Christians believe that the Mosaic Covenant – or the Old Covenant – is no longer valid due to the perception of Jews being guilty for the Crucifixion of Jesus. As a result, some other Christians came up with the DCT to try to improve the mutual understanding between Christians and Jews.

### Pope Eugene IV

In the papal bull of Pope Eugene IV at the Council of Florence in 1441 AD, he maintained that

The Roman Catholic Church upheld the above position until 1965 AD, when the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) closed with the decision that

Since then, the Catholic Church has become divided, ensued by the rise of the radical traditionalist Catholics, who are active in current American politics. The Vatican II's position was supported by Pope John Paul II, when he led the Catholic Church between 1978 and 2005. However, the Catholic Church does not support the DCT.

### United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

On December 11, 2024, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop (USCCB) announced the adoption of the _Translate Hate: The Catholic Edition_ drafted together with the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in response to worsening antisemitism in America since 7 October 2023.

As of February 28, 2025, the 1985 revision of the USCCB _Guidelines for Catholic-Jewish Relations_, which was written in response to the matter, is still in place. The _General Principles_ of the _Guidelines_ include but not limited to
1. Prayer in common with Jews should be encouraged when mutually acceptable
1. Proselytism, which _does_ not respect human freedom, is carefully to be avoided
1. Catholic–Jewish meetings are dedicated to fostering mutual respect and eliminating misunderstandings
1. A commission or secretariat is recommended to be assigned to Catholic–Jewish relations in each diocese
Meanwhile, the _Recommended Programs_ under the _Guidelines_ encourage the
1. Advancement of Catholic–Jewish relations on all levels
1. Removal of content from catechesis and homilies that blames all Jews for the Crucifixion of Jesus
1. Rejection of the historically inaccurate notion that Judaism was a "decadent formalism and hypocrisy"
1. Further analysis of such phrases as "the Jews" by St. John in modern context to erase negative undertones about Jews

## Protestant views

In 2006, Evangelical Protestant Jerry Falwell denied a report in _The Jerusalem Post_ that he agreed with the DCT:

## Academic views

Daniel Goldhagen, the former Associate Professor of Political Science at Harvard University, advised the Roman Catholic Church to change its teachings by removing content that is considered antisemitic in present times. A way proposed by Goldhagen is to make it clear that "The Jews' way to God is as legitimate as the Christian way".

## Related pages

- _Jésus et Israël_
- The Holocaust
- Freedom of religion
- Antisemitism in Europe
- Black Hebrew Israelites