The concept of a “new covenant” (Luke 22:20) in early Christianity naturally brought to the fore a host of questions concerning the nature of the church, Israel, and how to interpret Scripture—questions that remain relevant to this day. This paper will examine the approach to this problem in the fourth century writer known as “Macarius.” At various points throughout his writings, Macarius addresses the newness of the new covenant, arguing that what Israel experienced in part has now been fully actualized through the salvation made available in Christ and the sending of the Holy Spirit.
This paper examines this theme in three parts: 1) The relationship of the Spirit to Israel and the Church, 2) The role of the cross and sacraments, and 3) spiritual illumination. With careful attention to Macarius’ biblical interpretation, I will present how these themes coalesce and provide a window onto Macarius’ understanding of the church, Israel, and the Holy Spirit. Finally, engaging the foundational work of R. Kendall Soulen and recent patristic scholarship (particularly that of Michael Azar), I will conclude the paper with an investigation into the question of “supersessionism” in the context of this early Christian writer.