From a theology of substitution to a theology of dialogue

Studying the scholarly writings of Lukasz Kamykowski, we discover that he has undoubtedly contributed to some extent to changes in the relationship between the Catholic Church and Israel, at least on the Polish territory. His stance as a promoter of dialogue between Christians and Jews and his activities as a theologian have certainly affected many areas of this relationship. One of these is certainly the study of the Church. In addressing the issues of the relationship between Judaism and ecclesiology, Kamykowsky linked the mystery of the Church and the Synagogue. His stance of scholarly integrity eventually led him to firmly reject replacement theology and move to a position of difficult dialogue. This resulted in many areas. In the article we present, we show that it was thanks to the Krakow professor that the stages of the formation of the Church in the Old Testament were considered. One of the important elements of the post-conciliar doctrine of the Church is the development of Old Testament ecclesiogenesis. This is, on the one hand, the result of capturing the Church as a dynamic, unclosed, constantly becoming reality. And on the other hand: The Church is not so much a Christological (New Testament) event, but above all a Trinitarian one. Thanks to the work of many theologians, including precisely Kamykowski, Catholic ecclesiology has moved away from the thesis that Jesus directly and directly founded the Church. Hence, today we speak clearly of five stages of the Church’s formation: 1. the extra-temporal idea of God the Father, 2. the continuation in the Old Covenant, 3. the establishment by Jesus, 4. the fulfillment since Pentecost, 5. and the current progression to eschatological fullness.