Bat Kol International is an umbrella organization of the worldwide association of people who desire to participate in the vision and mission of Bat Kol.

Supersessionism: Naming and Addressing the Issue

Presentation by Professor Amy-Jill Levine

Supersessionism: Naming and Addressing the Issue is the third of a three-session online series, Ancient Texts for Our Troubled Times, presented by renowned biblical scholar, Prof. Amy Jill Levine. This series is designed for Christians who teach and preach the gospel — in parishes, schools, seminaries, universities — and for all seeking to understand the roots of antisemitism through a deeper understanding of its roots in church practices and (mis)interpretation and understanding of the scriptures.

Supersessionism is the claim that Christianity supersedes Israel, making God’s covenant with the Jewish people obsolete. This problematic view has historically fueled antisemitism and risks severing Christianity’s essential connection to its Jewish roots and the Hebrew Scriptures.

In this session, Prof. Amy-Jill Levine focuses on the problem of supersessionism (often called replacement theology) in Christian thinking, and why it is important. How can Christians avoid supersessionism in their teaching and preaching? Where, Why and How it occurs and what you can do about it.

We warmly invite support from like-minded organisations in promoting this important initiative through their newsletters and networks.

Watch the video: Supersessionism: Naming and Addressing the Issue

Bat Kol International gratefully acknowledges the sponsorship of The Sisters of Our Lady of Sion and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry

and the support of the

Australian Council of Christians and Jews and the National Council of Jewish Women Australia

COMING UP NEXT

Resource Package for Ancient Texts for our Troubled Times:

Bat Kol International has developed a resource package designed to assist educators, clergy, and study groups.

The three-part package includes recorded videos, reading lists and reflection resources from our “Ancient Texts for our Troubled Times” series with Amy-Jill Levine. The package is free and is available from the Bat Kol International HERE.

We encourage teachers, clergy and leaders to use the material to strengthen Jewish-Christian relations, challenge antisemitism and share what is learned with others.

Support package: Ancient Texts for our troubled Times

Other events in this series.

Misunderstanding Jewish Practice and Belief Means Misunderstanding Jesus and Paul

Antisemitism: Why Does it persist in Catholic Teaching and Preaching 60 years after Nostra Aetate?

BOOKS & RESOURCES from AMY-JILL LEVINE

Our Presenter

Amy-Jill Levine is Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace and University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Emerita as well as Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies Emerita, Vanderbilt University. She is also the current president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America.

She is a prolific author, a gifted communicator, highly esteemed in interfaith circles, and we are delighted to have her expertise to draw us into the world of the New Testament.

New Edition, AUGUST 2026

The Jewish Annotated New Testament

Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler

Oxford University Press USA, 2026

Amy-Jill Levine appointed President of the Catholic Biblical Association

The Jewish Annotated New Testament

Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds.
Over sixty Jewish scholars have contributed to this volume which includes annotations on the NRSV version of the New Testament and articles with helpful insights to biblical studies. A groundbreaking work and ideal for the reference shelves of homilists and teachers. Published by Oxford University Press, 2011, 2017; third edition to be released August 2026.

The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus

Amy-Jill Levine challenges and encourages Christian readers to correct common anti-Jewish biases and tropes that distort the biblical meaning when Jesus is taken out of his historical Jewish context. Published by HarperCollins, 2008, and available as an eBook.

Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi

Amy-Jill Levine analyzes Jesus’ popular teaching parables, taking readers back to the first century to understand how their original Jewish audience understood them. In doing so, she dispels common misunderstandings that feed antisemitic and misogynist ideas. Published by HarperCollins, 2015.

Download list of Books and Resources

Abingdon Press

BOOKS, DVDs. Abingdon Press offers a number of titles featuring the work of Amy-Jill Levine. These include beautifully crafted DVDs with participant booklets and leader guides, ideal for sessions in classrooms and parish settings. Titles are listed below and more can be found at the Abingdon Press website.

The Difficult Words of Jesus

Those passages where Jesus’ words unsettle the reader. More

The Bible With and Without Jesus

A guided tour of the most popular Hebrew Bible passages quoted in the New Testament to show what the texts meant in their original contexts and then how Jews and Christians, over time, understood those same texts.. More

NEW! AVAILABLE AUG 2026

GENESIS: A Beginner’s Guide to the Beginning

See more in the attached PDF.

Supersessionism: Admin and Address Rather than Debate or Deny

Published in Religions 13: 155, 2022 PDF

“One does not have to make Jewish practice and belief look bad in order to make Jesus look good.”

Amy-Jill Levine, 2026