Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Franz Rosenzweig (1886–1929) develops a theory of the election so distinctive and radical that any survey of the history of the doctrine would be remiss to pass it over. On his theory, the Jewish people enjoy a miraculous existence that altogether transcends the vicissitudes of history. The Christian, by contrast, lives within history, as the church expands in number and reach, marching with its face towards the eschaton, but never arriving there. The Jew represents the destination, and the Christian represents the way. In a sense, both communities are elected because God’s light could not be revealed in the world without the distinctive contribution that each one makes.</jats:p> <jats:p>After unpacking this theory of the election, and deriving significant lessons from it, this chapter ultimately rejects the theory as untenable, and incompatible with the constraints laid down in Chapter 1.</jats:p>