Page "Arminianism" Paragraph 49

Corporate election draws support from a similar concept of corporate election found in the Old Testament and Jewish law.

Indeed most biblical scholarship is in agreement that Judeo-Greco-Roman thought in the 1st century was opposite of the Western world's " individual first " mantra – it was very collectivist or communitarian in nature.

Identity stemmed from membership in a group more than individuality.

According to Romans 9 – 11, supporters claim, Jewish election as the chosen people ceased with their national rejection of Jesus as Messiah.

As a result of the new covenant, God's chosen people are now the corporate body of Christ, the church ( sometimes called spiritual Israel – see also Covenant theology ).

Pastor and theologian Dr. Brian Abasciano claims " What Paul says about Jews, Gentiles, and Christians, whether of their place in God ’ s plan, or their election, or their salvation, or how they should think or behave, he says from a corporate perspective which views the group as primary and those he speaks about as embedded in the group.

These individuals act as members of the group to which they belong, and what happens to them happens by virtue of their membership in the group.