The Vine, Israel and the Church

The vine is one of the blessings of the Promised Land. Since Israel is precious in the eyes of Yahweh, she is also called the vine. But this vine became degenerate in some prophetic and wisdom writings. The metaphor was taken over in the New Testament where the Kingdom of Heaven was compared to the vine but with this marked difference: this vine was to bear lasting fruit. This is so because Jesus is the true vine, and his salvific work is carried on in His Church.

Autorentext

The Author: Peter Damian Akpunonu is a priest of the Archdiocese of Onitsha, Nigeria. He studied at Pontifical Urban University, Rome (S.T.D.) and at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome (S.S.L.). He taught sacred scriptures and was Rector of Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, and of Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt Nigeria. He is Professor in the Department of Bible and Proclamation at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.