44    The Bible and the Future of the World 

The Samaritan Woman (John 4:5 30) 

     The woman said to him, `Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our 

fathers worshipped on this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the 

place where men ought to worship.' Jesus said to her, `Woman, believe me, 

the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you 

worship the Father.'   (John 4:19 21). 

     The woman said to him, `I know that Messiah is coming (he who is 

called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things.' Jesus said to her, 

`I who speak to you am he.'   (John 4:25 26). 

    Samaritans were not atheists, they believed in God. Samaritans were not 

pagans, they believed in one God: the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

Samaritans followed a version of the Jewish faith, and so the woman refers 

to Jacob as her forefather (John 4:12) and looks forward to the coming of the 

Messiah (John 4:25). 

    Israel was formerly ruled by three kings: first Saul, then David, and then 

Solomon. After Solomon, there was a dispute over who would rule Israel 

next. Rehoboam, Solomon's son, reigned after Solomon, but he ruled 

unwisely, and so a portion of Israel rebelled against him, led by Jeroboam. 

In this way, Israel became divided. And from this division came a division 

within the Jewish religion. 

    Since the kingdom was divided, the Samaritans could no longer go to 

Jerusalem to worship. They worshipped in other places, places where their 

ancestors  had worshipped. The Samaritan woman points out these 

differences to Jesus (John 4:20). There were other religious differences 

between Samaritans and Jews, but they also had much in common. 

Samaritans followed an altered version of the Jewish faith. 

    In  God's Holy Scripture, the Samaritans are a prophetic reference to the 

Protestants. The relationship between the Protestants and Catholics is 

similar to the relationship between Samaritans and Jews. Protestantism 

began with rebellion against the leaders of the Church, just as the Samaritan 

religion began with rebellion against the leaders of Israel. Protestants and 

Catholics have religious differences, but they also have much in common. 

There were often disputes and some conflict between Jews and Samaritans, 

just as there have been disputes and some conflict between Protestants and 

Catholics. 

    The Samaritan woman's conversation with Jesus is prophetic. She talks 

about the differences in beliefs between Samaritans (symbolizing 

Protestants) and the Jews (symbolizing Catholics). Jesus says,  the hour is 

coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship 

the Father.  (John 4:21). Jesus' words anticipate the future unity of all 

Christians in one Church.