Monday, October 4, 2010

LAW

I think one of the greatest challenges in dealing with some of the difficult passages in the Old Testament is having a working understanding, with the comprehension to decipher what passages of the Mosaic Law we are to follow today, and what portions of the law that are no longer valid for today. Things I have learned that I thought were helpful in making the connection between parts of the law which were relevant and parts which were not valid today included the idea that the law was civil, ceremonial, and moral. At first my inclination was to expel that which was ceremonial and civil, while keeping the moral law of God. However as Dr. Yates pointed out to the class this becomes problematic when two people offer different interpretations on laws, which could fall into one category or another, or be blended into both. Other insightful concepts such as: the portions of the law, which were restated in the New Testament, are valid. This offered a provocative and meaningful concept. However this view of interpretation also has problems. The most helpful conclusion I was able to come to was offered by Dr. Yates: “The law of Christ resembles the law of Moses. The law still has moral authority for Christians even though we don’t live under it.” The Scriptural example which I found to be illuminating to this concept came from 1 Tim 5:8, when Paul cited Deut 25:4. “The Old Testament law was not so much about justice in the sense of people getting what they deserved, but that people were able to get what they needed.”-Dr. Yates

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