Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Are Christians Still Under the Mosaic Law?

Concerning Eph 2:14-15:

The International Critical Commentary on Ephesians and Colossians (T. K. Abbott) has this to say:

"The Mosaic law as such, not merely certain aspects of it, has come to an end in Christ. He is the 'end of the law,' Rom 10:4. Faith having come, we are no longer hUPO PAIDAGWGON" (page 64).

Abbott adds:

"NOMOS here is not to be limited to the ceremonial law; there is nothing in the connexion to show such a limitation, which on the contrary, would make the statement very weak . . . The moral law retains its obligation, not, however, because the Jewish law is only partially annulled, but because its obligation was independent of the law and universal (Rom 2:14)" (64-65).

He goes on to show that Christians now fulfill the "moral law" of the Mosaic Code since a life governed by the spirit is in direct conformity with the moral precepts of the ancient Jewish Law mediated by Moses. Abbott makes an astute observation when he also notes the Pauline contrast between works of law and fruit
of the spirit. We also do well to recall the apostle's words found at Gal 5:18: "Furthermore, if you are being led by spirit, you are not under law" (EI DE PNEUMATI AGESQE OUK ESTE hUPO NOMON).

If THN EXQRAN is in apposition to NOMON TWN ENTOLWN EN DOGMASIN, which I think it is, then Eph 2:14-15
indicates that the entire Mosaic Code was made inoperative via the death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I must therefore reject R. Schnackenburg's suggestion (The Epistle to the Ephesians. T & T Clark: Edinburgh, 1991) when he contends that only the ceremonial aspects of the Law were abolished by means of Christ's death. Paul, on the other hand, clearly teaches that Christians are not under Law, but serve God under the loving assurance of His manifested and benevolent unmerited kindness (Rom 6:14-15).

Richard Longenecker (in his Word commentary on Galatians) likewise writes that Paul delivers the 'coup de grace' to the Judaizers whom he theologically opposes since he teaches that the Law "no longer has validity as a PAIDAGWGOS regulating the life of [Christian] faith" (149). No longer are Jewish precepts (moral or ceremonial) required for Christian faith. So Longenecker observes, when commenting on Galatians 3:25.

I find that James Dunn also has to concede this point in some way, namely, that Paul teaches the Law has been fulfilled and rendered inoperative through Christ. While he apparently wants to avoid a type of dualism that is evidently posited by Lutherans, Dunn has to treat Paul's letter to the Romans with a certain amount of scholastic integrity. He thus believes that the traditional antithesis between law and grace (undeserved kindness) can withstand scrutiny, but "not in the overdrawn terms of the classic Lutheran formulation" (Romans 1-8. Dallas: Word Books, 1988, pp. 340-341).

Regardless of how Dunn exegetes Rom 6:14-15 and other such texts, I think the Pauline teaching on Law is quite clear: Christians are no longer bound by the Torah, although they conduct lives in harmony with its moral precepts. Paul wrote: "So, my brothers, you also were made dead to the Law through the body of the Christ, that you might become another's, the one who was raised up from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God" (Rom 7:4).

Also:

"For Christ is the end of the Law, so that everyone exercising faith may have righteousness" (Rom 10:4).

13 comments:

T said...

What is your thoughts on this Hebrew Israelites trying to prove we must keep the Law of Moses to these Apologists?
https://youtu.be/MFup9i0TZcc

Edgar Foster said...

I might check out the video tomorrow, T. Don't have time tonight, but it's hard for me to take Hebrew Israelites seriously. I don't mean any disrespect. However, claims need to be backed by evidence, and they need to be rooted in the Bible for me take seriously entertain them. So while I have not watched the video, I'd be interested to see any evidence where God ever commanded a non-Israelite to observe the Sabbath. The Bible also implies that the Sabbath was given as a sign between God and Israel. If Gentiles are obligated to keep Sabbath, how was it a unique sign between God and Israel?

Edgar Foster said...

See also https://www.gospelproject.com/remember-sabbath-day-keep-holy/

Anonymous said...

Have you read Isaiah 56?

Anonymous said...

Isaiah 56:2-7
"2Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. 3Neither let the son of the foreigner, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from His people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep My sabbaths, and choose the things that please Me, and take hold of My covenant: 5Even unto them will I give in Mine house and within My walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6Also the sons of the foreigner, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant; 7Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all peoples."

Anonymous said...

2Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. 3Neither let the son of the foreigner, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from His people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep My sabbaths, and choose the things that please Me, and take hold of My covenant: 5Even unto them will I give in Mine house and within My walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6Also the sons of the foreigner, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant; 7Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all peoples."
Isaiah 56:2-7

1 Set Free said...

If you read the account if the 10 Commandments given in Chapters 19 and 20 of Exodus, you will see that MOSES DID NOT Communicate them to
the People. They were given straight from The Word to the Nation
And the foreigners with them assembled at the bottom of the Mountain..
It was only AFTER that that the People asked Moses to
intercede between themselves and God.

1 Set Free said...

Non Israelites are INVITED, to adjoin themselves to Israel in order to benefit from the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This happens in the Old Testament as well as the New.
Exodus 12:49
"49One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you"
Numbers 15:15-16
"15One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. 16One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.

Edgar Foster said...

I have read Isaiah 56 more than once, and I'm familiar with various interpretations of the passage. Additionally, whiler it's true that non-Israelites were invited and worshiped God with Israel, that happened before the advent of the enfleshed Logos.

Edgar Foster said...

Jesus' death changes the relationship between fleshly Israelites, God, and non-Israelites.

Anonymous said...

Moses did communicate 10 commandments to the people. Exodus 19 shows Moses going up the mountain and descended down the mountain to tell the people what God said. Also Exodus 20:22, Exodus 21:1, Exodus 24:3. The 10 commandments were part of the entire law covenant given to Moses and Israel. This can be seen by the fact that they were put the Ark of the COVENANT. They were not separate from the Law Covenant.

That covenant is no longer in effect.

Anonymous said...

Even though non Israelites could adjoin themselves to Israel the law covenant was given Israel not the other nations.
Psalm 78:5 and Psalm 147:19-20. Even though some Gentiles were at Mount Sinai the law still showed some distinction between Israelites and Gentiles. Gentiles could follow they law covenant but they could never become priests or kings under the law covenant.

This would change under the new covenant as there would be no distinction between Gentiles and fleshly Israelites. One thing  Gentiles could become kings and priests under the new covenant. Priesthood has changed. Paul understood under the new covenant Israel no longer meant just fleshly Israelites. Romans 2:29 and 9:6, Galatians 3:26-29, Galatians 6:12-16, Ephesians 2:14

If you are promoting the old law covenant because you think black people are Israelites you are lost.

Anonymous said...

http://defendingjehovahswitnesses.blogspot.com/2013/02/rom-96-for-not-all-who-spring-from.html?m=1