davidbu@tekigm2.men.tek.com (David Buxton) (11/20/89)
Taken from the SDA Bible Commentary on the Law:
In the NT the term "the law" is used with various shades of meaning,
and unless these different aspects of the "law" are kept in mind, and
the context examined to ascertain which shade of meaning the writer is
alluding to, the modern reader of the NT is almost certain, at times,
to misconstrue what is said about the "law." To a Jewish reader or to
one familiar with the Jewish religious system, the different nuances
of the word "law" were clear, and a speaker or writer could shift
rapidly from one to another without being misunderstood, since the
context of his remarks would be sufficient to make his meaning clear.
I can provide more information on how the various nuances of the law can be
understood.
Certainly it is tempting, in our modern context, to throw up our hands in
dispair and exclaim that it is too difficult to differentiate what is spo-
ken of when 'law' and/or 'commandments' are mentioned in the Bible.
Some texts in the NT clearly uphold the law and we must ask what portions
of the law these texts are speaking of so highly? Other texts set asside
certain portions of the law and we must ask what 'nuance' of the law are
these dealing with?
Which nuance of 'law' do each of these texts speak of?
"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and
good." (Rom. 7:12)
"But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives free-
dom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but
doing it -- he will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:25)
"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a
liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:3,4)
"And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses
were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to
the Lord;" (Luke 2:22)
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You
give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have
neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and
faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, whithouout
neglecting the former." (Matt. 23:23)
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us,
which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to
his cross" (Col. 2:14)(See also Deut 31:24-27 & 2 Kings 22:8)
"It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear, than for the least
stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law." (Luke 16:17)
Old Testament - "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deut 6:5)
Love your neighbor as yourself. (Lev. 19:18)
Clearly the 'law' cannot be treated as a homogeneous inseparable whole
that must be kept totally intact or disposed of in its entirety. From
the above texts it should be obvious that such a claim would condemn
the Bible to be contradictory. We need to study to understand what
portion of the law is being spoken of in each passage of scripture
that deals with the law. Don't give up just because its not always
easy.
Yesterday I reviewed what the 'Jewish Encyclopedia' had to say about
the law. The law to the Jew, at the time of Christ, was an extremely
complex and conflicting spread. It was clear to the Jew that a lot of
it could not be of God. Clearly those laws and ordinances associated
with the sacrifice of animals were done away with at the cross.
Clearly there is also law that the New Testament writers uphold and
that Jesus said would never be done away with or even tinkered with by
God. Daniel 7:25 says that man will 'think' to change God's law but
Jesus clearly stated that it would not change. These texts do not
deal with the ceremonial laws, or Moses' camp ordinances that included
death penalties. These texts that say that Jesus did not change the
law are clearly dealing with the Law of God and of all the Bible only
the Decalogue was written by the hand of God. And we are told that
God's hand does not change.
"To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this
word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isa. 8:20) To
insist that Jesus did away with the Law would make Jesus out to be a
false prophet.
Dave (David E. Buxton)
davidbu@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COMharry@atmos.washington.edu (Harry Edmon) (11/24/89)
I think it would be very enlightening to explore the different
definitions of law that denominations have. In Lutheran theology you
usually talk about the law and Gospel together. In the Lutheran
Cyclopedia (Concordia Publishing, St. Louis, 1975) there is no listing
for Law by itself (or Gospel for that matter). Here is part of the
entry labeled "Law and Gospel":
"The law is a divine doctrine which reveals the righteousness and
immutable will of God, show how man ought to be disposed in his
nature, thoughts, words and deeds in order to be pleasing and
acceptable to God, and threatens the transgressors of the law with
God's wrath and temporal and eternal punishment. For, as Luther says
against the nomoclasts, 'Everything that rebukes sin is and belongs to
the law, the proper function of which is to condemn sin and to lead to
a knowledge of sin' (Rom. 3:20; 7:7). Since unbelief is a root and
fountainhead of all culpable sin, the law reproves unbelief also."
(Formula of Concord, Solida Declaratio V 17)
"The Gospel, strictly speaking, is the kind of doctrine that teaches
what a man who has not kept the law and is condemned by it should
believe, namely, that Christ has satisfied and paid for all guilt and
without man's merit has obtained and won for him forgiveness of sins,
the 'righteousness that avails before God' (Rom 1:17; 2 Cor 5:21), and
eternal life." (Formula of Concord, Epitome V 4)
...
Law and Gospel do not differ if Law is taken in a broad sense, as in
Is 2:3, or if Gospel is taken in a broad sense as in Mark 1:1. They
do not contradict each other. Both are God's Word; both are in the OT
and NT; both are to be applied to people everywhere, including
Christians.
The fact that Law and Gospel differ in their narrow sense is suggested
or indicated, e.g., Zch 11:7; Mt 13:52; Lk 12:42; Ro 10:4; Gl 3:24.
The difference was used, e.g., 2 Sam 12:1-14; Lk 7:36-50; Acts
2:27-39; 16:27-31; 1 Co 5:1-5; 2 Co 2:6-8.
Differences: (a) The Law was written into man's heart; the Gospel is
not known by nature, but was revealed through Jesus and the Word of
God. (b) The Law contains commandments of what we are to do and not to
do and how we are to be; the Gospel reveals what God has done and
still does for our salvation. (c) The Law promises eternal life
conditionally; the Gospel promises it freely. (d) The Law demands
perfect fulfillment and pronounces curses and threats if there is no
perfect fulfillment; the Gospel has only promises and comforting
assurrances. (e) The purpose of the Law is to serve as a curb, mirror
and rule; the purpose of the Gospel is to forgive sins and give heaven
and salvation as a free gift.
Law and Gospel are both operative in conversion. But the very nature
of justification excludes the Law and leaves the Gospel as the only
means whereby God justifies the sinner. The incentive power of the
Gospel and the criterion of the Law are operative in sanctification.
P.S. Concordia Publishing is owned by the Lutheran Church - Missouri
Synod. The Formula of Concord date from 1576-1580 and is part
of the Lutheran Confessions, which are accepted by all major
Lutheran bodies in the U.S.
--
Harry Edmon INTERNET: harry@atmos.washington.edu
(206) 543-0547 UUCP: uw-beaver!atmos.washington.edu!harry
Dept of Atmospheric Sciences, AK-40
University of Washington