Preaching Old Testament Law to New Testament Christians

Abstract

Analyzing the relevant biblical passages and related secondary literature Block argues that Christians must take 2 Tim 3:15-17 as the starting point, recognizing that this statement not only affirms the reliability of the Old Testament as divinely breathed Scripture, but especially that it is ethically relevant and through its application God creates a transformed people. Second, while we recognize that with the sacrifice of Christ all the Old Testament sacrifices have been terminated, we also recognize the essential theological and ethical unity of the two Testaments, a unity that is summarized in Jesus’ call for covenantal commitment (love) to God and to one’s fellow human beings. Third, we recognize that without the background of Old Testament law Paul’s call for obedience to the “law of Christ” (1 Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2), and Jesus’ call for adherence to the “commandments” remain vague and empty, subject to anybody’s personal and subjective interpretation. Fourth, even as we accept the fundamental theological and ethical unity of the Testaments, we must respect the distinctions among different categories of Old Testament law. Fifth, that we need to investigate carefully not only the features of Old Testament laws, but especially their social function and theological underpinnings.