Biblical Law and Its Relevance: A Christian Understanding and Ethical Application for Today of the Mosaic Regulations [Paperback]

This book approaches the laws of the Pentateuch from theological, historical, moral, and spiritual perspectives. Theologically, this book raises a question of hermeneutics: What are Christians to make of the law?Biblical Law and Its Relevance, while taking into consideration the approaches of Reformed, Dispensationalist, Lutheran, and Theonomist scholars, proposes a distinctive hermeneutic of seeking to find the abiding moral and religious principles inherent in the laws. In pursuing this goal, this book employs a comparative-legal methodology that examines biblical laws in their ancient Near Eastern historical setting and in comparison with rabbinic, modern, and especially cuneiform laws. It seeks to determine the original significance of thelex talionis formula( eye for an eye ) and the rules of clean / unclean. It also surveys how the laws were administered from the time of Joshua to the end of the Old Testament period.

From an ethical-spiritual viewpoint, this book shows how the laws were meant to foster a relationship with God and identifies the ethical relevance of the laws to today's issues of abortion, rights of the underclass, theft, divorce, sexuality, and the conduct of war.

Joe M. Sprinkleis a Professor of the Old Testament at Crossroads College. He has a Ph.D. and M.Phil. from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. He is a member of the Society for Biblical Literature and the Evangelical Theological Society.An excellent discussion.... I applaud his efforts....This volume will challenge its readers. Mark F. Rooker,Journal Of The Evangelical Theological Society

Part 1 Preface
Part 2 Acknowledgements
Part 3 Abbreviations
Chapter 4 1. The Mosaic Law and the Christian
Chapter 5 2. Is There Truth in the Law (John 1:17)? On the Gospel of John's View of the Mosaic Revelation
Chapter 6 3. Near Eastern and Biblical Laws Compared
Chapter 7 4. Law and Narrative in Exodus 19-24
Chapter 8