The Problem of the Old Testament by Garrett Duane A.;

Author:Garrett, Duane A.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Old Testament;Old Testament hermeneutics;Old Testament theology;Old Testament relationship with New Testament;Old Testament for Christians;Old Testament interpretation;hermeneutics;Old Testament studies;biblical studies;first testament;Old Testament interpretation;Jesus in the Old Testament;Old Testament problems;violence in the old testament;understanding the old testament;interpreting the old testament;old testament introduction;old testament survey;old testament textbook
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2020-09-28T08:23:57+00:00

Excursus: Leviticus 18, Deuteronomy 30, and Romans 10

At times, Paul appears to misrepresent both Judaism and what the Law says about itself. He seems to claim that both have an all or nothing attitude toward the Law: either one must obey every point perfectly, or one might as well disobey everything.21 Neither the Sinai Covenant nor Judaism made such demands.

Leviticus 18:5 says, “Keep my decrees and laws, for if a man does them, he will live by them. I am YHWH.” Galatians 3:12 says, “But the law is not of faith, but ‘The one who does them shall live by them.’” In Paul, to “live by them” is to take on the whole burden of the law with the purpose of keeping it flawlessly. It connotes obedience to rules as the point of orientation to God. It describes lifelong submission to a code, as in “You must absolutely live by these rules; any deviation will lead to your damnation.” From this point of view, the Law opposes grace by faith (it is “not of faith”).

In Leviticus, the meaning is quite different, describing not a means to righteousness but the results of obeying the terms of the covenant. “Live by them” in Leviticus 18 means that people who follow Torah will thrive and not come to an unhappy death. Obeying the statutes of Torah results in a wholesome and long life. Keeping Torah allows Israel to abide peacefully in the land and not suffer exile (Lev 18:28). In context, the prohibition of bestiality, incest, and homosexuality is in view. The text does not appear to be demanding moral perfection but that the nation turn away from the “detestable things” that the Canaanites practiced (Lev 18:26). If they do so, life will be good.

The problem of Paul’s use of the Law is especially pronounced in Romans 10:4-9, which cites both Leviticus 18 and Deuteronomy 30.

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