Old Testament Law Analysis

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Recommended: Old Testament theology: The law

J. Daniel Hays debates two avenues for us to take in interpreting and applying the Old Testament Law. The first view is called the traditional approach (Hays 2001, Pg 22). This approach suggests the Bible reader can selectively choose the moral laws, while practically ignoring the civil and ceremonial laws. The problem is the distinctions into these three types of laws can be personally random; like the saying goes, “to each their own”. The author brought up a very good point in quoting Leviticus 19:18-19: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18) “Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material” (Lev 19:19)
The author attests which verse should we take literally and which should we not. Does that mean that we can be mean to our neighbors as long as we strictly wear one animal, or vice versa? Is being a good neighbor a moral issue or is it a civil duty? It takes the Law out of its literary context.
The second view is called principlism (Hays 2001, Pg 30). With this approach to applying the Old Testament Law, Hays identifies five steps. The first step identifies what the particular law means to the audience. Every word in the Bible has a meaning, and meanings could change as societies change throughout time. Second, Hays says we should differentiate between the original audience and today’s believers. Third, we should develop a universal principle from the timeless meaning of the text. Fourth is to incorporate the principles within the New Testament teachings. Lastly, the reader personally should apply the modified universal principle to life today.
The issue with the fourth step is that the New Testament, at times, contradicts itself in terms of how to follow the Old Testament Law:
“Do not think that I came to...

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...ts omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.”
This passage is great for us today. It preaches us that though the world may be going one way, we are commanded by God to go the right way. Though there may be people who are cheating on their spouse, we should not be living in this sort of environment ourselves. We, as Christians, are ordained to be a lighthouse of morality from God. People look to us as an example and sometimes wait and hope for us to slip. Slipping is easier if we live of the world and not in accordance of God’s will. We know God’s will by reading and applying the Old Law into our lives.

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