Category Archives: Old Testament

Applying Old Testament law today

Walking With Giants Posted on by

[The following is based on: Hays, J. Daniel (2001) Applying the Old Testament Law Today.  Bibliotheca Sacra 158: 629: 21-35.  The article is available here.]

Christians uphold some of the OT laws (such as the Ten Commandments), but violate others (including those relating to food, hygiene, and clothing).  We tend to judge their validity on their apparent relevance, but this is abitrary.

How then might we proceed?

The traditional appoach

The traditional approach is to distinguish between moral, civil and ceremonial laws. …

Interpretation of Old Testament narratives

Walking With Giants Posted on by

Over 40% of the OT is in the form of narrative.  In common with all narratives, OT narrative has characters and plots.  The most important character is God himself.  The plot may be read at three different levels.

1.  The Top Level.  This is the whole universal plan of God for his creation.  Key aspects of this are the creation itself, the fall, the issue of sin, the need for redemption, and the work of Christ.…