Old Testament Law for Christians: Original Context and Enduring Application

by Roy E Gane

The Old Testament law is foundational for our understanding of the Bible, but for many it remains some of the Old Testament's most foreign and exotic material. This book by a leading evangelical expert in biblical law helps readers understand Old Testament law, how it functioned in the Old Testament, and how it is (and is not) instructive for contemporary Christians. The author explicates the often confusing legal system of ancient Israel, differentiates between time-bound cultural aspects of Israelite law and universally applicable aspects of the divine value system, and shows the ethical relevance of Old Testament law for Christians today.

Genres: Theology, Old Testament

464 pages, Paperback

Published August 22, 2017

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roy E. Gane is Professor of Hebrew and Ancient Near Eastern Languages at Seventh-Day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Gane received an MA and PhD from University of California, Berkeley, and has authored numerous books, including a commentary on Leviticus and Numbers in the NIV Application Commentary series. Most recently, Gane has provided a comprehensive volume on Old Testament Law that will help Christians better understand and apply such to everyday life.

Old Testament Law for Christians: Original Context and Enduring Application aims to “show Christians how OT laws are relevant, interesting, accessible, and useful; how to navigate around them; how to uncover their wise values; and how to arrive at answers to questions regarding their interpretation and application to modern life” (p. xiv). The book has been divided into four major sections: (1) Getting into Old Testament Law, (2) Literature and Background of Old Testament Law, (3) Applying Old Testament Laws, and (4) Values in Old Testament Law. These divisions provide a logical order in support of the overall objective of the book, and thus, most of the content is naturally centralized within parts 3 and 4.

Gane is a well-known and accomplished scholar of Biblical Law, and the scope of Old Testament Law for Christians demonstrates such with minimal effort. In part one, Gane offers justification and rationale for the relevance of OT law for New Covenant Christians. Gane focuses on Jesus and Paul’s view of OT law and sketches the trajectory. Gane also devotes a fair amount of space to the introduction of Old Testament law prior to establishing the contextual background in part two. Gane is especially strong on areas of literature and background of OT law, and the attentive reader will glean insight after insight as they follow him in the second section.

In part three, Gane introduces the difficult task of application and spends a portion of the time surveying the various approaches advocated both past and present. Those who appreciate methodology will enjoy Gane’s discussion here. Gane contends for a Progressive Moral Wisdom (PMW) approach to understanding and applying Old Testament law. There are five components of a PMW model: (1) analyze the law by itself, (2) analyze the law within the system of OT laws, (3) further analyze the law within the content of its ancient life situation, (4) analyze the law within the process of redemption, and (5) relate findings regarding the function of the law to modern life (p. 202-203). Then, after detailing the PMW model, Gane uses Exodus 23:4 as a test case for readers to engage the approach and witness its benefit. His approach is firmly built upon a solid hermeneutical methodology and readers will do well to take notes.

In part four, the reader is taken on a tour de force into the world of OT law. Here Gane addresses the Decalogue in two chapters before considering additional law related issues, such as the value of social justice and ritual laws, OT law and theodicy, etc. Gane also provides a sizable chapter on keeping OT laws today, where he specifically addresses the OT laws that seem most strange to the modern reader, including various occurrences of forbidden mixtures, vast dietary restrictions, sex during menstruation, etc. Gane is reliably informative and pastorally sensitive to the difficulty that Christians face concerning the implications of these issues, and the reader will appreciate the candor and attention that is found therein. Gane is constantly canonically oriented in his approach and keen to offer explanations for New Covenant Christians.

Old Testament Law for Christians is outstanding as an introduction to OT law and equally as helpful as a hermeneutical model. That said, for many readers, I am confident that there will be inevitable disagreement with Gane at several points during the journey. Gane is unashamedly honest when his conclusion differs with the common position among Christians (especially in the chapter titled “Questions about Keeping the Old Testament Laws Today”). Still, his consistency is to be commended despite disagreement. Where most readers will find Gane helpful is in parts 3 and 4. Overall, Gane has succeeded in his objective and does much to elevate the usefulness of the OT law for New Covenant Christians. Gane removes an unfortunate false dichotomy in the contemporary church and encourages Christians to take the Torah as serious as Jesus and Paul. The Progressive Moral Wisdom approach is properly established and the outcome is a step in a much-needed direction.

Old Testament Law for Christians: Original Context and Enduring Application by Roy E. Gane is a timely resource. Gane has provided a comprehensive examination of OT law that will serve the New Covenant people of God for years to come. Any shortcomings will be found in the inevitable disagreement that arises out of a topic as such addressed here. That said, shortcomings aside, while I didn’t agree with Gane on every turn, I am very pleased to recommend this much-needed book.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old Testament Law for Christians: Original Content and Enduring Application
Roy E. Gane, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2017.

Divine mercy is found here in narrative and hymn, rather than in the laws regarding sexual offenses, because mercy is usually not prescribed in laws. Mercy is over and above law, which is the standard against which obedience or violation and the need for mercy are measured (15).
Moses defined the authority, nature and purpose of the OT Law in a stirring appeal to the Israelite nation: Deut 30:15-20 (17)
God’s law is good in that those who choose to obey will receive life, good (i.e.prosperity), and blessing from God, “for He is your life” (Deut 30:20 NKJV). those who disobey forfeit the good life that God offers and incur the consequences of death, evil (i.e.adversity), and cursing. Therefore the divine laws are normative and prescriptive, not merely descriptive. (18)
The nature of the OT law is expressed as ‘His ways,...His commandments, His statutes, and His judgements” (Deut 30:16 NKJV). The Lord’s law consists of his personal directives, which are based on his own character and behavior and cannot be separated from the relationship with him. Obedience includes loving the Lord, walking in his way, obeying his voice, and clinging to him. Therefore the Lord is the comprehensive Law as the standard of justice because “all of his ways are justice” (32:4). While his commandments/laws do not constitute an exhaustive code, they provide valuable examples of his comprehensive justice (18).
Much of the OT law expresses or exemplifies absolute principles to guide human life. By seeking to persuade people to make its moral principles their own, OT law encourages them to bring their personally held values into alignment with good divine values united by the overarching value of unselfish love (Lev 19:18, Deut 6:5, cf Mat 22:37-40; 1 John 4:8, 16).
Most people use the terms morality and ethics interchangeably. Technically, morality refers to the actual content of right and wrong, and ethics refers to the process of determining right and wrong. In other words, morality deals with moral knowledge and ethics with moral reasoning...Morality is the end result of ethical deliberation, the substance of right and wrong. (26)

Regarding formulation, many of the OT laws articulate principles, cases, and penalties for violation that could be administered by human beings, as in modern legislation. However, a significant number of the OT laws do not specify penalties that they mandate are administered by God, and in some instances enforcement by humans is impossible (e.g., “You shall not covet,” Exod 20:17). Unlike modern legislation, many of the OT laws contain motivational elements clearly designed to persuade hearers/readers to comply. (29)

Dt 17:8-3 The word for “instruction” here is torah, but it comes from the priests and judge; it is not a written law that they consult in order to reach their decision. The fact that the Israelite high court is at the sanctuary and involves priests who can inquire of the Lord implies that the ultimate source of Israel’s law is YHWH himself, whose decisions are accessed through oracles. (30)

Since God’s values are based on his character or love (1 John 4:8, 16), since he created human beings in his image (Gen 1:26-27), and since his Word enlightens everyone (John 1:4-5, 9), it is not surprising that humans are capable of formulating some principles in harmony with his values. However, due to our moral brokenness resulting from the fall into sin (Gen 3), we need divine guidance in filtering our ideas to retain the truly love-based elements while discarding aspects that creep in from selfish ulterior motives. It is the purpose of the OT law to provide such guidance (38).

[Jared Saltz · Rating 2 out of 5]

R. Gane attempts a a lofty and admirable goal: he seeks to discuss the Mosaic Law, provide ANE context for the Law, and then discuss how it is theologically and practically useful for Christians, today. The problem, of course, is that all of this is hard to do. Even doing one of these things is difficult! The audience of the volume seems to be undergraduates, pastors, and laypersons, and there is a significant emphasis on the last point (which you can tell in the title). Because of this stated aim, the book often falls into apologetic and application and skimps a bit too much (for my liking!) in other areas. Beyond that, the application tends (from my perspective) to be... uncritical and simplistic. For example, he takes the passages about eating blood to be binding on Christians, but does not discuss Paul's frequent discussions against just such a position, and doesn't use the understanding of the ANE context of the understanding of blood to help navigate these waters.

This book has value, and it could be a good discussion starter, but if I were to just buy three books to teach the Law, this wouldn't be one of them.

[Matt Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite teaching at a Seventh Day Adventist seminary, Roy Gane offers insight on how to view the Old Testament Law. Rather than expounding on the 613 laws or on the individual sacrifices, he sees the Torah as an extension of the 10 commandments. I do wish he had spent more time on the application or in different interpretations. But this is meant to be a shallow survey rather than in depth exegesis. I also wish he had touched on Law and gospel especially that present in Lutheran theology. It is lacking quite a bit but is a great starter to drive study.

[Brody Woodard · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I throughly enjoyed reading this book, and there is a lot to take in, it is a heavy read for sure! But, there is a beauty to Dr. Games writing that makes you see the connections with the OT law and Christians living in the 21st century. Enjoyed reading the book and having him as a professor!

[Jonathan Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic introduction that connects the OT Law to a modern context without getting into the minutiae of the law. Progressive Moral Wisdom is a winner idea!

[Payton M. Arnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Academic, and yet readable. Grounded and biblical. Dr. Gane is a great scholar and great writer. Highly recommended for sure.