Understanding “The Law” in the Bible Like Its Writers Did
Our series on “The Law” in the Bible starts today with a look at understanding what the Bible means when it references “the Law.”
We’ll look at this topic in two videos. In this video (part 1), we’re going to look at:
- The different ways Biblical writers use the term “the law.”
- The four primary concepts behind the phrase.
- How these ideas relate to Hebrew culture at different points in time.
Letting Scripture Lead the Way
It’s easy to take what we know about an idea – such as the law in the Bible and apply it to all instances of that word or idea.
This approach can easily lead us into reading the Bible through a lens we brought to the reading, rather than letting the Bible teach us.
Understanding these the different concepts behind the “law in the Bible” will help you avoid unintentionally putting constraints around the Word as you read and process.
How to Apply What We Learn
At the end of this video, we’ll have a full picture of Jewish cultural concepts around the Law. We’ll understand what is so central about these ideas, and how they have impacted dozens of themes, stories, and characters in the Bible.
The Big Ideas and Helpful Highlights of The Law in the Bible
Four Concepts Behind “The Law” in the Bible
1) The idea of guidance, teaching, instruction
Represents the reality that God gave the Hebrew people guidance about how to live rightly – as a part of their existence of God’s chosen people
2) Reference to specific law or bodies of the Law
Most are in the pentateuch – e.g. Mosaic Law
3) Reference to a specific portion of the Hebrew scripture / TANAKH / OT
“The 5 books of Moses” aka the Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy
4) Referencing an era for the Hebrews, between creation and Jesus
Paul’s way of referencing the Law in his letters are a great example
How This Helps You Read the Bible Better
With an understanding of these concepts – and how they’re distinguished from one another – we can look at the law in the Bible and explore what possible meanings might be applied in different scriptures
Looking at these references between NT & OT writers can help us get a bigger sense of what the Bible is trying to communicate. Asking questions about what these writers might intend in a specific context – and then digging further – is a fun way to explore the Word
How to Learn Even More as You Read
You can learn practices designed to help you dig into passages from different angles with my FREE Guide “5 Practices for Engaging Bible Study.” Sign up for your download below!
You can also check out these other great resources about the Law:
The Law from The Bible Project
How to Read the Bible: The Law from The Bible Project