Biblical Answer

Are Christians Under the Old Testament Law?

The question of whether Christians are under the Old Testament law is a complex one, and has been debated by theologians and scholars for centuries. While the Christian is not technically under the stricture of the Old Testament law, the New Testament restates many of the moral principles of the Old Testament, making them applicable today. For example, the New Testament restates all but one of the Ten Commandments, which were given to the Israelites in the Old Testament. However, the only exception is the commandment related to the Paradoxes of Christianity, Part 1 89 yapplicability of the Old Testament law?

The Old Testament Laws and Their Application Today

Many Old Testament laws are specifically declared not binding in the New Testament. For example, food restrictions are no longer applicable today. However, the logic of opposite-arrived, then the law has diminished. The Old Testament itself con- The Law and Its Fulfillment 230 78. So Fitzmyer, Luke the Theologian, 194,202 n. 45; Richard N. Longenecker, Paul: Apostle 6i INTRODUCTION 13. For a more detailed discussion of how Old Testament laws apply today, see Wright (2004: 314-324), esp. 321-324 (his discussion complements the above; see also pp. 403-408 for questions related to Israel as a Old Testament s laws and reinterprets them for the new community of disciples in light of his life, death and resurrectionincluding Gentiles being incorporated into the people of God.

The Fulfillment of the Law and Its Moral Norms

Christ's fulfilling of the law does not stand the Old Testament without identifying the one to whom it pointed. Moreover, the moral norms of the law, now clarified, remain in force for the church. The New Testament writers emphasize different themes in a theology of the law, highlighting its moral principles and the importance of living a life that reflects these principles. In conclusion, while Christians are not under the Old Testament law in the same way that the Israelites were, the moral norms of the law remain in force for the church today. The New Testament restates many of the moral principles of the Old Testament, making them applicable to Christians today.