Writings of ancient Israel held sacred by Jews and Christians.
35
votes
9answers
1k views
Who saved people before ~33AD?
The exact date isn't important but at some point about 2000 years ago Christ died on a cross. Since that point Christians everywhere have put their faith in Him. He claimed to be the Way, the Truth ...
19
votes
3answers
763 views
To what extent does the Law of Moses still apply?
Matthew 5:17-18 (KJV)
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot ...
12
votes
1answer
312 views
What is the origin of the moral-civil-ceremonial distinction of the Old Testament law?
This distinction is often called tripartite division of the law.
I ran across this series of blog posts:
http://maelandcindy.blogspot.com/2008/06/is-mosaic-law-tripartite.html
...
2
votes
1answer
223 views
How many laws from Old Testament are still valid in New Testament? [duplicate]
I don't know this question is within the scope or not.
Its straightforward. How many of the Laws in OT can be transported to NT and usable?
These are some of the OT laws which are no longer useful ...
3
votes
1answer
112 views
What is the biblical support for the moral-civil-ceremonial distinction of Old Testament laws?
I just asked this question looking for where this view point came from and when it was made popular.
Ceremonial Law: This type of law relates to Israel's worship. (Lev 1:1-13) The laws pointed ...
1
vote
0answers
22 views
Where did the moral-civil-ceremonial distinction of Old Testament laws come from and when was it popularized? [duplicate]
When answering this question: How many laws from Old Testament are still valid in New Testament? I was reminded that my answer is not Biblically derived in making the trinary distinction of Old ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Did God REALLY want to destroy the people of Israel?
When Moses led the people of Israel through the desert, there were two interesting occasions when God wanted to destroy the people of Israel and start over. (There may be more occasions that I don't ...
7
votes
3answers
577 views
How was the Old Testament compiled?
While this question is similar to this question, I'm certain the answer will be very different, and far more complex....
How was the Old Testament compiled?
4
votes
1answer
101 views
How does the Protestant OT canon differ from the Jewish scriptures? [duplicate]
Is the OT canon currently accepted by Protestants the same as the Jewish scriptures? If not, where and how do they differ?
11
votes
2answers
229 views
When was the OT canon as used by Protestants finalized?
At what date (and/or event) was the Old Testament canon currently recognized by most Protestants finalized? What is the earliest occurrence we have of it being referenced in it's current form and who ...
7
votes
4answers
931 views
Why did God create a new covenant?
Why did God create a new covenant? It seems as if he had a covenant set in place in the Old Testament and provided a means for Israel to follow the covenant and offer sacrifices to atone for their ...
5
votes
1answer
113 views
Did the ancient Hebrews believe that blood had unique spiritual properties?
I seem to recall learning at some point during an Old Testament study that they did, and that the belief explained things like the significance of the blood that was part of the animal offerings ...
3
votes
1answer
47 views
What are the natures of the different “priesthoods” mentioned in the old testament
In the old testament, there are three (maybe more?) references to a priesthood.
Genesis 14:18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (Now he was the priest of the Most High God.) 19 ...
19
votes
7answers
279 views
Who was Melchizedek
Melchizedek ("King of Justice" in Hebrew) is mentioned in Genesis 14 as receiving the dime from Abraham, and breaking bread with him:
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: ...
13
votes
1answer
344 views
Who, and what, are the “chosen people”?
According to Deuteronomy 7:6, the Israelites are called the "chosen people". Who in fact are the chosen people, and does this include Christians?
What sets the chosen people apart, are there special ...
13
votes
8answers
3k views
Does the New Testament override the Old Testament?
Throughout the Old Testament there have been many laws laid down by the Lord, that are perhaps more harsh then we, as Christians, follow today. Many times in the New Testament it has been found to ...
8
votes
3answers
710 views
How does the Snake in the Desert foreshadow the coming of Jesus?
In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus referenced the story of the snake in the desert and indicated that it foreshadowed Himself. How exactly does this story foreshadow Jesus?
And as Moses ...
5
votes
4answers
3k views
Was the marriage between Abraham and Sarah incestuous?
In the comments to this answer to the question of why Abraham lied to Pharaoh about his relationship with Sarah, the following question which I am about to pose, appeared:
Was the marriage between ...
7
votes
3answers
123 views
According the infallibility of scripture, do ancient near east laws (ANE laws) really explain the derivation of the laws of Moses?
In the last 100 years, archaeology has discovered many ancient bodies of law including Sumerian, Babylonian, Hittite, Assyrian and Canaanite ancient laws. This has caused a lot of significant hoopla ...
7
votes
1answer
187 views
Were there provisions for salvation for non-Hebrews in the OT?
One of the significant points of Jesus ministry and the evangelism done by the early apostles seems to be their going to "gentile" nations and preaching that they too were recipients of God's plan of ...
3
votes
3answers
126 views
Do the people God sends to challenge His people (for His Glory) have salvation?
Romans 9:17
17 In the Scriptures God says to Pharaoh: “I made you king so that you
could do this for me. I wanted to show my power through you. I wanted
my name to be announced throughout ...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
Why did Abraham lie to Pharaoh about Sarah being his sister in Gen 12?
It says that Abraham feared for his life (Gen 12:12). Does this mean Abraham didn't trust God in spite of the NT view that Abraham was a man of faith (Heb 11:8-12, Gal 3:9)?
Why is the repeated ...
10
votes
2answers
76 views
To what extent did God establish a law prior to the Mosaic law?
Genesis 4 has always bothered me. The story of God accepting Able's sacrifice and not Cain's has led me to wonder: How did they even know to sacrifice? Was this practice started by Adam? Or did God ...
5
votes
1answer
91 views
Did Jesus consider OT events to be literal history?
Did Jesus consider the historic references in the OT to be literal in the sense that people and events where historical as recorded or did he view them as symbolic/figurative or did he pick and ...
5
votes
2answers
206 views
How to tell if an old testament character prefigured Mary
I was at a Catechetical training seminar in my parish and the presenter on topic of the creed when touching on the Blessed Virgin Mary said that lots and lots of characters prefigure Mary in the old ...
4
votes
2answers
147 views
Can the God of the Old Testament be seen as a consistent moral law giver?
There seems to be instances when God tolerates sin, since it is an improvement over the cultural conditions of the time. For instance, the laws regarding the treatment of slaves some have argued were ...
4
votes
3answers
3k views
How old is the Old Testament?
How old is the Old Testament and, like the New Testament, are there multiple versions (i.e. - according to Matthew, Mark, Luke & John)?
3
votes
1answer
137 views
Is the Christian Old Testament the Jewish Bible?
Is the Christian old testament comprised of exactly the same books that are in the Jewish Bible (I think labelled Tanakh)? Are there any differences between the Christian old testament and the Jewish ...
3
votes
2answers
144 views
What is the Old Testament basis for the position that God is a God of love, compassion, and mercy?
Love, compassion and mercy are typically associated with the God of the New Testament, while the God of the Old Testament is typically associated with judgment and vengeance. However, the Bible also ...
2
votes
6answers
206 views
Is it a sin or forbidden to follow any of the parts of the Law of Moses?
In John 7:53-8:11, Jesus condemns fulfilling the Law of Moses when it requires that a crowd stone an adulteress to death. This seems to imply (if these passages are authentic, which is in question) ...
1
vote
0answers
127 views
If Abraham really believed in God, why did he lie and let Pharaoh take Sarah? Why didn't God protect him? [closed]
I just read the Abraham story. Given he was a friend of God I'm amazed that he needed to be so bad and let Sarah be taken by Pharaoh.
-1
votes
1answer
207 views
Did the Jews use icons and images to help them worship as Catholics or Orthodox worshipper do?
I understand that some worshippers use icons to 'lift up their minds from earthly things to the heavenly things'? I am not interested about those using them as stage-props for a play (in comparison), ...
