Study One:
The Law: Then & Now
The Law throughout the Bible
What do the following passages reveal about the Law*?
*Note: “Law” refers to both the Torah (the first five Old Testament books, also known as the Penteteuch) and the sections of instructions and particularly the 10 Commandments at its core. How are these different usages related?
Grace before the Law - Entering Salvation
If humanity was under sin and judgment, was the Law given as the way to be saved?
Sinai Exodus 19:4-6; 20:1-2
Deuteronomy 7:6-11; 9:4-29
The Law is a grace - Continuing in Salvation
If the Law was not given as the way to be saved, what was its function?
Sinai Deuteronomy 4:1-8,32-40; 7:12-16; 28:1-68
Post-Sinai Psalm 119*
*Note: All but a few verses of this Psalm contain 1 of several terms referring to the Law.
The Law & the Christ
If the Old Testament looked forward to the coming of the Christ, what was his relationship with the Law?
Gospels Matthew 5:17-20
The Law* & Christians
*Note: Paul refers to Jews as “under the Law” in contrast to Gentiles (Romans 2:12; 3:19; Galatians 3:23; 4:4). He describes Christians as “not under the Law” (Romans 6:14-15; 7:1-6; 1‑Corinthians 9:20; Galatians 4:21). This being “under the Law” meant not just some part of it but the whole Law (Galatians 5:1-6) and keeping it to the letter (Romans 7:6). The sub-categories of ceremonial and moral laws (although perhaps helpful approximations) are not Biblical categories and cannot be the basis for deciding the place of the Law.
Faith & Grace not Law - Entering Salvation
What of the Christ’s followers?
The Church Romans 3:19-25a*
Galatians 2:15-21*
Note: In these 2 letters Paul speaks of the Law as leading to faith and grace in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-10
Spirit not Law - Continuing in Salvation
If salvation is by faith and grace, is the Law the way to continue in salvation and grow in godliness?
Acts 15*
*Note: The requirements the Council laid on Gentile believers concern areas that would enable Jewish believers to eat and fellowship with them.
Romans 7:13-8:11
Galatians 3:1-5; 5:16-21*
*Note: The whole context of Galatians is not that of becoming saved but of continuing in salvation.
Love and the Law
If the Law is not the means for continuing in salvation and growing in godliness is it irrelevant? What is its ongoing value (beyond leading believers to faith and grace in Christ)?
Romans 13:8-10
Galatians 5:13-15
Conclusions
How then do the following 2 contrasts sum up how the Law functions in relation to faith and grace in Christ?
Choose a section of laws from amongst Exodus 21-23, Leviticus 18-20 and Deuteronomy 12-26. Use these 2 (above) to apply these to life today.
Study Two:
“ You will have no other gods before me.”
(Exodus 20:3 c.f Deut 5:7)
The First Commandment throughout the bible:
What do the following passages reveal about the 1 st Commandment?
Eden : Genesis 1:1
Sinai: Exodus 3:13-14; 12:12
Deuteronomy 6:1-15*
*Note: What makes up the right response to the One and Only God?
Monarchy: Judges 2
1 Kings 11:4
Exile: Daniel 2; 6
Gospels: John 1:1-2,14-18; 8:58-59; 14:6-9; 17:3
The Church: 1 Corinthians 8:5-6
Romans 1:18-25
Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5
How does this fit with the other Commandments? Why is this the 1 st?
The First Commandment and love
How could the 1 st Commandment be rephrased in the positive to express the limitless demands of love?
The First Commandment and our world
How did the 1 st Commandment stand out in the world of its day?
How does it challenge today’s patterns of thinking?
What other challenged patterns would you add to this list?
How do you / your Christian community struggle in this area? Why?
What then will you do to correct this?
Study Three:
“ You will not make for yourself an idol …”
(Exodus 20:4 c.f Deut 5:8)
The Second Commandment throughout the bible:
What do the following passages reveal about the 2 nd Commandment*?
*Note: How is this Commandment distinct from the 1 st?
Eden : Genesis 1:14-19,26
Sinai: Exodus 32:1-6*
*Note that Aaron does not introduce the Golden Calves as new gods but as new access to the same God in the absence of Moses.
Deuteronomy 4:9-19
Monarchy: Joshua 1:4-9
2 Kings 22:1-13
Post-Exile: Nehemiah 8:1-12
Gospels: John 1:1-2,14-18; 14:6-9
The Church: Acts 4:11-12; 17:16-25
Hebrews 1:1-4
1 Timothy 4:6-15; 2 Timothy 3:14-17
How does this fit with the other Commandments? Why is this the 2 nd?
P or O
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An idol |
“YHWH” the Lord |
Are they visible? |
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Can they see? |
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Can they speak? |
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Can they hear? |
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Can they be heard? |
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The Second Commandment and love
How could the 2 nd Commandment be rephrased in the positive to express the limitless demands of love?
The Second Commandment and our world
How did the 2 nd Commandment stand out in the world of its day?
How does it challenge today’s patterns of thinking?
What other challenged patterns would you add to this list?
How do you / your Christian community struggle in this area? Why?
What then will you do to correct this?
Study Four:
“ You will not misuse
the name of the LORD your God,”
(Exodus 20:7 c.f Deut 5:11)
The Third Commandment throughout the bible:
What do the following passages reveal about the 3 rd Commandment*?
*Note: How is a name more than just a label? How does it relate to identity and character? What part does it play in relationships?
Eden : Genesis 3:1-7
Sinai: Exodus 3:13-14; 6:2-8
Leviticus 24:10-23
Monarchy: 1 Samuel 17:45
2 Kings 8:22-30
Jeremiah 7:1-14
Gospels: Matthew 28:18-20
John 14:12-14
Church: Romans 1:5; 2:24; 9:17; 10:13; 15:19
1 Corinthians 1:2,10; 5:4; 6:11
Ephesians 1:21; 5:20; Philippians 2:9;
Colossians 3:17
How does this fit with the other Commandments? Why is this the 3 rd?
The Third Commandment and love
How could the 3 rd Commandment be rephrased in the positive to express the limitless demands of love?
The Third Commandment and our world
How did the 3 rd Commandment stand out in the world of its day?
How does it challenge today’s patterns of thinking?
What other challenged patterns would you add to this list?
How do you / your Christian community struggle in this area? Why?
What then will you do to correct this?
Study Five
“ Remember the Sabbath day
by keeping it holy.”
(Exodus 20:8 c.f Deut 5:12)
The Fourth Commandment throughout the bible:
What do the following passages reveal about the 4 th Commandment?
Earthly Work:
Eden : Genesis 2:1-4,15-17; 3:17-19
Sinai: Exodus 16:22-30
Exodus 31:14-16; 35:2-3*
Note: The Bible does not make our post-industrial revolution distinction between domestic and marketplace work.
Wisdom: Proverbs 6:6-11, 10:4-5,26, 24:30-34,
26:13-16
Gospels: Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-6
The Church: Colossians 2:16-17
Romans 14:1-6
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
Ephesians 4:28
Heavenly Work:
Gospels: John 4:31-38; 5:16-21; 6:25-35
The church: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
Hebrews 4:1-11
How does this fit with the other Commandments? Why is this the 4 th?
The Fourth Commandment and love
How could the 4 th Commandment be rephrased in the positive to express the limitless demands of love?
The Fourth Commandment and our world
How did the 4 th Commandment stand out in the world of its day?
How does it challenge today’s patterns of thinking?
What other challenged patterns would you add to this list?
How do you / your Christian community struggle in this area? Why?
What then will you do to correct this?
Study Six:
“ Honour your father and mother,”
(Exodus 20:12 c.f Deut 5:16)
The Fifth Commandment throughout the bible:
What do the following passages reveal about the 5 th Commandment?
Eden: Genesis 1:27; 2:18-25
Patriachs: Genesis 27:1-33; 46:28-34
Sinai Exodus 21:15,16
Deuteronomy 21:18-21
Monarchy: 1 Samuel 2:12-26
Wisdom: Proverbs for children:
1:8-9; 3:1-2; 6:20-22; 13:20; 20:20; 23:22; 30:17
Proverbs for parents:
22:6,15, 23:13-14, 29:15 etc.
Gospels: Matthew 8:18-22; 10:34-39; 12:46-50
The church: Colossians 3:20-21; Ephesians 3:14-15; 6:1-4
1 Timothy 5:1-8
How does this fit with the other Commandments? Why is this the 4 th?
The Fifth Commandment and love
How could the 5 th Commandment be rephrased in the positive to express the limitless demands of love?
The Fifth Commandment and our world
How did the 5 th Commandment stand out in the world of its day?
How does it challenge today’s patterns of thinking?
What other challenged patterns would you add to this list?
How do you / your Christian community struggle in this area? Why?
What then will you do to correct this?
Study Seven:
“ You will not murder.”
(Exodus 20:13 c.f Deut 5:17)
The Sixth Commandment throughout the bible:
What do the following passages reveal about the 6th Commandment?
Eden : Genesis 1:26-27; 4
Sinai: Exodus 21:12-14*
*Note: How is murder different from killing and capital punishment?
Numbers 35:11-34
Deuteronomy 19:1-13; 20:1-20
Kingship: Joshua 6-7
1 Samuel 11:14-25
Gospels: Matthew 5:21-26; 15:17-20
The Church Ephesians 4:26-27
1 John 3:11-18
The Sixth Commandment and love
How could the 6 th Commandment be rephrased in the positive to express the limitless demands of love?
The Sixth Commandment and our world
How did the 6 th Commandment stand out in the world of its day?
How does it challenge today’s patterns of thinking?
How do you / your Christian community struggle in this area? Why?
What then will you do to correct this?
Study Eight:
“ You will not commit adultery.”
(Exodus 20:14 c.f Deut 5:18)
The Seventh Commandment throughout the bible:
What do the following passages reveal about the 7 th Commandment?
Eden : Genesis 1:27; 2:18-25*
*Note: Sexual immorality is wider than adultery, sexual relations by a married person with someone other than their wife/husband. It is any sexual relaitons outside Eden’s pattern of heterosexual marriage.
Sinai: Leviticus 18; 20:10-21
Numbers 25:1-9
Deuteronomy 22:13-30; 24:1-4
Kingship: 2 Samuel 11:1-5,26-27
Pre-Exile Hosea 1-3
Jeremiah 3:1-11
Exile Ezekiel 16:1-52; 23:1-25
Post-Exile Malachi 2:10-16
Wisdom: Proverbs 5-7
Gospels: Matthew 5:27-32; 19:1-12
The Church: 1 Corinthians 5:9-14; 6:12-20
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
The Seventh Commandment and love
How could the 7 th Commandment be rephrased in the positive to express the limitless demands of love?
The Seventh Commandment and our world
How did the 7 th Commandment stand out in the world of its day?
How does it challenge today’s patterns of thinking?
How do you / your Christian community struggle in this area? Why?
What then will you do to correct this?
Study Nine:
“ You will not steal.”
(Exodus 20:15 c.f Deut 5:19)
The Eighth Commandment throughout the bible:
What do the following passages reveal about the 8 th Commandment?
Eden: Genesis 1:26-31; 2:15
Sinai: Exodus 21:33-22:15
Deuteronomy 19:14; 23:19-20,24-25;
24:14-15,17-22; 25:13-16
Kingship: 1 Kings 21:1-16
Wisdom: Proverbs 10:2; 16:11; 20:10,23
Gospels: Matthew 5:40-41
Luke 19:1-10; 20:45-21:4
The church: 2 Corinthians 9
Ephesians 4:28
James 5:1-6
The Eighth Commandment and love
How could the 8 th Commandment be rephrased in the positive to express the limitless demands of love?
The Eighth Commandment and our world
How did the 8 th Commandment stand out in the world of its day?
How does it challenge today’s patterns of thinking?
How do you / your Christian community struggle in this area? Why?
What then will you do to correct this?
Study Ten:
“ You will not give false testimony
against your neighbour.”
(Exodus 20:16 c.f Deut 5:20)
The Ninth Commandment throughout the bible:
What do the following passages reveal about the 9th Commandment?
Eden : Genesis 3:1-4,8-13
Sinai Exodus 23:1-8
Deuteronomy 19:15-21
Monarchy: 1 Kings 21:8-14
Wisdom: Proverbs 6:12-19; 21:6
Exile: Daniel 6
Gospels: Matthew 5:33-37; 26:59-64
John 5:30-47
The church: Acts 5:1-11
Ephesians 4:25
James 4:11-12
The Ninth Commandment and love
How could the 9 th Commandment be rephrased in the positive to express the limitless demands of love?
The Ninth Commandment and our world
How did the 9 th Commandment stand out in the world of its day?
How does it challenge today’s patterns of thinking?
How do you / your Christian community struggle in this area? Why?
What then will you do to correct this?
Study Eleven:
“ You will not covet, ”
(Exodus 20:17 c.f Deut 5:21)
The Tenth Commandment throughout the bible:
What do the following passages reveal about the 10 th Commandment?
Eden: Genesis 1:28-31; 2:15-16; 3:6
Sinai: Exodus 3:7-9a,16-17
Numbers 13:23-27
Monarchy: 2 Samuel 11-12
1 Kings 21
2 Kings 5:15-25
Gospels: Matthew 6:19-34
Luke 12:13-21; 18:18-25
The church: Ephesians 5:3-5
Philippians 4:10-20
James 4:1-11
How does this fit with the other Commandments? Why is this the 3 rd?
The Tenth Commandment and love
How could the 10 th Commandment be rephrased in the positive to express the limitless demands of love?
The Tenth Commandment and our world
How did the 10 th Commandment stand out in the world of its day?
How does it challenge today’s patterns of thinking?
What other challenged patterns would you add to this list?
How do you / your Christian community struggle in this area? Why?
What then will you do to correct this?