Book Review: Paul and the Law

What does the Apostle Paul do with the Old Testament (OT) laws? If you ask the Lutherans, they will say Paul held that Christ abolished the law and that the law is the antithesis of the gospel. In line with this is Paul’s quote that “the law came in to increase the trespass” (Rom 5:20). Therefore the Christian does not think of the OT laws at all concerning their Christian life because it only condemns us, whereas the gospel saves us. This is the famous Lutheran Law/Gospel distinction. There are others who hold that, while the law does not save in any way, it does serve to instruct Christians in their life following Christ. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:19 “for neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God,” so we are not under the old covenant in its entirety, but we are still to keep the moral commandments as Christians for they teach us of God’s character and His will for our conduct as His followers. Still others would take their thinking further, asserting that we must continue to follow all the law (minus the sacrifices) all the way down to the food laws, for, as Paul says, “the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Rom 7:12, ESV).

As we can see, each position seems to support itself with Paul, yet they are different. What then are we to make of Paul’s relation to the laws? He seems to contradict himself! But we know that no Scripture contradicts itself, so even though this issue is clearly complex and seemingly paradoxical, there must be a way forward. 

Brian S. Rosner, New Testament professor at Sydney College, offers an interesting, well-balanced view that I believe helps us see Paul’s thoughts clearly concerning the law and our relationship with it as New Covenant Christians.  He offers three “moves” that Paul makes: 1) Repudiation; 2) Replacement; and 3) Reappropriation (pg. 39-40). By Repudiation he means that we are not under the law as a covenant anymore, for Christ fulfilled the old covenant and inaugurated the new covenant. Thus the old laws do not bind us covenantally. By Replacement he means what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:21 that we not under the old law, but now “under the law of Christ” that has been set down through apostolic instruction. So we are not to follow them as our covenantal guide in life, but to follow the apostle’s teachings now. And by Reappropriation, he explains that Paul sees the old laws as serving largely a new purpose for Christians, primarily as prophecy and as ethics. The old laws point forward toward the work of Christ, serving as prophecy for us to see how Christ fulfilled the law in ways that no other human ever could. As ethics, we are still instructed by the old laws in the character of God and thus the character we must pursue as His followers. We can give a helpful summary by saying “There is a sense in which the Law as Mosaic Covenant is abolished, but the Law as Scripture has ongoing value for Christians” (pg. 30). 

Reading through Paul’s letters can be confusing when studying his thoughts on the Law in its relationship to the Gospel, but I hope these three points offer a bit of clarity and a foundation for us as we think through the issue. As we begin to preach through Paul’s letter to the Colossians and as we go through Paul’s letter to the Galatians in our Sunday School class, I pray these three points help spark you to think more deeply about these issues. As always, if you want to talk more about this, then don’t hesitate to reach out and let’s talk!

Joshua P. Bankston