Re: [asa] A question on morals (OT and NT)

Thanks, Murray.

And I think that the notion of "trajectory" is what puts the NT in
both this position of "confirming" and "challenging" the OT. It is the
perennial hermeneutical challenge of the church, as far back as Paul.
Every Christian who looks into this will adopt some model in an effort
to give as much coherence to the data as possible. For me, a
"trajectory model" is most helpful because it is flexible and opens up
discussion.

Pete

On Nov 3, 2009, at 11:47 AM, Murray Hogg wrote:

> Hi Pete,
>
> I like the way you put this; "not a contradiction to be resolved but
> a trajectory to be understood."
>
> All too often I think there can be a tendency to bet bogged down in
> the minutiae of the biblical text and not appreciate that there is,
> indeed, an overarching trajectory to it all.
> In respects of morality, I think the trajectory evidences a move
> from the idea of following an outward moral code (the Law) to the
> idea of following an internal witness (the Spirit). Crudely put, I
> know, but I'm sure I don't need to labour the theological niceties!
>
> I should probably acknowledge, incidentally, that "contradiction"
> wasn't your term. I'll simply remark that I was referring rather
> generally to the tendency to so focus on Scripture as a bunch of
> "data" to be systematised that the *function* of scripture as a
> guide to faith and practice gets lost. I'm not, let me say, against
> the practice of biblical theology - the attempt to systematise the
> teachings of Scripture - but I do think we can get just a bit
> obsessive about the minutiae of it all.
>
> Here's to seeking to understand the trajectory!
>
> Blessings,
> Murray
>
> Pete Enns wrote:
>> Murray,
>> It is both, even within the Sermon on the Mount (although we need
>> not linger there). Jesus is both addressing the use of Israel's
>> civil law by the religious hierarchy (but not limited to them) and
>> he is also abrogating certain laws. A good example is the passage
>> on oaths and vows.
>> But there are bigger issues about what the OT itself assumes and
>> what the NT says. However, although I do not shy away from the
>> notion of contradiction, I did not use that term to describe this
>> phenomenon. It is not a contradiction to be resolved but a
>> trajectory to be understood.
>> Oh, and hi :-)
>
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Received on Tue Nov 3 12:48:11 2009