How do Old Testament laws apply to Christians?
Study covenant, fulfillment, moral teaching, ceremonial law, civil law, and Christian disagreement.
Short answer
Christians read Old Testament law through Christ and the new covenant. The law reveals God's character and wisdom, but the Mosaic covenant is not applied to Christians as a flat legal code. The hard work is discerning fulfillment, continuity, and discontinuity.
Key takeaways
- The Old Testament remains Scripture for Christians.
- The Mosaic covenant is fulfilled in Christ and cannot simply be pasted onto the church.
- Different traditions divide moral, ceremonial, and civil law differently.
Key Bible passages
- Matthew 5:17-20
- Acts 15:19-21
- Galatians 3:24-25
- Hebrews 8:13
How to study this question
Read the paragraph before and after the proof text before deciding what the verse means.
Compare the clearest passages first, then bring harder passages into the discussion.
Notice where major Christian traditions agree before weighing the disputed parts.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not build the whole answer from one isolated phrase.
- Do not use a tradition's slogan as a substitute for reading the passage.
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