Celebrating The Law?: Rethinking Old Testament Ethics

by Hetty Lalleman-de Winkel

Christians often see the Old Testament law as out of date and irrelevant now that Christ has come. Lalleman rejects this view and makes the case for the ongoing importance of the Law in the Christian life something to celebrate. Most helpfully, Lalleman sets out a model for interpretating Old Testament laws in the context of the whole of the Bible. She interacts with the scholarly literature on the subject in a very readable way and provides some basic biblical principles for integrating the whole of God's word in our lives. Lalleman then fleshes out these principles by applying them to three difficult topics in Old Testament food laws, the cancellation of debts, and warfare. At the heart of this celebration of the law, she contends, is the wholeness, holiness, and integrity of God himself. • Shows how God calls us to be his distinctive people displaying the same wholeness, holiness, and integrity as he himself has. • Rethinks Old Testament ethics using both creation and covenant as a framework. • Emphasizes the relationship between the individual and the community. Up-to-date scholarship in an accessible form.

151 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2004

Reviews

[Pat Semanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had read this in undergrad, at a time when I had a sparse understanding of the significance of the law and its relationship to the rest of the Scriptures and even the church today. The book is far far far from comprehensive, but that might be its advantage because it makes it more accessible (hence why I wish I had read it in undergrad). Lalleman also interacts well with some other great authors, particularly leaning on (and at one point challenging) Chris Wright's OT ethics. So she points to places for further reading.

If I ever wind up in college ministry I would definitely consider working through this book with some students. As it is, I would also consider doing it with some older, more engaged high schoolers.

[Juan Firex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Severo libro, cambió mi forma de ver el AT y aprendí sobre la propuesta de los reformadores sobre la ley veterotestamentaria, quiero leermelo de nuevo.