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The Abolishment and Fulfillment of the Law in the New Testament: the Try of a Harmonic Reading of the New Testament Teachings Regarding the Law

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Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Master's Theses Graduate Research 2018 The Abolishment and Fulfillment of the Law in the New Testament: The Try of a Harmonic Reading of the New Testament Teachings Regarding the Law David Hans Bernhard Harms Andrews University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Harms, David Hans Bernhard, "The Abolishment and Fulfillment of the Law in the New estament:T The Try of a Harmonic Reading of the New Testament Teachings Regarding the Law" (2018). Master's Theses. 122. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/theses/122 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT THE ABOLISHMENT AND FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: THE TRY OF A HARMONIC READING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHINGS REGARDING THE LAW by David Hans Bernhard Harms Adviser: Laurențiu F. Moț ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE RESEARCH Thesis Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE ABOLISHMENT AND FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: THE TRY OF A HARMONIC READING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHINGS REGARDING THE LAW Name of the researcher: David Hans Bernhard Harms Name and degree of faculty adviser: Laurențiu F. Moț, PhD Date completed: April 2018 Problem A central issue in the covenant theology is the change in the law between the OT and the NT. Interpretations vary between the widely spread belief that the entire law has been abolished, up to the belief that the Jewish festivals should still be an obligation for each follower of Christ. The result of investigations regarding the changes in the law depends mainly on underlying presuppositions and different hermeneutical approaches. Method This study is based on three basic principles: (a) the acceptance of Christ as the Lawgiver and central Teacher of the law in the OT and the NT; (b) the belief in the inner harmony of the Bible; and (c) the Bible explains itself, moving from simple to complex. These principles are systematically applied on the Biblical books in regard to their approximate time in history. In doing so, the main chapter is divided into three sections. The first section investigates the fulfillment of the law: beginning with Christ’s utterances, followed by His disciples’ approach and finally, by James’s interpretation. The principles drawn from this section form the foundation for the following sections. The second section carefully examines Paul’s understanding of the fulfillment of the law. The third section deals with the fulfillment in Hebrews, which includes a brief connection between the principles of fulfillment and the covenant theology. The most noteworthy scholarly approaches will partially be discussed in the footnotes when fundamental issues in critical passages are addressed. Results Since the ascension of Christ, the fulfillment of law has been discussed. While the apostles’ counsel gained unity in their understanding, the latter church failed to do so. The variety of approaches increased with a growing number of presuppositions and hermeneutical approaches. This study indicates that a major reason for many contradictions is the neglect of the Sola Scriptura principles of inner harmony and interpretation while the consequent application of such reveals a harmonious NT teaching of the law’s fulfillment. Conclusions This study excavated the three basic principles of the law’s fulfillment in the NT: First, the Bible differentiates the eternal law of God from the temporal, Mosaic law. Second, fulfillment is not equal to removal, but an increase of the prior standards. Third, fulfillment encloses a shift from earthly to heavenly, from literal to spiritual. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE ABOLISHMENT AND FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: THE TRY OF A HARMONIC READING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHINGS REGARDING THE LAW A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts by David Hans Bernhard Harms 2018 © Copyright by David Hans Bernhard Harms 2017 All Rights Reserved THE ABOLISHMENT AND FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: THE TRY OF A HARMONIC READING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHINGS REGARDING THE LAW A thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts by David Hans Bernhard Harms APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: ________________________________ Laurențiu F. Moț, Ph.D. Adviser ________________________________ ___________________________ Zoltán Szallós-Farkas, Ph.D. Date approved TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................... v ACKNOWLEGDMENTS .................................................................................... vi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 Topic .................................................................................................... 1 Problem ............................................................................................... 2 Purpose ................................................................................................ 3 Limitations ........................................................................................... 4 Presuppositions .................................................................................... 5 Methodology ....................................................................................... 6 Keywords ............................................................................................. 7 The Word ‘To Abolish’ in the New Testament ............................. 7 The Word ‘To Fulfill’ in the New Testament ............................... 8 2. ABOLISHMENT AND FULFILLMENT IN THE GOSPELS, ACTS, AND JAMES ................................................................................ 9 Jesus’ Teachings About the Law in the Gospels ................................. 9 Fulfillment and Abolishment cannot mean the same .................... 9 Development as one Form of Fulfillment ..................................... 11 Fulfillment as Correction of Misunderstandings ........................... 13 The Foundation of the Entire Law of God is Love ....................... 16 Christ’s Earthly Parents were People of the Law .......................... 18 The Law of Moses in Contradiction to the Truth and Grace in Christ ................................................................................... 19 Circumcision as Transgression of the Sabbath .............................. 22 Jesus Disregards the Law .............................................................. 23 The Early Church’s Understanding of the Law in Acts ...................... 25 Elders and Scribes did not keep the Law....................................... 25 The Council of Jerusalem Rejected Parts of the Moral Law ......... 27 James on Fulfillment and Abolishment of the Law ............................ 32 3. PAUL’S PERSPECTIVE ON ABOLISHMENT AND FULFILLMENT 36 In Paul’s Letter to the Romans ............................................................ 36 Foundations for the Interpretation of Paul’s Thoughts ................. 36 Basic Principle – from Outward to Inward Laws .......................... 37 Every Human was Condemned by the Law .................................. 38 Law brings Wrath – No Law, No Transgression ........................... 40 The Law and its Consequences Existed since Adam .................... 41 No more under the Law ................................................................. 42 The Law of the Flesh vs the Law of the Spirit .............................. 43 Israel could not Obtain the Law .................................................... 50 Israelites Wrong Zeal for the Law Corrected ................................ 52 Loving One Another Fulfills the Law ........................................... 58 iii In Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians .............................................. 60 Spiritual Fulfillment of the Law. ................................................... 60 The Strength of Sin is the Law ...................................................... 62 In Paul’s Letter to the Galatians .......................................................... 63 Teachers of a False Gospel and Misunderstood Law .................... 63 Some Galatians Fell Back Under the Law .................................... 67 The Abolished, Temporal Law ...................................................... 73 The Mosaic Law as an Element of the World ............................... 76 The Bondmaid and the Freewoman. .............................................. 80 Under the Spirit and not Under the Law ....................................... 81 Spirit versus Flesh Regarding the Fulfillment of the Law. ........... 87 In Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians ......................................................... 88 Lawful Separation Between Heathen and Jews Fulfilled .............. 88 In Paul’s First Letter to Timothy ......................................................... 92 End of the Law – No Separation Between Law and Lawgiver ..... 92 The Law is Good if it is used Lawfully ........................................
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