SOUND OF G R A C E … it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace … Hebrews 13:9 In This Issue The Uniqueness and Importance of The Uniqueness and Importance of the Ten the Ten Commandments Commandments 1 John G. Reisinger John G. Reisinger Theological Method II: Biblical & Systematic Nearly all theologians agree that the Ten Commandments are both unique and 1 important. Theologians disagree, however, as to why they are important. Dis- Steve West agreement on such a critical subject demonstrates the wide range of presupposi- The Case of Naaman- tions upon which theologians build their views. Therefore, when we argue at the Part VIII 3 level of details or particulars, we approach the problem at the wrong level and Dr. Philip W. McMillin waste time. Discussions on the subject of law and grace generally are a waste of time because we have failed in two aspects of argumentation: (1) we have not identifi ed the foundations from which we are operating, and (2) we have not established these foundations biblically. To argue theology is not necessarily the same thing as to discuss Scripture. We must guard against allowing logic and philosophy to replace textual exegesis in our theological discussions. The laws of logic help us check our exegesis, but they do not substitute for it. With this admonition in mind, let us set forth our reasons for stating that the Ten Commandments are both unique and important. First, we will examine the uniqueness of the Ten Commandments. 1. The Ten Commandments are not just “ten” commandments, put together randomly; they Reisinger—Continued on page 2 Theological Method II: Biblical & Systematic Steve West This second article on theological method will attempt to branch will result in many failures to understand a whole deal more particularly with some components of the actual variety of texts and biblical concepts. method of theology. It takes the doing of some theology, The fi rst question to answer is, “What does the term bibli- relying on the Bible, to gain confi dence that the doing of cal theology mean?” The following cluster of defi nitions theology is something which can actually be done with should make the nature and task of the discipline clear: proper boundaries and ground rules. The developing canon reveals a biblical theology which is capable of being rigor- 1. “The task of biblical theology is to present the teaching ously systematized. A system of theology is revealed in the of the Bible about God and his relations to the world in a pages of the Bible. As a result, the theologian should seek way that lets the biblical texts set the agenda.”2 to “integrate biblical theology and systematic theology on 1 the basis of Scripture’s own intrasystematic categories.” 2 Brian Rosner, “Biblical Theology,” in New Dictionary of Systematics and “biblical theology” are not identical, but Biblical Theology, ed. T. Desmond Alexander, Brian Rosner, D. they are mutually and organically related. Losing either A. Carson, Graeme Goldsworthy (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 5. 1 Horton, Covenant and Eschatology: The Divine Drama (Lou- West—Continued on page 5 isville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), 1. Page 2 May 2010 Issue 167 Reisinger—Continued from page 1 The reader may be able to add to this Sound of Grace is a publication of Sovereign Grace New Covenant Ministries, a tax exempt are the Ten Commandments. They are list, but the four points listed above 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions to Sound of unique in that they form a unit. They (and the biblical basis for those points) Grace are deductible under section 170 of the belong together as one specifi c and provide adequate support for the the- Code. very special document. sis that the Ten Commandments are Sound of Grace is published 10 times a year. unique. The subscription price is $10.00 per year. This 2. They are the only commandments is a paper unashamedly committed to the truth of God’s sovereign grace and New Covenant written with the fi nger of God. And he When we examine the importance of Theology. We invite all who love these same gave unto Moses, when he had made the Ten Commandments, we do not truths to pray for us and help us fi nancially. an end of communing with him upon have specifi c texts to offer as support. We do not take any paid advertising. Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony,1 We can only state why we believe The use of an article by a particular person is tables of stone, written with the fi n- they are important. For instance, we not an endorsement of all that person believes, but it merely means that we thought that a par- ger of God. (Exod. 31:18, emphasis can be certain that the Ten Command- ticular article was worthy of printing. 2 ments were the only laws put into the added). Sound of Grace Board: John G. Reisinger, ark of the covenant, but we cannot be 3. They are the only commandments John Thorhauer, Bob VanWingerden and Ja- dogmatic as to why God instructed cob Moseley. put into the ark of the covenant. And Moses to place those particular ten, Editor: John G. Reisinger; Phone: (585)396- thou shalt put into the ark the testi- of all the commandments God gave, 3385; e-mail: [email protected]. mony [Ten Commandments] which I in the ark of the covenant. We have Webmaster: Maurice Bergeron: shall give thee (Exod. 25:16, emphasis [email protected] evidence from Deuteronomy 31:24-26 added). General Manager: Jacob Moseley: that God commanded Moses to record [email protected] 4. The Ten Commandments are the all the commandments of God, along Send all orders and all subscriptions to: Sound only commandments that are the with the promised blessings and curs- of Grace, 5317 Wye Creek Drive, Frederick, terms of a covenant. And the LORD es, in a book and to place that book MD 21703-6938 – Phone 800-376-4146 or 301-473-8781 Fax 240-206-0373. Visit the said unto Moses, Write thou these beside the ark of the covenant. This bookstore: http://www.newcovenantmedia.com words: for after the tenor of these evidence adds further strength to the Address all editorial material and questions words I have made a covenant with claim that the Ten Commandments to: John G. Reisinger, Sound of Grace, 3302 thee and with Israel. And he was there were different, for some reason, from County Road 16, Canandaigua, NY 14424- 2441. with the LORD forty days and forty the entirety of the law, but it fails to Visit the Sound of Grace Web Page at: http:// nights; he did neither eat bread, nor inform us why. www.soundofgrace.com drink water. And he wrote upon the If someone were to ask me, “What do Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken tables the words of the covenant, the from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL you think is the primary or singular ten commandments (Exod. 34:27, 28). VERSION® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by importance of the Ten Command- International Bible Society. Used by Permis- To understand either the uniqueness ments,” I would answer, “The fact sion. All rights reserved. or importance of the Ten Command- that they were the covenant terms that Scripture quotations marked “NKJV” are taken ments, we must learn to think and to from the New King James Version. Copyright © established Israel’s special national speak of them as a covenant docu- 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by Permis- relationship with God.” The factual- sion. All rights reserved. ment. ity of the Ten Commandments as the Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from 1 In this portion of Scripture, we fi nd terms of a covenant document gains The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a divi- two synonyms for the Ten Command- signifi cance when we realize that the sion of Good News Publishers. Used by per- ments: “the tables of the testimony” and writers of Scripture give precedence mission. All rights reserved. “the testimony.” These are two of the six to two covenants. The terms of the Contributions synonyms used in Scripture for the Ten Ten Commandments are similar to Orders Commandments. The authors of the Old all the other terms of all the other VISA or MasterCard Testament use the phrase, the Ten Com- covenants referred to in Scripture mandments, three times. The authors of If you wish to make a tax-deductible contribu- in that they are terms, but that is not tion to Sound of Grace, please mail a check to: the New Testament do not use it at all. We Sound of Grace, 5317 Wye Creek Drive, Fred- will return to this point later to discuss a full description of them. The Ten erick, MD 21703-6938. its signifi cance. For a discussion of all Commandments gain signifi cance in Please check the mailing label to fi nd the the biblical terms for the Ten Command- that they are terms of one of the two expiration of your subscription. Please send ments, see my Tablets of Stone and the major (and distinctive) covenants payment if you want your subscription to con- History of Redemption, published in 2004 tinue—$10.00 for ten issues. If you are unable in Scripture: the old covenant and to subscribe at this time, please call or drop a by New Covenant Media. the new covenant that replaces it. In note in the mail and we will be glad to continue 2 All Scripture quotations are from the sending Sound of Grace free of charge.