The First Testament gives my life formation.
Genesis to Malachi is relevant for all times, people, places, & cultures.
Why is The First Testament (Old Testament) so important?
Watch our Truth in Two to find out! [Full Text below]
If Jesus utilized the First Testament as His source of instruction, so should Christians.
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Picture Credit: Luke Renoe, Snappy Goat, Scop.io
FULL TEXT
Over my years of teaching, people have asked me “Why do you define yourself as a Hebraic-Christian thinker?” The answer? My views of life arise out of the distinctive teachings of The First Testament. Here is a sampling of life standards taken directly from Leviticus 19. I believe in “helping others”, “private property” rights, “equity” in commerce, proper treatment of the “disadvantaged”, courtroom “justice”, careful “communication”, and commitment to love my “neighbor.”
This is a thumbnail sketch from just one chapter of First Testament teaching. The great questions of life begin to be answered by digging into the books of Genesis through Malachi. And lest you think I’m leaving out Jesus or The Second Testament not only did Jesus quote from Leviticus when He said to “love your neighbor” but He is the embodiment of First Testament teaching according to Matthew 5.
Reflect on various laws in Deuteronomy 24, for example. It is obvious that believers are to embody God’s protection. Of first importance is the weaker party in any relationship—women (in a patriarchal society), the poor, hired workers, orphans, widows, and the “outsider” from another country.
These laws were unlike other laws in the ancient world. In other countries, material possessions were equal to human life. Privilege was protected. But Deuteronomy 24 is distinctive. Other ancient cultures ruled by despotic fiat, treating people as servants, minions of The State.
On the other hand, God’s care for humanity and each individual human person is attested to in the earliest of Hebraic-Christian documents, what we know as the Mosaic law code. Only God can give human rights. It is the responsibility of a nation-state, legislative body, and law office to protect those human rights. And I believe the Hebraic-Christian view of life is the distinctive basis for these laws.
For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, President of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.