Mosaic Civil Law, Part 3

Two ends of understanding these laws:

1. Historic Reformed Two Kingdoms view

• uses the three-fold division of the law
• the civil laws of Moses are abrogated, their general equity are of moral use (i.e. Deut. 22:8)
• natural law is a helpful test case

2. Theonomy / Christian Reconstructionism

• Mosaic civil laws and punishments are more strictly still binding
• The civil laws of Moses are an ancient application of God's perfect magisterial law for all nations
• God doesn't change so his standards don't change

Criticism for both sides:

• We must be willing to go where the law of God leads
• Israel is a type of the church
• Different punishments due to holiness (Deut. 22:1 & Lev. 21:9)
• Church and state overlap in Israel
• Foreigner & Sojourners (Ex. 12:43-49; Lev. 17:10)
• The issue of polygamy