Page 16 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook

When the term “Law” is used in the Bible and especially in the New Testament it is necessary to
determine from the context of the passage exactly what is referred to, e.g., “Law” may refer to:
 The Torah or Pentateuch
 The Mosaic Law (Exodus 19—Leviticus—Numbers 10)
 Law as a principle or rule

The Pentateuch is critically important because it introduces us to:
• God himself
• The Beginning of the world and man
• Basically theological concepts like
– Sin
– Salvation
– Sanctification
• What God requires for the right relationship to Him
• God’s redemptive purpose in human history
• God’s provision of a nation through which he would bring Christ into the world as Savior.

In other words, the Pentateuch creates a framework which provides us with some understanding of who
God is, who we are, why God created us, and where to find meaning and purpose in life.

Each of the five books of the Pentateuch will be briefly reviewed for its content and contribution to our
understanding of God and man. Moses is generally acknowledged as the author/complier of the
Pentateuch.
iv

5
Figure 1.1.2
THE PENTATEUCH
(code of the Jewish Nation)
BOOK OF:
4000+BC GENESIS Beginnings Choosing of Jewish
Nation.
1450 BC EXODUS Miracles/Deliverance Redemption of Jewish
Nation
LEVITICUS Priesthood/ Sacrifices Worship/sanctification
of the Jewish Nation.
NUMBERS Testing/Disobedience Disciplining and
Directing the Jewish
Nation
1406 BC DEUTERONOMY Instruction/promises Teaching of Jewish
Nation

5 Figure 1.1.5 shows the probable dates books, the meanings and summarized theme. The figure was taken Denis J.
Mock Denis J Mock, Old Testament Survey: Bible Training Center for Pastors (Atlanta, GA: International Bible
society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible publishers. 1989)p. 32.
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