Paul saw the ten commandments as part of the "ministry of death."

[ResidentAlien]

As evidence of this, see 2 Corinthians 3:7-8, "But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?"

So how do we know he was talking about the ten commandments? Some people have speculated that more than just the ten commandments was written on the stone tablets. I'm not concerned with that here; but there is evidence that what Paul was talking about in the above passage was the ten commandments. Paul is referring to an Old Testament passage, Exodus 34:27-30, "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.' So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him."

It's easy to see that Paul was making reference to this passage in Exodus which clearly states that the ten commandments were part of it. Paul refers to this as "the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones."

 

[vineandfigtree]

You're right, Paul is certainly referencing the ten commandments in 2 Corinthians. I would also posit that it is shorthand for all of God's Law. Paul mentions in the latter part of the chapter about "Moses being read" in connection with the covenant. Also, in Joshua 8:31-35, Joshua builds an alter of stones and writes the Law of Moses on them.

 

[Everlasting-Grace]

It is the ministry iof death

cursed is the one who does not obey every word.

Break one command your guilty f the whole law

the penalty of sin is death

the ten commands were the only commands written in stone

 

[seekingthemindofChrist]

This same Paul said this to new testament Christians:

Ephesians 6:1-3

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."

Was Paul seeking to bring death upon Christians here or was he seeking to make them beneficiaries of a promise instead?

 

[SpeakTruth101]

As evidence of this, see 2 Corinthians 3:7-8, "But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?"

So how do we know he was talking about the ten commandments? Some people have speculated that more than just the ten commandments was written on the stone tablets. I'm not concerned with that here; but there is evidence that what Paul was talking about in the above passage was the ten commandments. Paul is referring to an Old Testament passage, Exodus 34:27-30, "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.' So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him."

It's easy to see that Paul was making reference to this passage in Exodus which clearly states that the ten commandments were part of it. Paul refers to this as "the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones."

2 Corinthians 3:7-8, “But if the administering of death in letters, engraved on stones, was esteemed, so that the children of Yisra’yl were unable to look steadily at the face of Mosheh because of the esteem of his face, which was passing away, how much more esteemed shall the administering of the Spirit not be?”

Yet he also says this

Romans 7:12-14, “So that the Law truly is holy, and the command holy, and righteous, and good. Therefore, has that which is good become death to me? Let it not be! But the sin, that sin might be manifest, was working death in me through what is good, so that sin through the command might become an exceedingly great sinner. For we know that the Law is Spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin."

Hebrews 10:16, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says YHWH: I will put My Law into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.”

1 John 3:24, “And the one guarding His commands stays in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He stays in us, by the Spirit which He gave us.”

 

[ResidentAlien]

Indeed, the law is holy and good; but our obligation is not to it, but to the Holy Spirit. The law only brought the knowledge of sin; it brought death. It couldn't perfect anyone:

"For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God." Hebrews 7:18-19

When He says, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," He isn't talking about the old law. If the old law was annulled, why would He then turn around and write it on our hearts? Or why would He write something on our hearts that can't perfect us?

The word nomous in the Greek is plural in this verse; it's "laws," not "law." And it isn't capitalized. He isn't talking about writing the old law on our hearts, but the law of Christ.

 

[seekingthemindofChrist]

bump

This same Paul said this to new testament Christians:

Ephesians 6:1-3

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."

Was Paul seeking to bring death upon Christians here or was he seeking to make them beneficiaries of a promise instead?

 

[selahsays]

But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

- 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 (NKJV)

I believe these scriptures are making a comparison between the Old and the New Testaments. Although they are both glorious, the Old Testament was given to offer a temporary way, but the New Testament is forever! If the tablets of stone caused Moses’ face to shine, how much more does the Cross, which is Christ’s love, cause us to shine even more gloriously and become children of God?

 

[vineandfigtree]

It is the ministry iof death

cursed is the one who does not obey every word.

Break one command your guilty f the whole law

the penalty of sin is death

the ten commands were the only commands written in stone

You're ri

Indeed, the law is holy and good; but our obligation is not to it, but to the Holy Spirit. The law only brought the knowledge of sin; it brought death. It couldn't perfect anyone:

"For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God." Hebrews 7:18-19

When He says, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," He isn't talking about the old law. If the old law was annulled, why would He then turn around and write it on our hearts? Or why would He write something on our hearts that can't perfect us?

The word nomous in the Greek is plural in this verse; it's "laws," not "law." And it isn't capitalized. He isn't talking about writing the old law on our hearts, but the law of Christ.

The author of Hebrews uses a plural form in the Greek because his quote is taken from the Septuagint. In the Hebrew text of Jeremiah 31, it is the singular word "Torah." The Greek translation also reverses the terminology slightly and reads that they're written on the mind, whereas the Hebrew reads it's written on the heart.

 

[ResidentAlien]

The author of Hebrews uses a plural form in the Greek because his quote is taken from the Septuagint. In the Hebrew text of Jeremiah 31, it is the singular word "Torah." The Greek translation also reverses the terminology slightly and reads that they're written on the mind, whereas the Hebrew reads it's written on the heart.

Be that as it may, it was the plural form the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write.

 

[ResidentAlien]

Be that as it may, it was the plural form the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write.

Should've said the author of Hebrews. May not have been Paul.

 

[vineandfigtree]

Be that as it may, it was the plural form the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write.

Right, we don't know if the author was Paul.

Certainly, the book of Hebrews is inspired. The Greek he is quoting, though, is a translation intended to convey the meaning of Jeremiah from Hebrew. The Hebrew uses a singular form, which would mean that the translators of the Septuagint/LXX believed that particular Greek word form would convey a proper sense to the Greek reader. Commandments, ordinances, judgments, laws, instructions, etc. These can all refer to commands in God's Law.

 

[ResidentAlien]

Right, we don't know if the author was Paul.

Certainly, the book of Hebrews is inspired. The Greek he is quoting, though, is a translation intended to convey the meaning of Jeremiah from Hebrew. The Hebrew uses a singular form, which would mean that the translators of the Septuagint/LXX believed that particular Greek word form would convey a proper sense to the Greek reader. Commandments, ordinances, judgments, laws, instructions, etc. These can all refer to commands in God's Law.

Well there's no question "His laws" refers to certain commandments and teachings from the Tanakh. Jesus taught them and the New Testament teaches them. But thankfully we've been set free from "the law" in Christ. Our obligation now is to Him and the Holy Spirit, not the law.

 

[SpeakTruth101]

There is no puncuation in Hebrew or Greek, like there is iun english, therefore names, cities and if it is the Law of the Creator it is capitalized, just like the King James Capitalizes Lord when it's YHWH and uses lord when it's not

Indeed, the law is holy and good; but our obligation is not to it, but to the Holy Spirit. The law only brought the knowledge of sin; it brought death. It couldn't perfect anyone:

Yeremyah 31:33, "...After those days, says YHWH: I will put My Law (#H8451) in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; minds, and I will be their Father, and they will be My people."

According to the original language it is the TORAH that would be written on the hearts of the ones partaking of the covenant ratified in Yahshua's blood.

The word LAW is word #H8451 = Torah, torah: direction, instruction, law, Original Word: תּוֹרָה, Part of Speech: Noun Feminine, Transliteration: Torah, Phonetic Spelling: (To-raw'), Short Definition: law

Hebrews 10:16, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says YHWH: I will put My Law into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them."

the word Law is: 3551. nomos: that which is assigned, hence usage, law, Torah

"For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God." Hebrews 7:18-19

Hebrews 7 is about a transferral of the priesthood not a new Law, if you study the Koine Greek it has a deeper meaning than simply change both time its used, as it a different word for change of law and change of priesthood.

Hebrews 7:11-12, “Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed (#G3331), there is made of necessity a change (#G3346) also of the law.”

Notice it is the same word in English “change” but in the Greek they are 2 different words? “For the priesthood being changed (#G3331), there is made of necessity a change (#G3346) also of the law.”

If we only look at the English it is easy to misunderstand what the writer of Hebrews is seeking to tell us. Lets take a deeper look at the difference between these words:

“For the priesthood being changed (#G3331)” “changed” is word #G3331 μετάθεσις metathesis (me-ta'-the-sis) n., transposition, i.e. transferral (to heaven), disestablishment (of a law). [from G3346], KJV: change, removing, translation, Root(s): G3346

Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)#G3331 μετάθεσις metathesis; 1) transfer: from one place to another 2) to change 2a) of things instituted or established

As in the priesthood on earth, the Levite priesthood has been abolished, and the Priesthood in the heavens, carried out by Yahshua is established. This “change” or “metathesis” is a removal of one that is replaced by another.

“there is made of necessity a change (#G3346) also of the law.”

“change” is word #G3346 μετατίθημι metatithemi (me-ta-tiy'-thee-miy) v., 1. to transfer., 2. (literally) to transport., 3. (by implication) to exchange., 4. (reflexively) to change sides. [from G3326 and G5087], KJV: carry over, change, remove, translate, turn, Root(s): G3326, G5087

Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar #G3346 μετατίθημι metatithemi; 1) to transpose (two things, one of which is put in place of the other) 1a) to transfer 1b) to change 1c) to transfer one's self or suffer one's self to be transferred 1c1) to go or pass over 1c2) to fall away or desert from one person or thing to another

Thayer's (New Testament Greek-English Lexicon) #G3346 μετατίθημι metatithemi; From G3326 and G5087; to transfer, that is, (literally) transport, (by implication) exchange, (reflexively) change sides, or (figuratively) pervert:—carry over, change, remove, translate, turn.

As in the Law has been transferred, not mediated by Levites but mediated by Yahshua the High Priest. This “change” or “metatithemi” is a transferral.

When He says, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," He isn't talking about the old law. If the old law was annulled, why would He then turn around and write it on our hearts? Or why would He write something on our hearts that can't perfect us?

The word nomous in the Greek is plural in this verse; it's "laws," not "law." And it isn't capitalized. He isn't talking about writing the old law on our hearts, but the law of Christ.

Same law, different mediator as shown above...

Matt 5:18, "For truly I say to you; Unless heaven and earth passes away, one yodh--the smallest of the letters--will in no way pass from the Law, until all things are perfected."

Revelation 21:1-2, “And I saw a renewed heaven and a renewed earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away

heaven and earth did not pass away yet, "all things are perfected" in Revelation 21:1-2, not yet.

Mat 22:37-40, “Yahshua said to him: You must love YHWH your Father with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. (Deut 6:5) This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Lev 19:18) On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

do not murder, do not steal, etc, etc, etc. still stand.

 

[SpeakTruth101]

Acts 15:6-7, “So the apostles and the elders met to consider this statement. After a lengthy debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God chose me to be the one among you through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe."

2 Peter 3:15-17, “Think of our Lord’s patience as facilitating salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him. He speaks about this subject in all his letters. Some things in them are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, leading to their own destruction, as they do the *rest of the Scriptures*. And so, dear friends, since you already know these things, continually be on your guard not to be carried away by the deception of lawless people. Otherwise, you may fall from your secure position.

 

[ResidentAlien]

There is no puncuation in Hebrew or Greek, like there is iun english, therefore names, cities and if it is the Law of the Creator it is capitalized, just like the King James Capitalizes Lord when it's YHWH and uses lord when it's not

Yeremyah 31:33, "...After those days, says YHWH: I will put My Law (#H8451) in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; minds, and I will be their Father, and they will be My people."

According to the original language it is the TORAH that would be written on the hearts of the ones partaking of the covenant ratified in Yahshua's blood.

The word LAW is word #H8451 = Torah, torah: direction, instruction, law, Original Word: תּוֹרָה, Part of Speech: Noun Feminine, Transliteration: Torah, Phonetic Spelling: (To-raw'), Short Definition: law

Hebrews 10:16, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says YHWH: I will put My Law into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them."

the word Law is: 3551. nomos: that which is assigned, hence usage, law, Torah

Hebrews 7 is about a transferral of the priesthood not a new Law, if you study the Koine Greek it has a deeper meaning than simply change both time its used, as it a different word for change of law and change of priesthood.

Hebrews 7:11-12, “Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed (#G3331), there is made of necessity a change (#G3346) also of the law.”

Notice it is the same word in English “change” but in the Greek they are 2 different words? “For the priesthood being changed (#G3331), there is made of necessity a change (#G3346) also of the law.”

If we only look at the English it is easy to misunderstand what the writer of Hebrews is seeking to tell us. Lets take a deeper look at the difference between these words:

“For the priesthood being changed (#G3331)” “changed” is word #G3331 μετάθεσις metathesis (me-ta'-the-sis) n., transposition, i.e. transferral (to heaven), disestablishment (of a law). [from G3346], KJV: change, removing, translation, Root(s): G3346

Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)#G3331 μετάθεσις metathesis; 1) transfer: from one place to another 2) to change 2a) of things instituted or established

As in the priesthood on earth, the Levite priesthood has been abolished, and the Priesthood in the heavens, carried out by Yahshua is established. This “change” or “metathesis” is a removal of one that is replaced by another.

“there is made of necessity a change (#G3346) also of the law.”

“change” is word #G3346 μετατίθημι metatithemi (me-ta-tiy'-thee-miy) v., 1. to transfer., 2. (literally) to transport., 3. (by implication) to exchange., 4. (reflexively) to change sides. [from G3326 and G5087], KJV: carry over, change, remove, translate, turn, Root(s): G3326, G5087

Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar #G3346 μετατίθημι metatithemi; 1) to transpose (two things, one of which is put in place of the other) 1a) to transfer 1b) to change 1c) to transfer one's self or suffer one's self to be transferred 1c1) to go or pass over 1c2) to fall away or desert from one person or thing to another

Thayer's (New Testament Greek-English Lexicon) #G3346 μετατίθημι metatithemi; From G3326 and G5087; to transfer, that is, (literally) transport, (by implication) exchange, (reflexively) change sides, or (figuratively) pervert:—carry over, change, remove, translate, turn.

As in the Law has been transferred, not mediated by Levites but mediated by Yahshua the High Priest. This “change” or “metatithemi” is a transferral.

Same law, different mediator as shown above...

Matt 5:18, "For truly I say to you; Unless heaven and earth passes away, one yodh--the smallest of the letters--will in no way pass from the Law, until all things are perfected."

Revelation 21:1-2, “And I saw a renewed heaven and a renewed earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away

heaven and earth did not pass away yet, "all things are perfected" in Revelation 21:1-2, not yet.

Mat 22:37-40, “Yahshua said to him: You must love YHWH your Father with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. (Deut 6:5) This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Lev 19:18) On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

do not murder, do not steal, etc, etc, etc. still stand.

If you want to be under the ministry of death, knock yourself out. Thankfully, as a Christian, I'm not obligated to it and have been set free.

 

[SpeakTruth101]

If you want to be under the ministry of death, knock yourself out. Thankfully, as a Christian, I'm not obligated to it and have been set free.

That is a very weak reply, completely ignoring the Scriptures I posted, but rather going into a personal attack. If you applied what I posted to my view you would not be able to honestly say that. Do not murder is not death. Do not steal is not death.. Honor you father and mother is not death. I think you are twisting just as Peter warned of in 2 Peter 3:15-17.

We are supposed to be set free from sin, not His Commands...

John 8:34-36, “יהושע answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone doing sin is a servant of sin. And the servant does not stay in the house forever – a son stays forever. If, then, the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

 

[Everlasting-Grace]

That is a very weak reply, completely ignoring the Scriptures I posted, but rather going into a personal attack. If you applied what I posted to my view you would not be able to honestly say that. Do not murder is not death. Do not steal is not death.. Honor you father and mother is not death. I think you are twisting just as Peter warned of in 2 Peter 3:15-17.

We are supposed to be set free from sin, not His Commands...

John 8:34-36, “יהושע answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone doing sin is a servant of sin. And the servant does not stay in the house forever – a son stays forever. If, then, the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

No

But if you break even one command the penalty is death

 

[ResidentAlien]

That is a very weak reply, completely ignoring the Scriptures I posted, but rather going into a personal attack. If you applied what I posted to my view you would not be able to honestly say that. Do not murder is not death. Do not steal is not death.. Honor you father and mother is not death. I think you are twisting just as Peter warned of in 2 Peter 3:15-17.

We are supposed to be set free from sin, not His Commands...

John 8:34-36, “יהושע answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone doing sin is a servant of sin. And the servant does not stay in the house forever – a son stays forever. If, then, the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

The power of sin is the law. I've been set free from the law, why on earth would I want to put myself back under it?

 

[SpeakTruth101]

The power of sin is the law. I've been set free from the law, why on earth would I want to put myself back under it?

Evil is the power of sin. If you make "do not murder: the problem then you are not in the right spirit.

Because of Lawlessness, love grows cold:

Mat 24:12, "And because iniquity will abound, the love of the many will grow cold."

"iniquity" is: #0458 anomia {an-om-ee'-ah} from G0459
Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)
1) the condition of without law 1a) because ignorant of it1b) because of violating it, 2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

thats why He changes the heart, so the heart does not hate His Law:

Jeremiah 31:33, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israyl: After those days, says YHWH: I will put My Law (Torah/Instructions) in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and I will be their Strength, and they will be My people.”

Hebrews 10:16, "“This is the covenant that I shall make with them after those days, says יהוה, giving My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I shall write them.”

Exodus 20:6, “But showing love to thousands who love Me by keeping My Laws.”

John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

1 John 5:2-3, " 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Matthew 22:37-40, " 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”