Paul’s use of the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10ff in light of its original usage in the Old Testament and Jewish Literature

Ephesus where the Ephesian church was located was an ancient Greek city and the Ephesians Paul wrote to knew the panoply used by Greek soldiers in times of war. A similar panoply was in use in Israel in the Old Testament. Paul used the armor in use in Old Testament to teach the Ephesians about spiritual warfare. He began from the known to the unknown, from the general to the specific in his teaching.

In verse 10, Paul begins by telling God’s people to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. They needed to be spiritually strong because they were faced by a dangerous enemy. In verse 11, he tells them to put on the whole armor of God. The panoply Paul talks about was used by heavy Greek troops who were to encounter the most fierce opposition in war. The basic armor consisted of helmet, shield, sword, and greaves or brazen boots. The purpose of the armor was to empower the Christian to stand against the schemes and machinations of the devil and his cohorts.

In verse 12, Paul tells God’s people that they were not fighting against fellow men but against chief rulers, authorities, rulers of the world, and highly refined sublimed evil which is the kingdom of darkness. The devil operates a well oiled machinery of wicked forces who can only be withstood through use of God’s armor. The evil army is stationed in most sublime stations in the universe.

In verse 13, he tells them to prepare for the evil day in the whole armor of God. As earlier noted, the Grecian armor used in the Old Testament is used in Paul’s teaching. It consisted of both offensive and defensive armor for attacking the enemy. At this point, it is good to discuss briefly the items which made up this armor before the study can pick the items selected by Paul to make up God’s armor.

The helmet was a defensive item which protected the head. At the top of the helmet was a crest, often for beauty and sometimes to terrify the enemy. Another defensive item was the girdle worn around the loins for holding tight the armor around the body. It also supported daggers and other small weapons. The breast-plate was another defensive item which covered the breast and back. It protected delicate parts like the heart, lungs, among others. Gauntlets were also defensive and they protected the hands up to the elbow area.

In the defensive collection was also greaves which covered the front of the leg, the sole, and the foot. A defensive shield, which was round, protected the body. It was either made of wood or metal. Another defensive item was the laiseion. This was a small oblong shield covered with hides and skins. A pelta was also small light shield used in defense. There was also the oblong shield which was always made of wood and was larger than the laiseion.

On the other hand, a spear was one of the offensive items. It had a long shaft of ash and the head was made of brass or iron. Another offensive item was the bipen which had a double face one at the opposite side of the other. An axe was also used as an offensive item. This was the common war axe. Iron club was another offensive item. A bow together with the quiver and arrows was an offensive item as well as the sling for shooting stone missiles.

The ancient Greeks were constantly armed for war and this explains why Paul chose to apply the armor they used to teach God’s people spiritual warfare. God’s people need to be constantly armed for war because the enemy attacks constantly. Having briefly discussed the armor used by Old Testament soldiers, the study will now move to the application of that armor based on Paul’s teaching.

In verse 14, Paul tells God’s people to stand which means they are to get ready for war. As they prepare for war, they are to tie the belt of truth around their loins. This belt holds other weapons in place around their bodies. This is the truth of God which is the word of God. Unless Christians tie the gospel around their “loins,” then they are doomed to be defeated by the enemy. Jesus is the truth and the way. Without Jesus, no war can be won. They are to put on the breast-plate of righteousness. Righteousness refers to holy living. The breast-plate is a defensive piece of armor and it protects the heart. The heart of a man represents his spirit. A holy life protects one’s spirit. Every Christian is expected to live a godly life following the example of Jesus and his or her spirit will be protected from any type of Satanic assault.

In verse 15, Paul tells the Ephesians to put on shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace. These are the greaves which protect the feet. Every Christian should study and make himself or herself ready to spread the gospel in whatever capacity God enables. This readiness to witness for Christ protects the Christian from passing through ways where there are demonic “nails” and other evil weapons of the enemy. If the feet are injured, a soldier is not able to continue warring. Satan attacks from below and from above. The gospel is to be of peace, bringing reconciliation between God and man, and between man and man. The gospel protects one’s spiritual feet from being disabled by Satan and this enables him or her continue fighting the good fight of faith.

Paul goes on and in verse 16 tells the Ephesians to also take the shield of faith referring to the great oblong shield which protects the whole body. Faith is a huge shield which protects the whole person from Satanic missiles. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen based on Hebrews 11:1. By trusting God based on his word, the Christian is fully protected. Faith makes hold on to Jesus regardless of the heaviness of the storms of this world.

Apostle Paul continues and tells them to put on the helmet of salvation in verse 17. Helmet protects the head. If the head is injured, the whole body is exposed to attacks and destruction. The helmet has an emblem of hope. The hope is salvation through Christ which protects God’s people from being tossed to and fro by heretic teachings. God’s people are safe in the blood of Jesus by which they were redeemed. The blood of Jesus protects the saint's “heads” from Satan’s lethal battle axe.

Finally, Paul finishes by telling the Ephesians to get offensive by taking the sword of the Spirit. This is the word of God spoken and applied by faith. Jeremiah 23:29 says the word is like fire. The people of God have a flaming sword by which they are to attack the enemy and demolish his kingdom. God’s people are not sit and let things be. They are to provoke and attack the enemy by prayerfully studying God’s word, speaking it over various situations, preaching it, and using it as God leads.

In verse 18, Paul concludes by encouraging God’s people to pray. No spiritual warfare can be worn without persistent prayer.

In summary, out all the defensive and offensive items of war used by Grecian army in the Old Testament times, Paul selected and applied the helmet, breast-plate, shield, girdle, greaves, and the sword. Out of them all, only the sword is offensive. Christians need only one offensive weapon which is the word of God.

Evaluation of the Torah in view of the New Testament

This study will focus on an evaluation of the Torah in view of the New Testament. It will examine the role of Torah in theological study, and more specifically, it will attempt to show how the message of the Torah is the foundation of the New Testament. It is important to note that the Torah is the foundation of the rest of the Scriptures. This study is very short, and because of this, it will examine five broad categories of the message of the Torah, which is also found in the New Testament.

• Worship of one true God

The worship of one true God is called Monotheism. Murphy and Murphy (2007) in page 86 states that when God delivered Israel from Egypt, he began to teach them to worship the one true God. God commanded that Israel was not to have any other gods beside him. This can be found in this text in Exodus 20v. 3:

“You shall have no other gods before me."

The message of Monotheism is a cornerstone in the foundation of New Testament theology. Jesus preached the doctrine of Monotheism as can be seen in this text in Mark 12v. 29:

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

• A covenant with conditions

God made a covenant with Israel at Mt. Sinai based on Exodus 19-20. In Deuteronomy, the covenant was renewed before the new generation crossed over to Canaan. The regulations given by God were the conditions of the covenant. As long as Israel kept the law, God kept blessing them. Compellingtruth.org (2019) states that Mosaic covenant was bilateral or conditional meaning both parties were responsible to fulfill a duty to the other. It was to make Israel aware of their inability that they may recognize they need Jesus when he finally came based on Galatians 3vv. 24-25. Jesus later came, and made a New Covenant with his people, and redeemed them from their sins and curse of the law based on Galatians 3v. 13. Majority of theologians claim that the new covenant has no conditions because of grace, but the condition is that whoever believes in Jesus shall be saved and not perish based on John 3v. 16. Whoever does not has already been condemned.

• Justice and morality

In the Torah, God expected his people be morally upright and to be just. In Exodus 20vv. 13-17, God forbids murder, adultery, theft, false testimony, and coveting neighbor’s wife and property. This is a message of justice and morality in the society, and the same has been passed over to the New Testament. A good example is Matthew 19v. 9 where Jesus forbids adultery in his teaching. Gotquestions.org (2019) states that moral law encompasses regulations on justice, respect, and sexual conduct, and includes the ten commandments given in Exodus 19-20. Paul in 1 Corinthians 5vv. 11-13 preaches against immorality, theft, and other evils.

• Messiah

After the fall of mankind, God promised that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. This is found in Genesis 3v. 15 which states:

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. 

Jackson (n.d) speaking on the seed of the woman states that the seed promise of this entire book finds its complete fulfillment in the savior, who in the fullness of time, was “born of a woman” based on Galatians 4v. 4. The Message about the Messiah began in the Torah, and continued till the New Testament when Jesus finally came, was born of a woman, and died on a cross, where he crushed the head of the serpent, and saved God’s people. God, from the beginning, had a plan to bring a Messiah to save his people.

• Eschatology

Eschatology refers to the study of the future or last things. A good example is the study of the second coming of Jesus. Biblegateway.com (n.d) states that the hope of God’s people is the fundamental strand of Old Testament teaching regarding the future. The promise made to Abraham 12v. 3 will ultimately be fulfilled. The Torah speaks about all families of the earth being blessed through Abraham, and this message is found in the New Testament. Galatians 3v. 29 states:

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

The theology of the end times contained in the gospels as well as Pauline Epistles is founded on the message of the Torah.
The Christians are Abraham’s seed and shall inherit God’s promise to Abraham. The theology of the end times contained in the whole book of Revelation is founded on the message of the Torah also. Jesus, the seed of the woman, will come again as a King, to reign with his people. Unfortunately, there has been a great deal of heretic teachings about the second coming of Jesus, with some purporting to use mathematics to calculate the day Jesus will take away his church. Jesus himself said that no one knows the day except the Father. The Torah lays the foundation, and teaches about future events, but does not purport to fix days in everything. The Torah does not contradict the New Testament theology in any manner.

References

Eschatology (n.d). Retrieved March 20, 2019 from biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Eschatology

Jackson, Wayne (n.d). Crushing the Serpent’s Head: The Meaning of Genesis 3:15. Retrieved March 20, 2019 from Christiancourier.com/articles/1571-crushing-the-serpents-head-the-meaning-of-genesis-3-15

Murphy, J & Murphy, C. S. (2007). Prophets & Prophecy in Today’s Church. Blue Jay, CA: Hundredfold Press, 2007

The Mosaic Covenant – what is it? (n.d). Retrieved March 20, 2019 from compellingtruth.org/mosaic-covenant

What is the difference between the Ceremonial law, the Moral law, and the Judicial law in the Old Testament. (n.d). Retrieved March 20, 2019 from gotquestions.org/ceremonial-law

How the content of The Torah relates to the remainder of the Hebrew Scriptures

The Torah refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. They are attributed to Moses, although higher criticism attempts to teach that other authors not connected to Moses wrote the Torah. These books are the foundation to the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures. This study is an attempt to show how the content of the Torah relates to the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures. Because the study is short, it will be done following the broad themes found in each book of the Torah and how that theme is also found in the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures. The study proceeds as follows. NIV Bibles has been used.

• Genesis

Genesis is a book of beginnings based on Thoughtco.com (2017). It is also a book of election of Israel to accomplish God’s purposes. Verse 1 begins as follows: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… God commanded the beginning of all things. The rest of Genesis 1 continues to narrate the creative words and acts of God. On the sixth day, God creates mankind and gives him authority to rule his creation. Later, man fell into sin and God promised a deliverer. Genesis 3v. 15 states:

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

God would later call Abraham in Genesis 11, and out of him, he would bring a deliverer. The rest of the Hebrew Scriptures are founded on the theme of beginnings and God as a deliverer. Isaiah 53 is a prophecy based on the promise of God in Genesis. All the prophets taught God’s people about the deliverance of God. Later God delivered Israel from Egypt.

• Exodus

Insight.org (2019) states that the overall idea  of Exodus is redemption. God is a redeemer and he will redeem his people. Exodus 6v. 6 states:

Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

Yahweh delivered Israel from Egypt with an outstretched hand. The theme of redemption is found in the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures. Often, God’s people fall into bondage, and God redeems them. In Isaiah 45, God uses Cyrus to set his people free from Babylon. The prophets prophesied of judgment and deliverance after God’s people repented.

• Leviticus

The main theme in the book of Leviticus is worship. Overviewbible.com (2018) states that Leviticus is not just a book of rules but a book of worship. Leviticus 1v. 1 begins this way:

The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.

The tent of meeting was a place of worship where God met with his people. Sacrifices were part of worship. The rest of the Hebrew Scriptures carry on the theme of worship. God’s people are seen everywhere worshipping God and offering sacrifices to him. In 1 Chronicles 16v. 29, the people worship God saying:

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

Leviticus is the foundation of worship in the rest of the Old Testament.

• Numbers

Gotquestions.org (2019) states that Numbers reminds believers of spiritual warfare and walk of God’s people. Numbers 2v. 34 states:

So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

They were camped in an army formation near the tent of meeting. Each group had its own leaders. This is a revelation about spiritual walk and war. The same theme is found in other books of the Hebrew Scriptures. God’s people were to walk with God by obeying him and this led to victory in all their wars. Joshua 4v. 13 states:

About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the Lord to the plains of Jericho for war.

After the death of Moses, Joshua took over leadership. And the people continued walking with God spiritually. The priests carried the ark of covenant, and Israel defeated its enemies. This theme of spiritual walk and war is also seen in the life of David. He walked with God, and won battles.

• Deuteronomy

Gentry (2014) states that Deuteronomy is about renewal and expansion of the Sinai covenant. The book restates earlier laws in a sermonic style. The old generation had died off in the wilderness, and the new generation had to renew its covenant with God. Deuteronomy 29v. 1 states:

These are the terms of the covenant the Lord commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.

The theme of covenant renewal is found in the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures. Whenever the people sin, God calls them to repent and he would renew them. God in Ezekiel 11v. 19 promises renewal saying:

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

This verse shows the rest of Hebrew Scriptures carry on the theme of covenant renewal.

References

Book of Genesis. (n.d). Retrieved March 19, 2019 from thoughtco.com/book-of-Genesis-701143

Book of Numbers. (n.d). Retrieved March 19, 2019 from gotquestions.org/Book-of-Numbers

Exodus. (n.d). Retrieved March 19, 2019 from insight.org/resources/bible/the-Pentateuch/exodus

Gentry, Peter J. (2014). The Relationship of Deuteronomy to the Sinai Covenant. Retrieved March 19, 2019 from galaxie.com/article/sbjt18-3-04

Leviticus: How to be holy. (n.d). Retrieved March 19, 2019 from overviewbible.com/leviticus

Communicating the Pentateuch to the Modern Audience

Introduction

Although this study is an attempt to show how to communicate the Pentateuch to the modern audience, specifically addressing how to communicate legal and narrative texts, it is good to start with a general introduction. The Pentateuch refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Pentateuch refers to the books as being five in number, but the Hebrews called it the “Torah” meaning “Instruction.” In English, the “Torah” is referred to as the “Law.” The Pentateuch is the foundation of both the Hebrew and the Greek Scriptures. Jackson (2019) states that the books of Moses (the Pentateuch) relate to the era of beginnings, the Patriarchs, oppression and deliverance, encampment at Mt. Sinai, wanderings in the wilderness, and preparation to enter into Canaan. Genres found in the Pentateuch are narrative, legal material, poetry, genealogy, among others. This study will draw from Vogt (2009). The study starts next by handling legal texts.

Communicating a legal text

Wikipedia (2019) defines biblical law as the legal aspects of the Holy Scriptures of Judaism and Christianity. The law is found in many parts of the Pentateuch. When Israel came out of Egypt, they came to Mt. Sinai, and Moses went up to God based on Exodus 19-20 where God began to speak to him. Moses then went down and spoke to the elders of Israel, and the people said they would obey the LORD. God instructed Moses to go and consecrate the people that he may come and speak to them on the third day. Later, God came and made a covenant with Israel giving them legal instructions to follow. The people understood that keeping the commands of God would bring blessings and failure to do so would bring curses. The law addressed civil matters, social matters, criminal matters, among other issues.

Vogt (2009) has explained ways of interpreting and communicating a legal text. Deuteronomy 22v. 5 will be used as an illustration.

"A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this. (NIV)

According to Vogt (2009) in page 180, one should first determine the context of a legal text. In interpretation of the selected verse, one has to consider the verses and chapters before and after the verse. Verse 5 is in the same context as the whole of the book of Deuteronomy. Bible.org (2019), addressing Deuteronomy, states that the biblical contexts consists of three components; the historical, socio-cultural, and theological elements. Bible.org (2019) states that the events which form the historical context for Deuteronomy take place on the plains of Moab on the East Bank of Jordan opposite the city of Jericho. The Exodus generation had died off and Moses had led a new generation from wandering in the wilderness to the plains of Moab. From here, they would cross over to Canaan. But before doing so, Moses led Israel into a ceremony of covenant renewal. Moses was to die in that area because God did not permit him to enter into Canaan.

Bible.org (2019) also states that the socio-cultural context in which the events of Deuteronomy are played out has not changed significantly from that of Numbers. In Numbers, the people were nomads and refused to obey Yahweh. However, their refusal to obey did not terminate the covenant but suspended it. The new generation is still bound by the stipulations of the covenant. The Theological context of Deuteronomy looks back to the previous four books of the Pentateuch, states Bible.org (2019), and subsumes all their theological revelations as its foundational framework. Most important here is the covenant made at Mt. Sinai. Yahweh did not terminate his covenant because of his unconditional covenant with Abraham.

Deuteronomy 22v. 5 is part of the law of Moses expounded to the new generation by Moses in his own words in a sermonic style. It should not be interpreted in any manner which contradicts the rest of the book of Deuteronomy. God’s people were about to cross over to Canaan, and God gave them a law, that women should not wear what appertains to men, and men should not wear the clothes of women. What appertains to men does not only refer to clothes, but any apparel by which men can be identified. Israel was about to enter into Canaan, where human laws were governing the people. The pagans were notorious for interchanging clothes for various reasons but God’s people were to be holy and be different from them. The context of Deuteronomy 22v. 5 does not suggest in any manner that God was giving Israel a dress code. The verse does not refer to any particular make of clothes.

Vogt (2009) in page 182 explains that one has to determine the kind of law in question also. Timesrepublican.com (2017) states that apodictic law encompasses absolute general commands. The ten commandments are a prime example of apodictic law. On the other hand, casuistic law is based on precedent and is in the form of “if/then” conditional statements. Moral principles are applied to determine right and wrong situations. Deuteronomy 22v. 5 is not a casuistic law. The “if/then” statements are absent. It is an apodictic law.

Vogt (2009) also in page 186 states that one should determine the purpose of the law. Here, Israel was renewing their covenant with God because the laws given earlier at Mt. Sinai were binding to them. God did not give Israel a law because there were no other laws in existence. The code of Ur-Nammu, Sumerian code, code of Hammurabi, the Hittite code, and the Middle Assyrian code, are examples of laws which were existing. But these laws were human. God gave Israel its own law and expected their dressing to be governed by it. The purpose of Deuteronomy 22v. 5 is for God’s people to be decent in dressing, which would make one differentiate the two genders by observation. Hebrew men at that time were dressed in long robes which were slightly different from the robes of women, but one could differentiate the two. God also gave that law because his people were about to cross over to Canaan, and he did not want them to copy pagan laws. Pagans had laws permitting cross-dressing for certain religious ceremonies. Earlier, the people of God had worshiped the Lord by use of a calf when Moses delayed at the mountain. They could be influenced by the pagans after crossing over to Canaan. Cross-dressing for prostitution in pagan temples and for deception was not to be allowed in Israel.

Vogt (2009) in page 188 states that one has to determine the applicability of the original purpose of the law in a contemporary setting. The original purpose of Deuteronomy 22v. 5, which was for decency in dressing where the two genders can be differentiated by their apparels, and prevention of cross-dressing for pagan religious ceremonies and other evils like deception, is applicable today. God’s people should be decently dressed and cross-dressing for evil ceremonies and deception should not be allowed. Deuteronomy 22v. 5 does not mention any make of clothes. Using the verse to refer to whether women should wear pants or not is misuse of God’s word. Hebrew men did not wear pants at that time. Paul in 1 Timothy 2v. 9 commanded women to be decently dressed but does not mention any make of clothes. Just to mention, it is wise to note that pants for women are not the same as those for men just like the robes of Hebrew men were different from those of Hebrew women. Demonizing women just because of misinterpretation of Deuteronomy 22v. 5 should not be allowed in the church of God.

Vogt (2009) addressing the issue of communicating a legal text states that one has to address:

• The cultural connotations of the law.
• The original purpose of the law.
• The implication of the Ministry of Jesus on the relevance of the law.
• The applicability of the law in a contemporary setting.

On the cultural connotations, the modern audience is comprised of people from different cultures. Deuteronomy 22v. 5 was not given to change the culture of the Hebrews. When communicating Deuteronomy 22v. 5, the speaker has to understand the culture of the audience, and apply the verse without an attempt to force a change of culture. A good example is communicating to a Kenyan Maasai audience where men can easily be confused as being dressed like women. Attacks on their dress code in an attempt to reach them with the gospel would fail. The original purpose of the law in Deuteronomy 22v. 5 was to bring decency in dressing and prevent cross-dressing for sinful practices. This purpose is applicable today. God still expects his people to be decent in dressing, and the preacher should communicate this to the modern audience. Men and women should dress in such a manner that they can be differentiated by their apparels. But this does not refer to whether women should wear pants or not.

On implication of the Ministry of Jesus on the relevance of the law, it should be noted that Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it. Jesus never dressed like a woman, and the modern preacher should communicate this to the audience. The Christian should follow the example of Jesus.

Communicating a narrative text

The study will now move to how to communicate a narrative text to the modern audience. A narrative text focuses on certain characters and its main function is to tell stories about past events. This genre is found in the Pentateuch. Genesis 1 has been chosen for illustration. Vogt (2009) pages 179-210 has laid down four principles of interpretation:

1. Establish the context of the passage.
2. Identify and label scenes.
3. Examine details of the scenes.
4. Recontextualize the text for contemporary setting.

Genesis 1 is a narrative of past events detailing the creative words and acts of God. All events are prehistorical. It can be termed as the opening scene of biblical drama which introduces the two main characters in the Bible: God and man based on Thoughtco.com (2018). In the scene of Genesis 1, God is central to the whole story. God is seen commanding into existence his creation. Words like “let there be… and there was…” are visible. Those commands continue from day one to day six when God creates man to rule the rest of his creation.

In recontextualizing Genesis 1 for a contemporary setting, God is still commanding things into existence. The commands given in Genesis 1 are still operational because men and other living things are still being created through procreation. The laws of nature established in Genesis 1 are still in place. Man is still ruling God’s creation.

Vogt (2009) lays down four ways of communicating a narrative text to a modern audience:

• Let the story speak for itself.
• Tie in contemporary parallels to the biblical story.
• Communicate literal artistry.
• Allow for ambiguity.

Genesis 1 explains the origin of creation. It speaks to the modern audience for itself. It does not mention anything to do with evolution. God creates his creation in six literal days. Today, God is still creating through procreation as stated in Genesis 1 where God commands living beings to be fruitful and multiply. Evolution has not been seen changing a single monkey into a human being. This is the message to pass to the modern audience. Genesis 1 uses genres like repetition, poetry, among others. It is not a myth but a narration of facts. The preacher of today should be clear that God is the creator and the theory of evolution is a lie.

In conclusion, this study has attempted to show how one can communicate a legal text and a narrative text to the modern audience. The study is short,  and there is much more which can be done in the same topic, which can amount to thousands of words.

References

Apodictic law and casuistic law. (2017). Retrieved March 15, 2019 from timesrepublican.com/opinion/columnists/2017/08/apodictic-law-and-casuistic-law

Biblical law (n.d). Retrieved March 14, 2019, from Wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_law

Pentateuch, an analysis and synthesis. (n.d). Retrieved March 14, 2019, from bible.org/series/5-analysis-and-synthesis-book-deuteronomy

The creation story: Bible story summary. (n.d). Retrieved March 15, 2019, from thoughtco.com/the- creation-story-700209

Vogt, Peter T. Interpreting the Pentateuch: An Exegetical Handbook. A Vol. Of Handbooks for Old Testament Exegesis. Edited by David M. Howard, Jr. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic & Professional, 2009 

You shall overcome stagnation and backwardness

I command progress in your life from now henceforth in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth...

You shall not move backwards and you shall not stay in the same place any longer...

I now command God's power to cause you to begin moving forward IJN...

In 2 Kings 7, the four men with leprosy said they would die if they remained in one place, and they would die too of they went back to the city.

So, they chose to move forward to the enemy camp after deciding it was better to die while moving forward rather than die while sitting in one place, or going back.

I now declare that the spirit of stagnation and of moving you backwards spiritually and materially is now destroyed.

When the four lepers arose and moved forward, God drove away their enemies and they were able to provide food for a whole nation.

Those who had been condemned made a step of faith, and saved a whole nation.

You have been rejected and despised. Arise now by faith and move forward and God shall use you to save millions.

Your season of staying without progress in whatever you have been doing is over.

God is now beginning to move you forward IJN.

Hallelujah.