Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 5
Using Origen’s argument about Jerusalem’s destruction (no temple, altar, sacrifices, stoning, feasts “in the place”), the teacher says God made it “crystal clear” the old covenant was over; what does this suggest about how God uses history and judgment to teach theology, and how should that shape the way Christians interpret major disruptions in the church today?
Another way to ask: Origen says Jerusalem’s destruction made it obvious the old covenant was over because the temple and sacrifices were gone. What does that say about how God uses history and judgment to teach, and how should we read major church disruptions today?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Based on the speaker’s use of Origen, God used a historical judgment (Jerusalem’s destruction) to publicly demonstrate that the Mosaic system could no longer function, suggesting that concrete events can confirm theological realities—but the transcript does not give detailed rules for interpreting every modern disruption.
- The teacher says, “God certainly brought it to a decisive end” before/at Jerusalem’s destruction.
- Origen is quoted: the “altar of burnt offerings was destroyed along with the entire worship associated with it.”
- Origen notes they “cannot keep their feasts in the place which the Lord God appointed… even though… commanded.”
- He adds they were “unable to stone those” guilty of certain sins—key legal functions were removed.
- The teacher concludes God was making it “crystal clear… this is over. The new covenant is in.”
- He says “certainly by AD 70, it should have been clear to everyone that the law had run its course.”