Early Christian Beliefs About the Mosaic Law

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

Chapter 2. On the Epistle to the Galatians. The Abolition of the Ordinances of the Mosaic Law No Proof of Another God.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Direct teaching

...o say does not become too long, I return directly to the matter before us. This man taught that the law of Moses, to speak briefly, does not come from the good God, but from the prince of evil. He said that it has no kinship with the new law of Christ, but is opposite and hostile to it, the one being the direct enemy of the other. When I heard such an opinion being taught, I repeated to the people that saying from the Gospel in which our Lord Jesus Christ said about Himself, "I have not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it." But the man insisted that He did not say this at all. He argued that when we see that Christ actually set aside that same law, we must pay attention above all else to what He actually did. Then he began to quote many passages from the law, and also many from the Gospel and from the Apostle Paul, which seem to contradict one another. He said all this with complete confidence, and without any hesitation or fear. So I truly believe that he has that serpent as his helper, the one who is always our enemy. He said that in the law God says, "I make the rich man and the poor man," while here in the Gospel Jesus called the poor blessed and added that no one cou

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

but from the Lord’s advent, the new covenant which brings back peace, and the law which gives life, has gone forth over the whole earth, as the prophets said: “For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem;

John 1:17 Direct teaching

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Acts 13:39 Supporting witness

And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Direct teaching

But after Moses appeared, and had given the law to the children of Israel, and had brought back to their memory all the requirements of the law, and all that men needed to observe and do under it, and when he handed over to death only those who transgressed the law, then death was stopped from reigning over all men. For then it reigned over sinners alone, as the law said to it, "Do not touch those who keep my precepts." Therefore Moses served the ministration of this word upon death, while he gave up to destruction all others who were transgressors of the law. For Moses did not come with the intent that death might not reign in any region at all, since many were certainly held under the power of death even after Moses. And the law was called a ministration of death because then only transgressors of the law were punished, and not those who kept it, and who obeyed and observed the things that are in the law, as Abel did, whom Cain, who was made a vessel of the wicked one, slew. However, even after these things, death wished to break the covenant that had been made through Moses, and to reign again over the righteous. And for this purpose it did indeed attack the prophets, killing an

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

...reely. David had been appointed a priest by God, despite Saul's persecution. For all the righteous hold the priestly rank. All the apostles of the Lord are priests, who inherit neither lands nor houses here, but serve God and the altar continually. Moses also said of them in Deuteronomy, when blessing Levi, "Who said to his father and mother, 'I have not known you'; he did not acknowledge his brethren, and he disinherited his own sons: he kept Your commandments and observed Your covenant." But who left father and mother, and bade farewell to all their neighbors for the sake of the word of God and His covenant, if not the disciples of the Lord? Of whom Moses also said, "They shall have no inheritance, for the Lord Himself is their inheritance." And again, "The priests, the Levites, shall have no share in the whole tribe of Levi, nor property with Israel; their portion is the offerings of the Lord: these they shall eat." Therefore, Paul says, "I do not seek after a gift, but I seek after fruit." He told His disciples, who had a priesthood of the Lord and to whom it was lawful to eat the ears of grain when hungry, "For the worker is worthy of his food." The priests in the temple pr

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

But even Moses himself, by whom the law was given which they so tenaciously maintain, though they have fallen away from God, and have not acknowledged God, had foretold that it would come to pass that a very great prophet would be sent by God, who should be above the law, and be a bearer of the will of God to men.

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness

for one teacher was given unto them by God, namely Moses, and one law by this same Moses.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

Now the law is ancient grace given through Moses by the Word.

Deuteronomy 31:9 Direct teaching

And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.

Deuteronomy 29:1 Direct teaching

These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.

Deuteronomy 5:1 Direct teaching

And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.

Exodus 24:12 Background

And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

Exodus 24:3 Background

And Moses went in and related to the people all the words of God and the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, saying, All the words which the Lord has spoken, we will do and be obedient.

Deuteronomy 4:44 Direct teaching

This is the law that Moses set before the people of Israel.

Deuteronomy 5:2 Background

The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

... law given on stone tablets was still observed), no new covenant was established. They followed the Mosaic law until the Lord's coming. But from the Lord's arrival, the new covenant bringing peace and the law bringing life spread across the earth, as the prophets said: “For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem; and He shall rebuke many people; and they shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, and they shall learn war no more.” If another law and word from Jerusalem brought such peace among the Gentiles who accepted it, and convinced many nations of their folly, then it seems the prophets spoke of someone else. But if the law of liberty, meaning the word of God, preached by the apostles from Jerusalem across the world, brought such change that these nations transformed swords and war lances into ploughshares and converted them into tools for peaceful purposes and now no longer engage in fighting, but when struck, also offer the other cheek, then the prophets spoke not of anyone else but of Him who made these changes. This person is our Lord, and in Him, this declaration is confirmed; since He Himself ha

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching

... to observe, as many as are seeking after the inheritance of God. For the law given at Horeb is now old, and belongs to you alone; but this is for everyone universally. Now, a law placed against another law has annulled the one before it, and a covenant which comes afterward in the same way has ended the previous one; and an eternal and final law—namely, Christ—has been given to us, and the covenant is trustworthy, after which there shall be no law, no commandment, no ordinance. Have you not read what Isaiah says: 'Listen to Me, listen to Me, my people; and, you kings, pay attention to Me: for a law shall go forth from Me, and My judgment shall be a light to the nations. My righteousness approaches swiftly, and My salvation shall go forth, and nations shall trust in My arm?' And by Jeremiah, concerning this same new covenant, He thus speaks: 'Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.' If, therefore, God proclaimed a new covenant that was to be established, and this for

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

For the abolition of the ancient law we fully admit, and hold that it actually proceeds from the dispensation of the Creator, — a point which we have already often treated in the course of our discussion, when we showed that the innovation was foretold by the prophets of our God.

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

However, if we must refer briefly to the difference between the constitution which was given to the Jews of old by Moses, and that which the Christians, under the direction of Christ's teaching, wish now to establish, we would observe that it must be impossible for the legislation of Moses, taken literally, to harmonize with the calling of the Gentiles, and with their subjection to the Roman government;

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

And for this reason he was also successor to Moses, to show that the new law given by Christ Jesus was about to succeed to the old law which was given by Moses.

Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness

Now of the Scriptures which are current and are believed to be divine in all the churches, one would not be wrong in saying that the first growth is the law of Moses, but the first fruits the Gospel.

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

For the beginning of the legislation was in the time of Moses, in whose work are recorded the sins of the unbelievers and wicked among you, while the commencement of our legislation and second covenant is admitted to have been in the time of Jesus.

Novatian, On the Jewish Meats Direct teaching

But now Christ, the end of the law, has come, disclosing all the obscurities of the law — all those things which antiquity had covered with the clouds of sacraments.

Galatians 3:21 Background

Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.

Galatians 3:24 Direct teaching

So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

Romans 10:4 Direct teaching

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Galatians 3:23 Supporting witness

But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

... the devil, because they are evil. For if you fear the Lord, you will not do these deeds, but will hold back from them. For there are two kinds of fear. If you do not want to do what is evil, fear the Lord, and you will not do it. But again, if you want to do what is good, fear the Lord, and you will do it. Therefore the fear of the Lord is strong, great, and glorious. Fear the Lord, then, and you will live to Him, and all who fear Him and keep His commandments will live to God. "Why," I said, "sir, did you say about those who keep His commandments that they will live to God?" "Because," he says, "all creation fears the Lord, but all creation does not keep His commandments. Only those who fear the Lord and keep His commandments have life with God. But those who do not keep His commandments have no life in them."

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...re the rule of the Word must be kept with all our strength. Nothing at all must be done against the laws, and the commandments must not be weakened. For evil desire is called ὕβρις, insolence. And Plato called the horse of desire unruly when he read, "You became to me raging horses after females," Jeremiah 5:8. And those angels who came to Sodom will make the punishment of lust known to us. They burned those who wanted to treat them shamefully, together with the city, showing by this clear sign the fire that is the fruit of lust. For the things that happened to the people of old, as we said before, were written to warn us, so that we may not be held by the same sins, and may beware lest we fall into similar punishments. But we ought to regard boys as our children, and to look at other men's wives as their own daughters. For to restrain pleasures, and to rule the belly and the parts below the belly, belongs to the greatest mastery. For if reason does not allow the wise man even to move a finger carelessly, as the Stoics confess, how much more must those who pursue wisdom gain control over the part used in intercourse? And for this reason that part seems to be called the private p

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

...e I was sitting in my house and praising the Lord for all that I had seen, I was thinking about the commandments: that they are excellent, powerful, glorious, and able to save a person's soul. I said to myself, "I will be blessed if I walk in these commandments, and everyone who walks in them will be blessed." While I was saying these things to myself, I suddenly saw him sitting beside me, and I heard him say this: "Why are you doubtful about the commandments that I gave you? They are excellent. Do not doubt them at all. Instead, put on faith in the Lord, and you will walk in them, for I will strengthen you in them. These commandments are useful for those who intend to repent. For if they do not walk in them, their repentance is in vain. Therefore, you who repent, throw away the wickedness of this world that wears you out. And by putting on all the virtues of a holy life, you will be able to keep these commandments, and you will no longer add to the number of your sins. Walk, therefore, in these commandments of mine, and you will live to God. All these things have been spoken to you by me." After he had said these words, he said to me, "Let us go into the fields, and I will show

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

...e who invent teachings contrary to the commandments. And to begin again from the highest point, the law itself, as we said before, first cried out, "You shall not desire your neighbor's wife," Exodus 20:17, before the Lord joined to it His voice in the New Testament, saying in His own person, "You have heard the law commanding, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say, 'You shall not desire,'" Matthew 5:27-28. For that the law wanted men to make moderate use of their wives, and only for the begetting of children, is clear from this: it does not allow a man who has no wife to have relations at once with a captive woman. But if he has once desired her, it allows her, after her hair has been cut, to mourn for thirty days. If even then his desire does not fade, then he is to give attention to having children, since the impulse that rules him, after the fixed time, has been tested and shown to be a desire in agreement with reason. Therefore, you will show no one from the ancient Scriptures who had relations with a pregnant woman. Rather, wives were known again by their husbands after they had carried the child in the womb, and after they had weaned the child from milk. You will als

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

...hen, man is lord over the creatures of God and rules over all, is he not able to be lord over these commandments also? For," he says, "the man who has the Lord in his heart can also be lord over all, and over every one of these commandments. But for those who have the Lord only on their lips, Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8, while their hearts are hardened, John 12:40; 2 Corinthians 3:14, and who are far from the Lord, the commandments are hard and difficult. Therefore, you who are empty and unstable in your faith, put the Lord in your heart, and you will know that nothing is easier, sweeter, or more manageable than these commandments. Return, you who walk in the commandments of the devil, in harsh and bitter and savage licentiousness, and do not fear the devil. For he has no power against you, because I will be with you, the angel of repentance, who am lord over him. The devil has only fear, but his fear has no strength. So do not fear him, and he will flee from you."

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...e wisdom!" Romans 11:33. And through one God many treasures are given out. Some are revealed by the law, others by the prophets, some to the divine mouth, and others to the heptad of the Spirit singing in harmony. And since the Lord is one, He is the same Instructor through all these things. Here, then, is a complete command, and an instruction for life that includes everything: "As you would want people to do to you, do the same to them." Luke 6:31. We can sum up the commandments in two, as the Lord says: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength; and your neighbor as yourself." Then from these He concludes, "On these hang the law and the prophets." Further, to the one who asked, "What good thing shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life?" He answered, "You know the commandments?" And when the man replied, "Yes," He said, "Do this, and you shall be saved." The love of the Instructor is especially clear in the different commands that bring salvation, so that discovery may be easier through the richness and arrangement of the Scriptures. We have the Ten Commandments given by Moses. By a basic principle, simple and of o

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Supporting witness

And the second commandment of the Teaching; You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, Exodus 20:13-14 you shall not commit pederasty, you shall not commit fornication, you shall not steal, Exodus 20:15 you shall not practice magic, you shall not practice witchcraft, you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is begotten.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

... God. For God speaks through Isaiah the prophet and says, "In vain do they worship me, teaching the commandments and doctrines of men." Isaiah 29:13 And again, in the Gospel, the Lord repeats this same saying and says, "You reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition." Mark 7:13 Moreover, in another place He confirms it, saying, "Whoever breaks one of these least commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:19 But if we may not break even the least of the Lord's commandments, how much more is it forbidden to violate such important commandments, so great, so closely related to the sacrament of our Lord's passion and our own redemption, or to change it by human tradition into anything other than what was divinely appointed! For if Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, is Himself the chief priest of God the Father, and has first offered Himself as a sacrifice to the Father, and has commanded this to be done in remembrance of Himself, then certainly that priest truly carries out the office of Christ who imitates what Christ did. And then he offers a true and full sacrifice in the Church to God the Father, when he proc

Exodus 18:20 Background

And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

Deuteronomy 6:17 Background

Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

Deuteronomy 11:27 Background

the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today;

Deuteronomy 10:13 Background

to keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and his ordinances, all that I charge thee today, that it may be well with thee?

Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas Direct teaching

Why did Moses say, "You shall not eat the pig, the eagle, the hawk, the raven, or any fish without scales?" He embraced three doctrines in his mind when he did so. Moreover, the Lord says to them in Deuteronomy, "And I will establish my ordinances among this people." Is there not a command of God that they should not eat these things? There is, but Moses spoke with a spiritual reference. For this reason, he mentioned the pig, implying, "You shall not associate with people who resemble pigs." For when they live in pleasure, they forget their Lord; but when they come to need, they acknowledge the Lord. Similarly, the pig, when it has eaten, does not recognize its master; but when hungry, it cries out, and upon receiving food is quiet again. "Neither shall you eat," he says, "the eagle, the hawk, the kite, or the raven." By this, he means, "You shall not associate with people who do not know how to procure food for themselves by labor and effort, but seize that of others in their wickedness, and although appearing simple, are on the lookout to plunder others." These birds, while they sit idle, seek how they may devour the flesh of others, proving themselves pests to all by their wicke

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Direct teaching

...out this other phrase that has been brought forward: "Christ, who redeemed us from the curse of the law." My understanding of this passage is that Moses, that famous servant of God, gave to those who wanted true understanding both a symbolic law and a real law. For example, after God made the world and everything in it in six days, He rested on the seventh day from all His works. By this I do not mean that He rested because He was tired, but that He did so because He had brought every creature He had decided to make to its perfect completion. And yet later the new law says, "My Father works until now, and I work." Does that mean, then, that He is still making heaven, or the sun, or man, or animals, or trees, or anything like that? No. The meaning is that when these visible things were completely finished, He rested from that kind of work. At the same time, however, He still continues to work on invisible things by an inward manner of action, and He saves men. In the same way, then, the lawgiver also wants every one of us to be devoted continually to this kind of work, just as God Himself is. So he commands us to rest continually from secular things and not to do any worldly kind

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness

The book of Psalms contains new doctrine after the law that was given by Moses. And so it is the second book of doctrine after the Scripture of Moses. After the death of Moses and Joshua, and after the judges, David arose, one considered worthy to be called the father of the Savior. He was the first to give the Hebrews a new style of psalmody. By this he did away with the ordinances established by Moses concerning sacrifice, and introduced a new way of worshiping God by hymns and acclamations. Through his whole ministry, he also taught many other things beyond the law of Moses. This is the sacredness of the book, and its usefulness. And the account to be given of its inscription is this. For since most of the brothers who believe in Christ think that this book is David's, and inscribe it as Psalms of David, we must state what has come down to us about it. The Hebrews give the book the title Sephra Thelim. And in the Acts of the Apostles it is called the Book of Psalms. The words are these: "as it is written in the Book of Psalms." But the name of the author in the inscription of the book is not found there. And the reason for that is that the words written there are not the words o

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness

The book of Psalms contains new teaching that comes after the law of Moses. And after the writings of Moses, it is the second book of teaching. Now after the death of Moses and Joshua, and after the judges, David arose. He was considered worthy to bear the name of father of the Savior himself. And he was the first to give the Hebrews a new kind of psalm-singing. By this, he sets aside the rules established by Moses about sacrifices, and introduces a new hymn and a new kind of joyful praise in the worship of God. And throughout his whole ministry, he teaches many other things that went beyond the law of Moses.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

My view of this passage is that Moses, that illustrious servant of God, committed to those who wished to have the right vision, an emblematic law, and also a real law.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background

for the law contains those precepts which were spoken by the Lord God before the people fell into idolatry, and made a calf like the Egyptian Apis — that is, the ten commandments.

Novatian, On the Jewish Meats Supporting witness

Finally, also, those ten commandments on the tables teach nothing new, but remind them of what had been obliterated — that righteousness in them, which had been put to sleep, might revive again as it were by the afflatus of the law, after the manner of a smothered fire.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

and was pleased to give through Moses a written law to men, since verily the equity of the natural law filled to be retained in all its perfection in their hearts.