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Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

337.0. "Summary of the entire law or not?" by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE (Passionate Peace) Thu Nov 07 1991 20:51

The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor
as yourself."  (Paul's letter to the Galatians 5:14)

Was Paul exaggerating here?  Or is the essence of the law actually
captured in this single commandment?

Richard
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337.1Some initial thoughtsGOEDUX::ANDRES_MEFri Nov 08 1991 05:5225
    Ok, I may not be very good at articulating my thoughts, but I'll
    take a stab at it. 
    1. We need to determine what law was Paul refering to. Was it
       God's law, or mans' law. Sometimes they are in agreement and
       other times we run into some gray areas. I believe he was
       talking about God's law, which if mans' law is based upon,
       will be in agreement. We have all sorts of titles for these
       two basic catagories. There is natural law, which I feel is
       probably the same as God's law, but what people alude to when
       they don't want to aknowlege God. There is moral law, which I
       suppose depends on what one determines to be moral. The law
       of the land, international law, war-time laws, and it goes on.
    2. Who is my neighbor? Is it the people next door, on my block,
       everyone I chance to meet? What did Paul mean? 
    
    I personally don't think he was exaggerating at all. But then I
    believe the Bible to be accurate, and without error. To examine
    it further, I think that what Paul was saying was that if you
    treat others in the same manner that you would want them to treat
    you, then it's a safe bet that you aren't sinning. Man calls this
    The Golden Rule, you know, do onto others... So, I feel that he
    was refering to God's law, and our neighbor is everyone else we
    have contact with. IMO this would include the unborn child.
    
    				Mel
337.2close...TFH::KIRKa simple songFri Nov 08 1991 16:0718
Hi Richard,

I prefer Jesus' summary, (paraphrasing from memory) 

	"love, as I have loved you."

I honestly wasn't able to love myself until I grew to understand more fully 
how Jesus loved me, and so my best efforts at loving others as myself were
weak and feeble. 

If I were required to distill the entire Law in one line, I would choose what 
Jesus told his disciples.  The implications (how *has* God loved me?) are far 
deeper and broader.  And I do believe that the entire Law is captured in this 
commandment.

Peace,

Jim
337.3Solid summaryCSC32::J_CHRISTIEPassionate PeaceFri Nov 08 1991 16:428
    I believe Paul was refering to the law as recorded in the Old Testament
    portion of the Bible.
    
    I believe Galatians 5.14 to be a solid summary of everything worthwhile
    about the law as contained in the OT.
    
    Peace,
    Richard