One of the most important issues for our day is the subject of inspiration. For example, in the books of Moses, rather than forbidding the practice of polygamy, guidelines were given for men who chose to take a second wife. And, rather than forbidding the practice of private vengeance, in which a family would hunt down and kill a man who killed another accidently, God provided cities of refuge. Instead of commands that disallowed slavery, provisions are made for it...the list goes on.

 

In what way are these passages "inspired"?

For many individuals, the suggestion that certain passages in the Bible only apply for that specific time and culture amounts to "picking and choosing" and destroys the authority of the Bible. But should we still be stoning Sabbath breakers to death? What about Paul's advice for women that "it is a shameful thing for a women to speak in church?" Isn't it a much "slippier slope" to literally try and follow or enforce these commands today?

 

In this Bible study we concluded by using the subject of "women in the ministry" as a test case to apply issues related to inspiration.

 

 

 

 

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This book contains the advice of God, through Moses, just as the people are to enter the promised land. It's an amazing book! But, there is also some unusual advice given. For example, what application can we make of the advice to use the tithe money and to buy even alcohol if the journey to the temple was too far? The book of Deuteronomy is also the first window in the Bible to really understanding the meaning of God's wrath. I find this to be very good news!

 

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Video recording of the November 19, 2007 Bible study for the Loma Linda University School of Allied and Public Health.