 |
|
     |
|
|
|
Milgrom says that the "purification offering" deals with impurity and not with sin. Kiuchi says that it deals also with sin, suggesting that the "problem of terminology arises from the fact that the cultic law distinguishes between physical uncleanness and . . . (sin), whereas . . . (sin) itself can be an intense form of uncleanness." Jonathan Klawans' book on sin and impurity helps to resolve this dilemma; Klawans argues that the language of impurity is applied to sins in the Torah - idolatry and sexual immorality in particular defile the land and cause the land to wretch and vomit its inhabitants. Klawans thus justifies Kiuchi's claim that the purification offering dealt with both "sanctuary" and "land" defilements. Beyond that, the question is, how is this all transposed when we move to the new covenant? How is it conjugated? It appears that the NT knows only moral impurity, which now is seen as defiling the sanctuary and the land (both fulfilled in the church). 1 Cor 6 gives a clue: Paul describes sexual sin (which would have defiled the land in the OT) as a defilement of the temple of God. But does this formulation - moral and ceremonial collapsed into a single moral category - really cover all the cases in the NT?
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Thursday, September 08, 2005 at 11:22 AM
Permission is given to use material on this site, provided the source is cited, blog entries are republished in full, and the author is notified in advance.
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
