Texts in Conversation

Leviticus 18 promises life to anyone who follows God’s commands. Paul in Romans cites the verse to prioritize faith in Jesus as the universal sign of righteousness for Jewish and Gentile believers.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE

Leviticus 18:5

Hebrew Bible
4 You must observe my regulations, and you must be sure to walk in my statutes. I am the Lord your God. 5 So you must keep my statutes and my regulations; anyone who does so will live by keeping them. I am the Lord. 6 “‘No man is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations with her. I am the Lord.
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)

Romans 10:5

New Testament
4 For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)
Date: 55-58 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References

#5533
“... This is an appropriate point at which to introduce 10:5 into our discussion–a quotation of Leviticus 18:5: ‘Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them” ’ (Ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὰ ἄνθρωπος ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς). The evidence is accumulating that this statement reprises the competing righteous activity of Israel; it encapsulates her alternative saving system. ... The case for this judgment begins by noting that Leviticus 18:5 must corroborate one of the two types of righteousness that we have just noted. Moreover, as the quotation explicitly attests, this righteousness concerns a way to life, here meaning a way to resurrection, the subject of all the other instances of δικαιοσύνη in the subsection. ... However, the Levitical text works nicely as an account of the righteous activity that Israel seeks to establish in opposition to God’s. Israel does indeed seem to be “doing” something here, and thereby seeking to live. And Paul even marks it explicitly as something effected ἐκ [τοῦ] νόμου, or “through law.” ...”
Campbell, Douglas A. The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul (pp. 1105-1106) William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009

* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.

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