The scope of biblical commands

Years ago, an internet acquaintance who posted under the moniker Scott Ransom shared a summary of some notes he took in a moral theology class. 

The instructor gave guiding hermeneutical principles for determining the scope of biblical commands. I do not agree on all points, but I find the subject compelling and found the comments interesting.

• Determine the intended audience for the text.
• What category of people is it addressed to? Am I a member of that category?
• Determine the basis of the command. What is the logic behind the command?
• Determine the progress of revelation on this topic. Is it consistent throughout Scripture, modified later, frequent or occasional, or interpreted in a particular way by Christ or the apostles?
• Is the text normative, or merely narrative? Some texts are descriptive, but not prescriptive. Narrative does not always imply that we should “go and do likewise.”
• Interpret imperatives in light of their literary genre. A specific context may contain both timeless and temporary forms. The principle of antithesis; A particular imperative might be limited by the evil to which it is opposed: that is, if we are told to “do A as opposed to B,” that does not necessarily translate to “always do A.”
• Legalism is a misuse of the moral law that occurs in several forms: An attempt to become right with God through meritorious obedience. (Rom. 3-4). Imposition of the Law on Gentiles, for whom it was never intended (Acts 15, Gal. 1-4; Paul argues clearly in Galatians 3 that the Law was intended to be temporary and that its time was over). A focus on minor matters of the Law as a way to justify failure to reflect bigger, less explicit matters (e.g. in Matt. 23:23-24, Jesus attacks the Pharisees for using assiduous tithing as an excuse to avoid justice). Elevation of pious application of the Law to the level of Law itself (e.g. Matt. 15:1-9, Mark 3:1-6). On the other hand, seeking to obey specific commands of Christ is not “legalism,” no matter how many evangellyfish throw the term around arbitrarily.

Summary

Use of imperatives of the Bible is enduring for us if:

• it is addressed to an enduring audience
• it is based on a permanent relationship
• it is repeated, especially transculturally
• it is supported by prescriptive, and not merely descriptive, passages
• it is supported without abusing its literary genre
• it is taught as principle, not merely a manifestation of a principle.