Bible
Understanding Biblical Law Skills for Thinking With and Through Torah Dru Johnson We tend to see biblical law as a long list of rules with harsh punish- ments, and the more we read the biblical law within modern legal frameworks, the stranger it appears. We are too estranged from its world, aims, and concerns to see its beauty and wisdom. In Understanding Biblical Law , Dru Johnson reorients our modern legal thinking to the world of biblical law. It teaches us how to avoid typical misunderstandings and how to develop our skills for under- standing Israel’s laws, rituals, and narratives. Johnson weaves in an ancient murder mystery between chapters to show how ancient Israelites could have reasoned with and through Torah to solve real-life problems. He then demonstrates how we can do the same by discerning biblical law’s literary and historical contexts, appre- ciating its sophisticated wisdom, and distinguishing it from our modern legal notions. This book is engaging and accessible for undergrads and laypeople but robust enough for seminarians. Johnson demonstrates a skill- based approach for interpreting Old Testament law and uses exam- ples to encourage readers to practice these skills for themselves. “Johnson clears the modern fog surrounding ancient legislation, guiding readers to see Torah not as a harsh legal code but as a profound moral vision. By reentering the ancient Israelite world, he brings the law down from Sinai once more, making its thought world accessible and its insights illuminating for all.” —Joshua Berman, Bar-Ilan University “Perfect for undergraduate students, seminarians, pastors, teachers, and interested lay readers, this book equips readers with practical tools to think deeply about Torah’s guidance and its relevance for today’s world.” —Cynthia Shafer-Elliott, Baylor University “Short and sweet but nuanced and insightful, this is the introductory textbook I’ve been seeking. Understanding Biblical Law immerses students in the world these laws actually served, training them to think differently about an oft-misunderstood cor - pus.” —Michelle Knight, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School “A creative, timely, and entertaining remedy for widespread misguided readings of biblical law. Understanding Biblical Law is a must-read for anyone interested in acquiring the necessary tools to interpret and apply the heart of biblical law in modern times.” —Dominick S. Hernández, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University “A wonderfully insightful and engaging, yet simultaneously remarkably lean, treatment of biblical law in its vast depth and breadth. This is the ideal textbook for classroom use.” —Brent A. Strawn, Duke University
OCTOBER 2025 • 208 pages • $24.99 • paper • 9781540967091
Dru Johnson (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is Templeton Senior Research Fellow and director of the Abrahamic Theistic Origins Project at Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford. He is also a visit- ing professor at Hope College, director of the Center for Hebraic Thought, editor of the Routledge Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Biblical Criticism series, and cohost of the OnScript podcast. His books include Biblical Philosophy and Human Rites: The Power of Rituals, Habits, and Sacraments.
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