Is the Torah just the books of Moses or the whole Bible?

1 Corinthians 14:21, In the law. Usually the word law (in Gr. nomos and in Heb. torah meaning “teachings, instructions or precepts) in the Scriptures refers to the first five books of Moses, but here Paul uses the term to apply to the writings of Isaiah the prophet. Obviously, Paul had a more expansive view of the law than just to the five books of Moses, for here he applies it to the prophets sections of the Tanakh or Old Testament. 

Similarly, in the Gospel of John, Yeshua refers to the Psalms (which were contained in the Writings part of the Tanakh) as the law (John 10:34), and Jewish people, like Paul, regarded Isaiah as part of the law as well (John 12:34). 

What all this means is that Yeshua, Paul and the Jewish people in a general sense viewed the entire Tanakh as the law, or more correctly, the instructions or teaching of YHVH, since the Hebrew word for law (i.e. torah) means exactly this. What this means to us is that Elohim’s entire word should be viewed as his legal code or instructions to men on how to act. As such, no parts of it can be eliminated, relegated to the past or “done away with.” It is thus important to view the entire Word of Elohim as equally binding and relevant to all people at all times.

 

8 thoughts on “Is the Torah just the books of Moses or the whole Bible?

  1. Yes. 2 Timothy 3: 15 – 17. Interesting the scripture being referred to is the so called old testament.

  2. EVERYTHING written the Brit’Hadasha is based on and found in the TORAH and TANAKH. Rabbi Shaul; you call Paul was a pharisee; expert in the Torah and Tanakh. Therefore, he was able explain how the Torah and Tanakh were not done away with but fulfilled through Yeshua of Nazareth the Messiah, Blessed be HE.
    Yeshua is the living Word of G_d. HE is the only one Who ever fulfilled the TORAH.
    /DV

  3. Yeshua joined the Scriptures when he said ” Not one jot or tittle shall be taken from the law or the prophets” Matthew 5:18
    Shalom, John

    • I believe this passage should read as follows: “I may even hand over my body to be sacrificed….”
      Blessings, John

  4. Paul was talking about living his life on Earth (in his flesh and blood body or tabernacle) as a “living sacrifice” (i.e. a “BURNT” offering), meaning he believed God allowed all of the things that occurred in Paul’s life, in spite of any appearances to the contrary.

    Coram Deo!

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