A question about the Old Testament?

Question

"Do not allow a witch to live."

Exodus 22:18

This wasn't out of context, this was specific. Of course, if I were to quote it and try to apply it, people would say "That's in the Old Testament, we don't follow that anymore."

The question is,

Why did people follow this 1000 years ago?
Why was it not "That's in the Old Testament, we don't follow that anymore.", and why is it now?

Well people burn witches 1000 years ago.

People would justify their actions by the Bible, you can't say "That's in the Old Testament, we don't follow that anymore." then.

Answer 1

I am sad to say it is BECAUSE of Spiritual Ignorance in today's world my friend. (and Spiritual Blindness)

Answer 2

My Bible says "Do not allow a sorceress to live"

By the time those words reach your eyes they were likely translated from Hebrew to Greek and from Greek to English if you are lucky. The Old testament of your Bible may have been translated more times than that even. Hebrew is a language where many words have multiple meanings and it is very easy to lose the original meaning in translation.

Besides that, the Old Testament doesn't apply to Christians because when Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world a new covenant was formed. For Christians to go to heaven they must simply accept Jesus Christ as lord and savior and depending on denomination (they are still fighting over how this works) ask his forgiveness for their sins. That voids the rules and regulations of the Old Testament.

You don't keep kosher do you? Sometimes I like to rub a cheese knife against a steak knife just because I can.

By the way that verse is in direct contradiction to Exodus 20:13 a.k.a. the sixth commandment "Thou shall not murder".


I'd also like to illustrate why such verses are ignored by leaving you the two verses before the one you mentioned:

Exodus 22:
16. "If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. 17. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins."

Finally Exodus was written approximately 5000 years ago and Christianity was founded a little less than 2000 years ago.

By the way I'm not even a christian.

Answer 3

A large part of the Old Testament is actually the history of a people coming to terms with being a nation and the laws that were put in place to keep that people free from dark practices etc,running thru this history we see those particular times when God chose to communicate with them thru Moses for instance and also the Prophets.
Certain laws then were applicable to this people which could not and should not be applied to others not of that race.
Furthermore a lot of these laws were there to govern the people until such times as they grew spiritually mature.

Answer 4

I think in modern times, we realise that biblical punishments were reprehensible, much more than 1000 years ago. Christians need to justify the Old Testament in modern times and so it is discarded as "not relevant any more".

I disagree with this, in part. I understand that the Old Testament punishments may have applied in a particular time to a particular set of people. However, it reveals a side the nature of the biblical god which IS relevant if god doesn't change.

Answer 5

Question...which people (1000 years ago) are you talking about?

A thousand years ago (pre-Guttenberg), most people didn't have access to the Old Testament. I imagine that even priests and "scholars" would be considered rather ignorant by today's standards. So, assuming you're talking about Christian/European lawmakers of the day, I doubt they had to make sure their laws and punishments were consistent with holy writ. Cuz who knew better?

By the way, you are right, that practice does pertain to the old law (the Law of Moses), which has been fulfilled. Which is only one reason that we no longer put "witches" to death.

Answer 6

Understanding any biblical text is a challenge, and the Old Testament paramount in that.
the definitions of 'witch' in that context, if we were to follow it nowadays would cause us to kill all doctors and pharmacists, because a 'witch' in those days was someone who used chemicals for healing.
You must get away from the silly thought that the bible is the inspired word of god. If that were true, then we WOULD have to kill doctors and pharmacists today!
Just consider that a lot of the biblical texts were specific to the days and times, socially, politically and educationally when they were written, and with the understanding of the people who wrote them.
For instance, if you take Genesis literally, the earth was created first, and THEN all the heavenly bodies around it. We KNOW this is not true - just a perception of people who did not know any better at that time.
What to take from the bible (and leave the rest) is to know that there is ONE power in the universe that IS universal, all-present and everlasting, and it is a power of LOVE and construction - which could be called GOD, ALLAH, or All-That-Is - the I am that I am (by which 'name' GOD identified him/her/itself to Moses).
Also that this power is to be acknowledged first and foremost, then the fact that it exists in all people and also in oneself.
"Love the lord thy god with all thy heart and thy neighbor as thyself".
We must get away from quoting scripture and giving it power over the heart- and spirit-felt truth!
We must get 'real' in our souls, hearts and spirits and acknowledge the power of All-That-Is, which is above and beyond all scripture.
You and I are not made of a book and neither is the whole world. The bible is NOT a user manual for driving a life!
You would not consult a DOS manual for learning windows XP!
Leave the confusing texts alone and stick with 'love your neighbor as you do yourself'.

Answer 7

Because back then it was "current". Amendments are made as society evolves. There's also a verse that says anyone (friend, family, etc) who talks about another religion (gods other than Yahveh (YHVH) is to be stoned to death immediately (Deut 13:6)

Christians don't seem to be slaughtering a friend or family member who happens to "fall away" from the Church or practice Wicca, Satanism, etc. That's the kind of Christian who understands that Jesus died for the sake of a new covenant. The new covenant states that God knows we aren't perfect, and gives everyone who believes in Him an opportunity to resolve serious transgressions
.
Newer scripture tends to supercede outdated concepts and laws and replaces the norms of the millinea before it

Answer 8

Does your bible have a topical guide?

Some words, when they were translated lost their true meaning from their Hebrew origin.

The word "witch" was meant to be sorcerer or sorceress, someone who practices evil deeds. Not necessarily a witch as we know it to mean today.

Answer 9

I still believe taht whiches should be killed. I would love it if our government passed alaw ordering whiches to be burnt. The problem is that a government that decided to burn whiches one day may decide to boil me in oil the next.So I will allow htem the same rights that I wish to have. we are a republic not a theocracy. theocracies don't work because the ones who are supposed to be speaking for God are corrupt.

Answer 10

Things were a bit different back then, to how we see things Now ! At BEST, the human race was barbaric ! WE have the advantage of Someone gaining access for us to HIM.......

A clean and pure heart WILL see God.........!

Isn't LOVE better than ANYTHING ?!?!

PEACE, Kieth

Answer 11

Reminds me of Silent Hill.