The Law of Moses, often referred to as the Mosaic Law, is a comprehensive set of divine instructions given to the nation of Israel through Moses. It encompasses moral, ceremonial, and civil laws, and is foundational to the Old Testament covenant between God and His chosen people. Within the New Testament, the Apostle Paul refers to the Law as the "ministration of condemnation," highlighting its role in revealing human sinfulness and the need for divine grace.

Biblical Context and Purpose

The Law was delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai and is primarily recorded in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It served multiple purposes: to set Israel apart as a holy nation, to provide guidelines for worship and community living, and to reveal the holiness of God. The Law was a covenantal framework that required obedience and promised blessings for compliance and curses for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28).

Ministration of Condemnation

The term "ministration of condemnation" is derived from 2 Corinthians 3:9, where Paul contrasts the old covenant with the new covenant established through Jesus Christ. The Berean Standard Bible states: "For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!" Here, Paul acknowledges the glory of the Law but emphasizes its role in condemning sin rather than providing salvation.

The Law's function as a "ministration of condemnation" is evident in its ability to expose sin. Romans 3:20 declares, "Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin." The Law acts as a mirror, reflecting humanity's inability to achieve righteousness through their own efforts and underscoring the need for a Savior.

The Role of the Law in Salvation History

While the Law itself is holy and righteous (Romans 7:12), it was never intended as a means of salvation. Instead, it pointed to the coming Messiah, who would fulfill the Law's righteous requirements. Galatians 3:24 explains, "So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." The Law's role was to guide and prepare the people for the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

The Transition to the New Covenant

With the advent of Christ, the Law's role as a "ministration of condemnation" was transformed. Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17), and through His death and resurrection, He established a new covenant based on grace and faith. Believers are no longer under the Law's condemnation but are justified through faith in Christ (Romans 8:1).

In summary, the Law of Moses, as the "ministration of condemnation," serves a critical role in God's redemptive plan. It reveals the depth of human sin and the impossibility of achieving righteousness through human effort, thus pointing to the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.2 Corinthians 3:9
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Whether the New Law Justifies?
... OF THE LAW OF THE GOSPEL, CALLED THE NEW LAW, CONSIDERED IN ... A man making void the
Law of Moses dieth without ... of stone: whereas He gave the New Law written "in ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the new law justifies.htm

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity Gospel Transcends Law.
... "Letter" is the whole Law of Moses, or the ... you shall do, that you shall eschew."
This is what the apostle calls "the letter," or, as we have called it on ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twelfth sunday after trinity gospel.htm

Wish You to Know, Most Pious Father, that in These Days There Has ...
... man;" [1871] while here in the Gospel Jesus called the poor ... of Jesus, on the contrary,
is the law of life ... could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the ...
/.../the acts of the disputation with the heresiarch manes/40 i wish you to.htm

The Passage in Corinthians.
... not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the ... the ministration of condemnation,"
since the law entered that ... in it, that the Decalogue is called "the letter ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 24 the passage in corinthians.htm

On the Comparison of the Law and the Gospel
... 3:5, 6.) "The law was given by Moses; Grace and ... 9:14,) which is likewise on this
account called "the blood ... believeth." (Romans 1:16.) (ii.) The old law was an ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 13 on the comparison.htm

2 Cor. Iii. 7, 8
... that which we have said above, namely, that the Law showed sin ... he did not say, "How
shall not the ministration of the ... And Moses called them, and spake unto them ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily vii 2 cor iii.htm

The Letter and the Spirit
... self-examination (as they are called) full of ... ministration of righteousness into
the ministration of condemnation ... according to the letter of Moses' law, or any ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xiii the letter and.htm

Miscellaneous Subjects.
... That will be an awful hour when we are called before the tribunal of God ... and ignorance
endeavor to prove their arguments from the law of Moses, which was ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter xvi miscellaneous subjects.htm

The Negative Side
... the theological world just before the people of God are to be called away from ... Moses
Stuart ... penman is pointing out the folly of turning back to the Law as the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the law and the saint/the negative side.htm

The Law Given, not to Retain a People for Itself, but to Keep ...
... to bear the yoke of righteousness, so that when they are called, they are ... persons,
from not attending to this, boldly discard the whole law of Moses, and do ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 7 the law given.htm

What should Christians learn from the Mosaic Law? | GotQuestions.org

What is the difference between the ceremonial law, the moral law, and the judicial law in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

What was the purpose of the Levitical Law? | GotQuestions.org

Law: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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