God, Justice, and Society

Aspects of Law and Legality in the Bible

Jonathan Burnside

Explores the subject of biblical law, which is foundational for understanding Western civilization and the history of Western law
Discusses how biblical law works in relation to different areas including the environment, property, social welfare, homicide, theft, and marriage
Challenges popular misunderstandings about the story of Mount Sinai and the giving of the Ten Commandments, as well as the interpretation of specific verses such as "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth"

God, Justice, and Society

Aspects of Law and Legality in the Bible

Jonathan Burnside

Description

What is the real meaning of 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth'? Where did the idea for the 'Jubilee 2000' and 'Drop the Debt' campaigns come from? And what, really, are the 'Ten Commandments'? In God, Justice, and Society, Jonathan Burnside looks at aspects of law and legality in the Bible, from the patriarchal narratives in the Hebrew Bible through to the trials of Jesus in the New Testament. He explores the nature of biblical law, legal thinking, and legal institutions by setting the biblical texts in their literary, social, and theological context.

Burnside questions the biblical texts from the perspective of an academic lawyer and criminologist and asks what the biblical materials contribute to our understanding about the nature and character of law. He examines much of biblical law and narrative that has formed the basis of Western civilization, while at the same time exploring differences between biblical law and modern legal concepts and legal assumptions. The resulting book is a cross-disciplinary analysis which recognizes the integration of law and theology.

God, Justice and Society presents biblical law as an integration of instructional genres in the Bible which together express a vision of a society ultimately accountable to God. Burnside seeks to understand both the application of law and legal theory to the Bible and the extent to which biblical law contributes important insights into legal dilemmas in today's world.

A holistic teaching website to support this book, containing downloadable resources, is available at www.seekjustice.co.uk.

God, Justice, and Society

Aspects of Law and Legality in the Bible

Jonathan Burnside

Contents

Contents
Acknowledgements
How to use this book
Timeline
Introduction: The horizon of biblical law
Chapter One: The Character of Biblical Law
Chapter Two: A Deal With God
Chapter Three: Beyond Sinai
Chapter Four: Justice as a Calling
Chapter Five: Humanity and the Environment
Chapter Six: People and Land
Chapter Seven: Social Welfare
Chapter Eight: Homicide and Vengeance
Chapter Nine: Theft
Chapter Ten: Marriage and Divorce
Chapter Eleven: Sexual Offences
Chapter Twelve: New Laws for a New Age
Chapter Thirteen: The Trials of Jesus
Conclusion: Law in the purpose of God
Bibliography

God, Justice, and Society

Aspects of Law and Legality in the Bible

Jonathan Burnside

Author Information

Jonathan Burnside is Reader in Biblical Law at the School of Law, University of Bristol, England. He has degrees in Law and Criminology, both from the University of Cambridge, as well as a doctorate in Law from the University of Liverpool. His work explores the relationship between law, theology and criminology from theoretical and applied perspectives, beginning with Relational Justice: Repairing the Breach (1994, Waterside Press). He joined the School of Law in 2001, becoming Reader in 2007. His doctoral thesis in biblical law was published as The Signs of Sin: Seriousness of Offence in Biblical Law (2003). He was appointed by the Home Office and the Prison Service England and Wales to head an evaluation of faith-based units in prisons in England and Wales, which was subsequently published as part of a wider, cross-programmatic, study of faith-based units in prisons around the world (My Brother's Keeper: Faith-Based Units in Prisons, 2005).

God, Justice, and Society

Aspects of Law and Legality in the Bible

Jonathan Burnside

Reviews and Awards

"A real tour de force in the area of biblical law. Legal historians, as well as biblical scholars, will remain in the author's debt for years to come as this book sets the mark for excellence in this field." - Prof. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Colman M. Mockler Emeritus Professor of Biblical Law and Old Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

"God, Justice, and Society is an ambitious work that brings to the study of biblical law a rich, sensitive understanding of the cultural, linguistic, and theological landscape in which biblical law was developed. The result is a work of such depth and insight that it will be at the center of academic discussion for decades to come." - Rev. Prof. Dale. S. Kuehne, Department of Politics, Saint Anselm College

"In comparing biblical and modern English approaches to a range of legal subjects, Burnside draws on the former to challenge the latter. He succeeds in making a convincing case for the contemporary relevance of the study of biblical law. This is a book which deserves to inform and provoke legal, sociological and theological debate." - Sir Roger Toulson, Lord Justice of Appeal, The Court of Appeal, Her Majesty's Courts Service

"This is a first-rate vade mecum for students of law wishing to relate modern legal concepts to biblical legal principles. A series of areas of central, contemporary importance are discussed from a biblical perspective in substantial chapters rich in detail and explanation, in which the supralegal function of biblical law as 'wisdom' and as visionary in what it holds out to humanity emerges most clearly. Lawyers are used to handling heavy tomes; this sizeable introduction and its challenge to legal positivism should command a wide and appreciative readership." - Robert P. Gordon, Regius Professor of Hebrew, University of Cambridge

"God, Justice and Society comes as a timely challenge for us to rethink the whole purpose of law in society." - Prof. Carver T. Yu, President, China Graduate School of Theology