Video version here.

The distinction between casuistic and apodictic formulations of “legal” material in the Bible, seems like a prime example of scholarship which has lost touch with the needs of real Bible readers. Not least the abstruse technical language puts people off. Yet this distinction has deeply theological consequences, and Jesus seems to “fulfill” OT law (at least in part) by rephrasing the casuistic as apodictic.In this first part I’ll begin the boring stuff, and introduce what scholars meant by distinguishing casuistic from apodictic material in the laws of the Old Testament. Part 2 will get to the exciting stuff. (I know this is not the best way to gain your attention, but sometimes work is needed before the fun can start.)

Tags: Jesus, Jesus reading Scripture, Law, Matthew, Reading