The Relationship of Jewish and Gentile Believers to the Law Between A.D. 30 and 70 in the Scripture

sacrificial system. 195 Finally, the prohibitions concerning rrnpvda involve a wide range of meaning from incest, consanguinity, homosexuality and even bestiality. 196 This view recommends itself for several reasons. It harmonizes with the well 125 defined subject of the council of "What is the relationship of Gentiles to Moses?" It thus answers the question that circumcision is necessary for neither Jew nor Gentile for salvation and certainly unnecessary for Gentiles after salvation as an expression of obedience . It does, however, require of Gentiles only what the Law had always explicitly required of them. This view also corresponds well to James' quotation from the Old Testament which not only cited the salvation of Gentiles but recognized that salvation came through the nation of Israel. If then, God was still working through the believing remnant of Israel and the abrogation of the Law had not been made clear in this very specific and limited time period (@A.D. 40-65), so that it still seemed to be a viable part of God's program (15:16-18) it would make sense that Gentiles would find their identity in relationship to Israel and her law (15: 19-20). Several objections to this view exist, however. Perhaps the first which comes to mind is the alleged conflict with the theology of Paul. Many who hold to this view feel forced to deny the historicity of the conference, specifically the parts which speak of Paul' pre ence . . . . in Acts 15 we are told of a council in Jerusalem which endor ed the mi ion to the Gentiles but laid certain restrictions, including food law , on the convert . Paul nowhere ugge ts in any way that he know of thi decree, and he certain! w uld n t have accepted its term . 197 195 Indeed, the information concerning blood in Leviti u 17 th mati all plain th ub tituti n uf iciency f the atonement from Leviticu 16. Atonement ur b au f th of one life for another . 196 f p r ti n , " Le ington Th olo i al ht m i r , " n lu i nit P ul , t nd Btbli al uarterl (J nu r 1