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

31 as giving rise to the priesthood (see figure 1), according to Hebrews 7:11-12, it is just the op- posite (see figure 2). Priesthood Law Law Priesthood Figure 1 Figure 2 At first glance this argument may seem false because it is clear that the giving of the law (Exodus 19-24) chronologically preceded the establishment of the priesthood (Exodus 29 ; Leviticus 8-9). However, the author ' s subject in the chapter hinges not on chronological but on logical precedence. We say this for two reasons: (1) the statements of 7: 11 , 12 45 and (2) the contextual flow of the author ' s argument in the book. In this book the abrogation of the "' .. law is not assumed, but rather the point to be proved , and this point is proved on the basis of the change in priesthood . An analogous point might be made with a new car and its repair manual. When a new car replaces an old car , a repair manual appropriate to the new car mu t replace the old manual. According to the author 's subject and argument in this chapter the Law was given as a "manual " or document which helped to regul ate human interaction with the priesthood . As an administrative covenant it was dependent upon the centerpiece of the priesthood so that when the priesthood changed it had to be changed a well . Thu the author aruge that the laws of Mo es must be di placed with new revelation which regulat or hip appropriate to the new prie t. In the opinion of thi writer thi i the theologi al nt r f the book. It i here that the theme of revelation and prie tho d m t. re lati n mu t 4 h uthor t t hi point t i in t o , making it par nth ti all in 7: 11 nd ir tly m 7: 1 . H ite in 7:11, " o if p rt'. ti n a thr ugh th L iti al n th d (for on the ba i of it the people re eived the Law), h t furth r n d ... " and m 7. L..,, " r en th pr h d i h n d, it th t k pl h n f I 1 "