From: rich.bellacera@amail.amdahl.com
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: 7 NOAHIC LAWS
Date: 12 Jan 93 20:33:24 GMT
Return-Path: <amail.amdahl.com!rich.bellacera@juts.ccc.amdahl.com>

I don't recall if this has ever been discussed here before, but it is
Messianic Jews who have mentioned the concept of 7 Basic Laws intrensic
to all peoples of all nations from which all systems of civil laws seem to
have evolved.

I guess it began with Noah &the flood and ended around the time of the Tower
of Babel.

Believe me, I am in no way speaking as an authority on this subject, but
rather sharing what I have come to understand, or think, but I am sure
my words will fail me in many areas.  I am seeking clarification and better
understanding.

The following is what I "think" I can remember concerning the 7 Noahic
ordinances and their purpose.

The scriptures used to identify them are Genesis 9:4 & Acts 15:20-29.
Their purpose seems to provide some clarification of what were common
laws that even Gentiles adhered to prior to the Abrahamic Covenant (when
God called-out a people to be a light in the world), and after the
resurrection of Jesus Christ when Gentiles were being converted to
Christianity.  Perhaps this could be clarified in more precise language?

The seven ordinances were 6 "don'ts" and 1 "do".

1.  Do NOT worship idols.  This concept probably comes from the idea of
    not eating anything sacrificed to idols, and relates closely to the
    idea of the 1st Mosaic Commandment "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy
    God with all thine heart, soul and mind.  Thou shalt have no other
    gods before me." (paraphrased of course).  I'm not really sure how
    this law is compared to 1 Corinthians 8 where Paul says it is the
    "weak" Christian who doesn't understand that idols are nothing except
    to those who make them something, and while it is o.k. to eat meat
    sacrificed to idols, the weaker brother may not understand your reason
    and thereby stumble in his own spiritual walk.  Also in Act 15 it says
    it's bad to eat this meat.

2.  Do NOT eat meat with with blood.  This probably has something to do
    with the sacredness of all life, especially concerning the idea that
    "the life is in the blood", thus all beasts were suppose to be drained
    of blood before eating.

3.  Do NOT commit adultry.  (self explanatory)

4.  Do NOT blaspheme.  (please clarify)

5.  Do NOT steal. (Covet?)

6.  Do NOT murder.

7.  DO justice.  (I would suppose this has to do with the "Golden
    Rule" and the Law of Hospitality -Leviticus 19:33-34, and the
    teaching of the Good Samaritan, as well as the second greatest
    law: to love your neighbor as you love yourself).

I kinda think of these as "general morals" by which any civilization can
live & prosper.  I have also called them the Law of the Rainbow because the
basic symbol of the Noahic Covenant was the "rainbow" from the Flood and in
our modern days it is also a symbol of all peoples and nations and cultures.

Please e-mail me since my newsreader doesn't always update (especially during
maintenance periods which could/do last several days).
THANK YOU
-Rich

"Christians themselves are the greatest reason for accepting Jesus
Christ, but they are also the greatest reason for rejecting Him."
                                      -Charles Finney