What are the oracles of God?
The Greek is logion (logeeon) and means the utterances or words of God. The NASB95 shows an interesting cross reference to Acts 7:38 where Steven, in his speech that resulted in his stoning, describes the “living oracles” as being given at Mount Sinai…a reference to the Ten Commandments. Some commentators think the “oracles of God” refer to the Old Testament, while others think they are the Pentateuch and still others feel Paul is specifically referring to the Ten Commandments. I tend to think Paul had in mind the Hebrew Bible, or what we call our Old Testament. All through his writings there are three basic facts in Paul’s mind about the Jews. They are briefly mentioned here, but are in fact the three thoughts that it takes this whole letter to explain. To his question, “What if some of them were unfaithful and did not believe?” he makes these three points: • Paul was quite sure God was justified in condemning the Jews. They had their special place and their special promises; and th
