The Gospel According to Leviticus? Interpreting and Applying Old Testament Law - the Year of Jubilee

Abstract

This paper will give an overview of the different ways the Year of Jubilee is interpreted and applied by modern scholars and theologians. First, Lev 25, the Jubilee chapter, will be given a detailed overview with major themes explored more. Then, the different interpretations and applications of the Jubilee Year will be organized into two major interpretive categories, non-Christological and Christological. The non-Christological category of interpretation will be further categorized into economic, ecological, political, and spiritual-ethical principles. The Christological category of interpretation will be further categorized into redemptive, redemptive and spiritual principles, eschatological, and eschatological and spiritual principles. The purpose of this study is to understand these different approaches to interpreting the Jubilee law, which could be generalized to understand how to interpret and apply Old Testament law in general.