Exegesis and moral theology

the problem of the three precepts

Abstract

In 1993, the document The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, presented a subtopic called Exegesis and Moral Theology. In this section, the Pontifical Biblical Commission said "often the biblical texts do not bother to distinguish universal moral precepts, prescriptions of ritual purity and particular juridical orders". In view of this observation, it is worth asking two questions: is the division of precepts into moral, ritual and juridical theologically well founded? Is it possible to classify the nature of the precepts on the basis of the reasoning? To answer these questions, this article will be divided into three parts. The first two will present a theological foundation for the theology of the three laws and the last will present hermeneutical criteria for distinguishing the types of laws. The first section will focus on the tripartition of laws in Sacred Scripture. The second part will be dedicated to understanding how the Christian Tradition interpreted the veterotestamental laws after the advent of Christ. Finally, the third part will present a table with 9 distinct classifications for the laws of Holy Scripture from a framework composed of two triple classifications.