Definitions (Part 5)

Mosaic Law

Mosaic Law--moral revelation unveiled to Israel by God; found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy

Theonomy--belief that God's moral [1] laws, including the moral revelation in Mosaic Law, are objectively authoritative and good and that there is no other way to judge or know right and wrong

Reconstructionism--belief that aspects of Mosaic Law should be reintroduced into modern societies

Shema--declaration to Israel that God is one being and that humans should love God with the totality of their being [2]

Lex talionis--"law of retaliation" which allows for either proportionate financial compensation or permanent injury to be inflicted on one who has permanently injured another

Levirate marriage--practice where the brother of a husband who has died marries the wife of the deceased if the couple had no heirs

Decalogue--the Ten Commandments

Covenant Code--refers to the book of Exodus, chapters 20-23

Holiness Code--refers to the book of Leviticus, chapters 17-26 (or 27 in some estimates)

Deuteronomic Code--refers to the book of Deuteronomy, chapters 12-26

Covenant curses--list of divine curses attached to Mosaic Law which Jews were prophesied to incur if they disobeyed the Law

Mathematics [3]

Mathematics--study and use of abstract numbers

Applied mathematics--application of mathematics to disciplines outside of the purely abstract realm, like science

Number--symbol used to signify a particular amount or quantity (2, 366)

Geometry--mathematics dealing with lines, shapes, and figures

Addend--any of the two or more numbers added together to reach a sum [example (addends in bold): 2 + 5 = 7]

Sum--number reached by adding two or more addends [example (sum in bold): 2 + 5 = 7]

Minuend--number from which a separate number (subtrahend) will be subtracted to reach a difference [example (minuend in bold): 5 - 2 = 3]

Subtrahend--number subtracted from a minuend to reach a difference [example (subtrahend in bold): 5 - 2 = 3]

Difference--number reached by subtracting a subtrahend from a minuend [example (difference in bold): 5 - 2 = 3]

Factor--number multiplied with another number or numbers to reach a product [example (factor in bold): 7 x 4 = 28]

Product--number reached by multiplying two or more numbers (factors) [example (product in bold): 7 x 4 = 28]

Dividend--number which is being divided by another number (divisor) [example (dividend in bold): 6 / 3 = 2]

Divisor--number which a dividend is divided by [example (divisor in bold): 6 / 3 = 2]

Quotient--number reached by dividing a dividend by a divisor [example (quotient in bold): 6 / 3 = 2]

Variable--letter representing a known or unknown numeric value [example (variable in bold): 7 + x = 39]

Coefficient--number next to a variable by which it is multiplied [example (coefficient in bold): 9x -3 = 24]

Formula--a fixed equation used to calculate certain values [example (slope-intercept formula): y = m(x) + b]

Equation--arrangement of numbers and variables on both sides of an equal sign ( "=" ), with each side representing the same numerical value (example: x = 66)

Cartesian coordinate system--two-dimensional graph with two intersecting lines, one perpendicular and one horizontal, upon which one can place ordered pairs and numeric values

Linear equation--equation that, when graphed on a Cartesian coordinate system, forms a straight line

Nonlinear equation--equation that, when graphed on a Cartesian coordinate system, does not form a straight line

Ordered pair--two corresponding numbers or variables within parentheses or on a graph [example: (16, 9)]

Function--equation where numerical values entered on one side help calculate a single specific value on the other side; an input value leads to a single output value [example: f(x) = 3x - 6 + x --> f(4) = 3(4) - 6+ (4) --> f(4) = 10]

http://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2016/08/defininitions-part-1.html

http://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2016/08/definitions-part-2.html
http://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2016/09/definitions-part-3.html
http://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2016/10/definitions-part-4.html

[1].  I italicized "moral" to emphasize the fact that theonomists/reconstructionists do not believe that aspects of Mosaic Law like regulations of the priesthood still apply to life today, because such laws do not contain the moral status of revealed ethical principles.  Christ's advent, death, and resurrection have suspended the need for an organized priesthood and system of animal sacrifices, but the ethical teachings of the Old Testament--including the punishments--are grounded in God's nature and thus are still binding.  No amount of time can nullify moral obligation, but certain other laws within Mosaic Law were purely temporary and were superseded when Christ appeared.

[2].  Deuteronomy 6:4-5.

[3].  Some readers may wonder why a section devoted to math appears here.  This isn't a math blog, right?  Well, recently I have developed a desire to educate myself more about mathematics on a general and specific level because math is the only thing besides logic which is accessible on an a priori basis.  I realize that some people dispute the placement of math in the same a priori territory as the axiomatic and self-verifying principles of logic, but math overlaps with logic in many ways.  Science relies on empirical testing, repetition, and sensory perception and thus does not arrive at the kind of certainty that someone like me wants.  Precise theologies generally rely on special divine revelation and also do not usually grant the certainty I seek.  History is just one person's estimate of probability over that of another person and thus does not give me absolute certainty.  To find perfect certainty one must venture into the realm of abstract logic and mathematics.