Review of Meyer's END OF THE LAW

Book Review

Jason C. Meyer, The End of the Law: Mosaic Covenant in Pauline Theology [B&H, Nashville, 2009]

Jason Meyer has written an interesting and enjoyable book. His major thesis is that the Old Covenant is “old” in that it belongs to the old era, and the New Covenant is “new” in that it belongs to the new age. He maintains, “Paul conceives of the Mosaic (old) covenant as fundamentally non-eschatological in contrast to the eschatological nature of the new covenant. Paul declares that the Mosaic covenant is now old because it belongs to the old age, whereas the new covenant is new because it belongs to the new eschatological age” [p. 1-2].

What I like most is his exegetical method. It is a fresh approach, although there are no real new ideas. This indicates an examination of semantic domain, immediate context, grammatical usage, Old Testament precedent and multiple attestations. He starts with Romans 9:4 and Eph. 2:12 indicating historical progression. He moves from there to contrast and analyzes the important text on the law and the new age (including 2 Corinthians 3; Galatians 3-4; and Romans 11:11-32). One could occasionally quibble with this or that piece of exegesis. Overall his exegesis is faithful and true. He concludes that the new covenant, unlike the old, cannot be broken. The Law consists of the letter, it kills, and is ineffectual in that it cannot give salvation. It is effective in that it accomplishes God’s design for lost sinners. Its goal was to lead to Christ. It was never designed to  provide inheritance, righteousness, life, or salvation. He then concludes with a summary and some pastoral applications concerning the character of New Covenant ministry.

This book is very readable. It is a worthwhile study, and gives good insights into the key Pauline passages on the law.