Law of Moses

== Terminology ==

== Terminology ==

The term occurs 15 times in the [[Hebrew Bible]], a further 7 times<ref>’the Law of Moses’ – John 7:23; Luke 2:22; 22:44; Acts 15:5, 21; 24:14; 28:23</ref> in the [[New Testament]], and repeatedly in [[Second Temple period]], [[intertestamental]], [[rabbinical]] and [[Church Fathers|patristic]] literature.

The Hebrew word for the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, ”[[Torah]]” (which means “law” and was translated into Greek as [[Nomos (mythology)|”nomos”]] or “Law”) refers to the same five books termed in English “Pentateuch” (from Latinised Greek “five books”, implying the five books of Moses). According to some scholars, use of the name “Torah” to designate the “Five Books of Moses” of the [[Hebrew Bible]] is clearly documented only from the 2nd century BCE.<ref>Frank Crüsemann, Allan W. Mahnke (1996). ”The Torah: theology and social history of Old Testament law”, p. 331. “…{{nbs}}there is only clear evidence for the use of the term Torah to describe the Pentateuch as a{{nbs}}…”</ref>

The Hebrew word for the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, ”[[Torah]]” (which means “law” and was translated into Greek as [[Nomos (mythology)|”nomos”]] or “Law”) refers to the same five books termed in English “Pentateuch” (from Latinised Greek “five books”, implying the five books of Moses). According to some scholars, use of the name “Torah” to designate the “Five Books of Moses” of the [[Hebrew Bible]] is clearly documented only from the 2nd century BCE.<ref>Frank Crüsemann, Allan W. Mahnke (1996). ”The Torah: theology and social history of Old Testament law”, p. 331. “…{{nbs}}there is only clear evidence for the use of the term Torah to describe the Pentateuch as a{{nbs}}…”</ref>