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R. J. Rushdoony
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The Institutes of Biblical Law Hardcover – January 1, 1973

by Rousas John Rushdoony (Author), Gary North (Contributor)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 51 ratings
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To attempt to study Scripture without studying its law is to deny it. To attempt to understand Western civilization apart from the impact of Biblical law within it and upon it is to seek a fictitious history and to reject twenty centuries and their progress.The Institutes of Biblical Law has as it's purpose a reversal of the present trend. It is called "Institutes" in the older meaning of that word, i.e., fundamental principles, here of law, because it is intended as a beginning, as an instituting consideration of that law which must govern society, and which shall govern society under God. It is a modern heresy that holds that the law of God has no meaning nor any binding force for man today. It is an aspect of the influence of humanistic and evolutionary thought on the church and it posits an evolving and developing god. This "dispensational" god expressed himself in law in an earlier age, then later expressed himself by grace alone, and is now perhaps to express himself in still ano
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  1. Print length
    890 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co.
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1973
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1.75 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0875524109
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0875524108
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co. (January 1, 1973)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 890 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0875524109
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0875524108
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.75 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 51 ratings

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R. J. Rushdoony

R. J. Rushdoony

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Rousas John (R. J.) Rushdoony (1916-2001) was a well-known American scholar, writer, and author of over thirty books. He held B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of California and received his theological training at the Pacific School of Religion. An ordained minister, he worked as a missionary among Paiute and Shoshone Indians as well as a pastor to two California churches. He founded the Chalcedon Foundation, an educational organization devoted to research, publishing, and cogent communication of a distinctively Christian scholarship to the world-at-large. His writing in the Chalcedon Report and his numerous books spawned a generation of believers active in reconstructing the world to the glory of Jesus Christ. Until his death, he resided in Vallecito, California, where he engaged in research, lecturing, and assisting others in developing programs to put the Christian Faith into action.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
51 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A tad rough around the edges but more than brilliant, like the man.
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2017
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Rushdoony's magnum opus is a brilliant exposition of the Mosaic Law framed around a discussion of each of the ten commandments. He aims to link it to how Biblical law can be applied to modern society. Its well presented and well written. It's clearly based on a series of lectures so there is repetition and it meanders, for example his discussion of original sin wanders into a discussion on nudism bizarre and interesting in equal measure. I must disagree with Rushdoony's belief that the laws on food, the Sabbath, polygamy, and the Jewish calendar have been abrogated, and also his support for free market capitalism which doesn't cohere with the Jubilee system, the Torah's ban on usury, and his own apparent support for environmental protection, and his agreement with Cornelius van Till. His distinction between loans for the poor which one can't charge interest on, and business loans which one can, is arbitrary. Likewise Rushdoony does make claims which are overly broad or which lack adequate citations, however his detailed and nuanced discussion of each of God's statutes and their connexion with the rest of the Bible more than makes up for these defects. It is sad that his Theonomist followers and the broader Christian Right have failed to patiently study his work and the effort he puts into it and have run his legacy into the ground.
5 people found this helpful
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Jan Hoogland
5.0 out of 5 stars Its most important statement
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2013
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Churchianity preaches that everyone who believes in Jesus is a new creation and will be admitted to the Kingdom upon death. Rushdoony however shows that the acceptance of the forgiveness of sins is only the beginning of the process of sanctification, which is to become familiar with and obedient to the Law of God, in fear and trembling. Today's evil and suffering are a direct consequence and a measure of our violation of the Law. Loving others involves a whole lot more than some gut feeling. How can you expect to become a citizen of God's Kingdom while having no interest in its societal laws and trampling on them on a daily basis? "Institutes" will help you along but is not perfect.
9 people found this helpful
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The Druid
5.0 out of 5 stars Rouses John Rushdoony's family went back to the Middle Ages ...
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2016
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Rouses John Rushdoony's family went back to the Middle Ages in Armenia where his foreberers were Orthodox priests. Rush was a Presbyterian pastor.

One of his strengths Is answering Islamic law with laws from the Chrisrian Bible. Roushdoony shows profound scholarship, practical observations and he has a sense of strategic loyalty to the Biblical text. I've worn out one copy and this, my second, sans personal notes, will serve my purpose well..
2 people found this helpful
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Lane Purdy
4.0 out of 5 stars Worthy addition to library
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2016
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This book offered connections in Law I wanted to find in my quest to discover links in the way we abused the law in Jesus time, compared to ways the law is abused today. While I don't subscribe to all the writers ideas, his work has a wealth of useful knowledge in how Mosaic Law for instance lines up with agreements between God and Man, and Commandments. Our law and legal system being largely influenced by God in it's primary principals, is set up similarly in that case law level decisions controlling our courts point to and line up with higher decisions, legislation, constitutional provisions and such which ultimately acknowledge God as the highest authority.
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Southernrecon
5.0 out of 5 stars A work that changed history
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2012
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I've had my copy of this book for decades. I bought this copy for a friend. Five hundred years from now, this book will still be in print and sought after. Like Calvin's Institutes, Rush's work here on Biblical Law will be manifest as a pivotal work influencing the course of future Christianity. This book is big but not cursed with a boring page.
One person found this helpful
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richard gunsolus
5.0 out of 5 stars Like a great workout
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2016
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Incredible lessons of the principle of Lex Talionis and the indispensability of the Old Testament law concerning today's issues and headlines. Like a great workout, growth through effort.
One person found this helpful
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Brian L. Van Eaton
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2010
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I just started to read this, but already like it, I don't know if I will agree with everything Rush states in the book, But, I do think it will present the law to me in a very Biblical sense.
One person found this helpful
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Miguel H. De Zubeldia
5.0 out of 5 stars Very, very nice...
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2017
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EXCELLENT BEAUTIFUL THANK YOU VERY MUCH
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Top reviews from other countries

mylie ferguson
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on the ten commandments
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2019
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Great to read this insightful book on the ten commandments
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