The Noahide Laws

"The Noahide Laws, also called Noachian Laws, are a Jewish Talmudic designation for seven biblical laws given to Adam and to Noah before the revelation to Moses on Mt. Sinai and consequently binding on all mankind.

"Beginning with Genesis 2:16, the Babylonian Talmud listed the first six commandments as prohibitions against idolatry, blasphemy, murder, adultery, and robbery and the positive command to establish courts of justice (with all that this implies). After the Flood a seventh commandment, given to Noah, forbade the eating of flesh cut from a living animal (Gen. 9:4). Though the number of laws was later increased to 30 with the addition of prohibitions against castration, sorcery, and other practices, the "seven laws," with minor variations, retained their original status as authoritative commandments and as the source of other laws. As basic statutes safeguarding monotheism and guaranteeing proper ethical conduct in society, these laws provided a legal framework for alien residents in Jewish territory. Maimonides thus regarded anyone who observed these laws as one "assured of a portion in the world to come." Throughout the ages scholars have viewed the Noahide Laws as a link between Judaism and Christianity, as universal norms of ethical conduct, as a basic concept in international law, or as a guarantee of fundamental human rights for all." – Encyclopaedia Britannica

Talmudic tradition says that the nations of the world, other than Israel, were given only seven commandments to obey, the Seven Universal Laws, also known as the Seven Laws of Noah or the Noahide Laws. Obedience to these laws is the mandatory minimum.

As member of the Elect, we are obliged to obey all law and to teach others to do so as we walk the Via Christa, if only as ensamples. "This obligation to teach all the peoples of the earth about the laws of Noah is incumbent upon every individual in every era." – Mishnah Torah, Law of Kings, chapter 8:10. This obligation remains binding on us all, today.


1. Do not worship idols. {Idol worship is the perversion of faith. True faith in One God is the gate to eternity and represents man's ultimate victory over evil. Evil's only power is its ability to misdirect your faith.}


2. Do not blaspheme the name of God. {Blasphemy is the perversion of the soul's honor of God.}


3. Do not murder. {Murder is a perversion of strength.}


4. Do not steal. {Theft is the perversion of beauty, since beauty is the trait that enables us to relate to each other with kindness and consideration.}


5. Do not ebgage in illicit sexual relationships. {Adultery, or illicit sexual relations, is a perversion of love.}


6. Do not eat the flesh of a living animal or drink its blood. {Eating live flesh and drinking blood are the sacraments of evil and an utter perversion of divinely-bestowed soul substance; this is choosing death since "the life is in the blood."}


7. Establish a system of just laws. {Law is the foundation of any kingdom. The commandment to "establish a legal system to judge the transgressors" is meant to regulate and to rectify society, not to let it run wild, doing as it wills.}



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References

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Noahide Laws," Encyclopædia Britannica. January 14, 2008 [accessed March 4, 2020].

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).

Purchase a Bible here: The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV). Thomas Nelson, Inc.

The Holy Bible. Some Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.