04.Owen's Biblical Theology

Owen’sBiblical Theology: Elders in O.T. Church carry over into N.T. Church Dr. Westcott, the acknowledged authority on Owen’s Biblical Theology, would probably agree that Owen there presupposes the Church to have existed already with even the most ancient Presbuteroi: such as Abel, Enoch and Noah (Heb 11:1-7; Heb 10:25-29; Heb 13:7; Heb 13:17; Heb 13:24).

Bib. Theol. [Theol. Pant. 1661], 1994, pp. vi-ix, 22f, 90f, 184f, 218-20f, 365-70f & 439f. On p. 593, Owen says "Jesus Christ Himself...was He Who in times past showed Himself in human form to the [patriarchal] fathers.... He was that ’Angel of the Lord’ with the [Mosaic] Church in the wilderness (Acts 7:38)." On pp. 565f, Owen insists that even while "the whole Mosaic ritual system was soon to pass away"  the "Church continued." For then "its exclusively Jewish face" was "removed to make way for the New Testament inclusiveness of the Kingdom of God." So in Acts 15 "the Apostles with the Elders and entire Church at Jerusalem," holds Owen, "decided...converts from Gentile nations should not be bound by the Law of Moses."

Yet that latter is quite distinct from the Pre-Mosaic Law of God, which still obtains. Gen 1:28; Gen 2:17; Gen 8:6-12; Gen 9:1-12; Ecc 7:29; Hos 6:1-10; Acts 15:20-29; Acts 16:4; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:14-16; Rom 7:7-22; Jas 2:8-12.