Ancient Origins of the Hebrew Roots Movement: Noahide and Mosaic Laws

According to the research of Ken Johnson, Genesis 9 teaches that God gave moral law to all nations after the Flood. This is called Noahide Law. It is a significant historical doctrine, as Noahide Law is taught by the ancient church fathers, the Talmud, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and many other very ancient manuscripts. Furthermore, it was the doctrine of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Essenes.

The Mosaic Covenant and Ancient Israel

Regarding the development of biblical law, the apostle Paul taught that the Law of Moses, given at Mount Sinai, was added to Noahide Law to create a government structure for ancient Israel. It is important to understand that Gentile nations were never under this Mosaic Covenant, and the Mosaic Covenant was set aside for the Jewish believers in Messiah at Jesus’ first coming. Today, this is taught by Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox denominations, as well as most cults.

The Hebrew Roots Movement Controversy

In contrast, only the Hebrew Roots Movement believes that Noahide Law never existed and that every single person is still required to keep the Law of Moses: the Sabbath, kosher food laws, sacrifices, festivals, circumcision, etc. This position puts them at odds with historical records; for instance, the Essenes (keepers of the Dead Sea Scrolls) excommunicated Hebrew Roots believers from their order, calling them heretics.

Sources and Historical Evidence

The chapters in this book show Noahide Law from many sources: the writings of Moses, the rest of the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the epistles of Paul. Ancient sources like the book of Gad the Seer, Seder Olam, and others are also cited. Other chapters include:

• Essene history
• Noahide Law throughout history
• Errors of various hyper-Hebrew Roots groups

Comparison of Legal Frameworks

Framework	Core Attributes and Requirements
Noahide Law	Moral law given to all nations after the Flood; supported by the Talmud and Dead Sea Scrolls.
Mosaic Law	Government structure for ancient Israel including the Sabbath, kosher food, and circumcision.
Hebrew Roots View	Believes Noahide Law never existed and everyone must keep the Law of Moses.