Help Believers to Stay Faithful in a Changing Culture. The Old Testament can also just be hard to understand, with complicated passages about genocide and descriptions of harsh cultural norms. Abraham does not rebel against God. [10] Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Its important to note here that, while the age of the old covenant has come to an end (Rom. Best Answer. Why was the Old Testament so important to the writers of the New Testament, and why is it important to mankind today? We sat down with Caleb Lindgren, to discuss how this series came to be and why discussing the Old Testament is so important. [41] You shall beget sons and daughters, but you shall not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 4:2324). Further, in the NT, Jesus speaks about hell more than anyone else. He's loving, but he's also the Lord of history. There are many reasons to study the Old Testament. Interpreting Scripture: A General Introduction, Jesuss Only Bible: 7 Tips for Preaching the Old Testament, 3 Books for Staying Hitched to the Old Testament, Get the Latest Ministry Resources In Your Inbox. The Old Testament starts with Gods relationship with Israel, but goes on to illustrate his relationship with all of humanity. It reveals that this God is a God of love who is deeply concerned about every person who has ever lived, and that He wants to share everything with all of humanity (Psalms 8:4-8 Psalms 8:4-8 [4] What is man, that you are mindful of him? They experienced the highs and lows of life, the joy and pain involved inrelationships, and asked deep life questions, just like we dotoday. [53] And you shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters, which the LORD your God has given you, in the siege, and in the narrow place, with which your enemies shall distress you: And so much of how we describe Jesus is the very same language that was used to describe God in the Old Testament. It contains some of the most ancient writingseverpreserved. for the fear of your heart with which you shall fear, and for the sight of your eyes which you shall see. It is something so astounding that it needs no comment. Does it really pertain to our day? Is it really worth reading? Without the Old Testament we would not understand as well the original problem to which Jesus is the solution, that being our sin and rebellion against God (Genesis 3); we would miss out on reading about Gods mighty acts of rescue through which we see his character on display (eg in the book of Exodus). For one, the Old Testament lays the foundation for the teachings and events found in the New Testament. 7:12), points to the excellencies of Christ, and portrays for us the scope of love in all its facets (Matt. Even so, this move from physical to spiritual warfare in the Old Testament does not carry with it a critique or rejection of what went on the in the Old Testament. American King James Version; Ezekiel 36:26-27 Ezekiel 36:26-27 [26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. He is giving, jealous, forgiving, loving, and holy. [34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, said the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Together they form one complete storythe story of God's deep love for mankind and His plan for humanity. Let's briefly summarize some of the things it reveals to us. 3:1516). Katie Bracy is digital marketing specialist at Christianity Today. All Scripture is important, not just the New Testament. Starting in Genesis 3:15, Scripture starts to talk about Jesus. Corroborating with the words of Jesus, Paul says: "Do we then make void the law through faith? Why is it important to study the Old Testament? [54] So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave: And looking back at the Re-word articles, by and large they were New Testament focused, so I thought it would be great to do an Old Testament-focused scripture series. And so, it's not just about Israel, but it is about God and the way that the character of God is revealed in a lot of the Old Testament, even in the nasty parts. To him all the [OT] prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Here the NT apostle identifies himself as a proclaimer of Jesus as judge, whereas he says the OT prophets proclaimed Jesus as the means of forgiveness. 1:5), that the sacred writings of his upbringing are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. [33] The fruit of your land, and all your labors, shall a nation which you know not eat up; and you shall be only oppressed and crushed always: The Old Testament Is Authoritative. If you wish to find out more I would highly recommend a book called Gospel and Kingdom by Graeme Goldsworthy which is available (as part of a trilogy) at Amazon, This is an Anglican Media Sydney production.Web development by Kreativ. [28] The LORD shall smite you with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart: It also is a book of ethics, teaching people how to . Accordingly, the apostle emphasized to Timothy, who was raised on the OT by his Jewish mother and grandmother (Acts 16:1; 2 Tim. How did you come up with the name First Testament? Peter asserted of the OT prophets, It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you (1 Pet. [40] You shall have olive trees throughout all your coasts, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil; for your olive shall cast his fruit. Similarly, Paul was convinced that the divinely inspired OT authors wrote for NT believers, living on this side of the death and resurrection of Christ. (NLT) 2 Timothy 2:16 pretty much sums it up here. But because a lot of what we know about who God is, and how God is, is from Jesus on the one hand, but also from the Old Testament. American King James Version). Study now. and at even you shall say, Would God it were morning! In the whole Bible we meet a God who is faithful to his promises to both bless and curse. The Laver of Bronze pointed ahead to Jesus, more than . [15] You shall call, and I will answer you: you will have a desire to the work of your hands. Understand the New Testament. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, For no matter how many promises God has made, they are Yes in Christ. Jesus says Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I don't think it's accurate, however, to say that Christians . [5] For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor. Copyright 2022 The Gospel Coalition, INC. All Rights Reserved. How do you resolve the issue of Creation with the evidence of science? 30:6), which we are enjoying today (Rom. Far from setting aside the OT, Jesus stressed that he came to fulfill it, and in the process he highlighted the lasting relevance of the OTs teaching for Christians: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [9] He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. This sentiment has a multiplicity of causes: some Christians read the Old Testament as the old covenant, and assume its been made irrelevant by the writings of the New Testament where the real gospel is made plain. Through pictures, types, and direct prophecies, God continually promised to send a Savior to save His people from their sins. My tiny little human brain can't possibly wrap itself around the thought process of God. Some Christians highly value the Old Testament because it describes the Mosaic feasts and Ten Commandments. Study the Old Testament,because it points to Him. [59] Then the LORD will make your plagues wonderful, and the plagues of your seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. On the other hand, if an individual or a nation repents of sin and asks God for forgiveness, He is ready and willing to forgive (Deuteronomy 28:15-68 Deuteronomy 28:15-68 [15] But it shall come to pass, if you will not listen to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you this day; that all these curses shall come on you, and overtake you: As we read and reread the Old Testament, what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf will become clearer and clearer still. For example, is there a more worldview-shaping passage than Genesis 1:12:3? Here are seven reasons (among many others) why the Old Testament is not only relevant for today's Christian and modern man, it is imperative if we are to fully appreciate the New Testament and rightly understand the gospel. [46] And they shall be on you for a sign and for a wonder, and on your seed for ever. Because then christians might be able to picture him doing all the things he did but some of those deads are quite sad and he gets hurt/injured. How do I answer a person who thinks Christians have deluded themselves? (Neh. concerning the Son that he preached and in which we now rest (Rom. The New Testament is not more important because it describes the birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ. 2:2). What is important in the Old Testament? So then it became a matter of finding a new adjective to describe it. And so nobody made the argument that we ought to just rename the whole thing. The Old Testament, while not written to Christians, was still written for us. If space says anything, the OT matters to God, who gave us his Word in a book. [29] And you shall grope at noonday, as the blind gropes in darkness, and you shall not prosper in your ways: and you shall be only oppressed and spoiled ever more, and no man shall save you. 9:3031). He understands his own ministry in light of what he thinks the law of the prophets and the writings bore witness. 30:9), Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. The New Testament is not just a book of history, not just a great work of literature, but it is a work of theology. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. CCC 121: The Old Testament is an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture. Old Testament spirituality is important to. The Old Testament: Establishes God as the Creator of all things. 5:19; Col. 3:16)? 1:13, 16). The Tabernacle was an earthly place for the ancient Israelites to interact with God. I am a New Testament Christian enough, and a believer in Reformed theology enough, to think that Jesus is also serious when he's talking to the disciples on the road to Emmaus and it says that he opened their minds to understand the Scripturesthe Scriptures here referring to the Old Testament. The very God who spoke through the OT prophets speaks through Jesus. Because we are now part of the new covenant and not the old, there are natural questions that arise regarding how exactly the Christian should relate to specific old covenant instruction. 6. Nevertheless, the point stands that the OT, while not written to Christians, was still written for us. So is it important to study the Old Testament? Its books are divinely inspired and retain a permanent value,for the Old Covenant has never been revoked. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. The Gospel Coalition supports the church by providing resources that are trusted and timely, winsome and wise, and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hopping into the story in Matthew fails to establish . [21] The LORD shall make the pestilence stick to you, until he have consumed you from off the land, where you go to possess it. Why not? Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. In fact, our students are in classes for almost an entire year before they ever delve into the New Testament. [27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them. They had families and friendships. It is filled with many wonderful stories and characters. If we want to understand the whole story, weve got to go to where it all started. Paul was a herald of the good news of Gods kingdom in Christ (e.g., Acts 19:8; 20:25; 28:3031), which he preached from the Law of Moses and the Prophetsthe OT (28:23; cf. Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.It is the world's largest religion with roughly 2.3 billion followers representing one-third of the global population. The New Testament is concerned primarily with Christ and secondarily with God in the Church and the Holy Spirit. Christians/Churches claim the Old Testam ent is. As such then you can say that both the Old and New Testaments are about Jesus - the Old Testament points to Jesus, and the New Testament describes his life, death and resurection, and reflects on the impact this has in the world. 9:2021; Gal. Words matter and rhetoric affects how a thing is perceived. It is a work of making claims about God and humanity and their relationship. [33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, said the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Do you want to see and savor Jesus as much as you can? He declares, Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. [7] You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of your hands: The Bible says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful" (2 Timothy 3:16, emphasis added). Where else can we go other than the OT to rightly understand sacred space and the temple? [57] And toward her young one that comes out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and narrow place, with which your enemy shall distress you in your gates. Copy. In the beginning, God.(Gen 1:1). If we only study the New Testament, we are depriving ourselves of a rich supply of Gods revelationsaboutwho He is. We would be silly to expect to understand a book by opening it to the middleinstead of at the beginning. So may we be people who guard ourselves from blood guilt by making much of the OT in relation to Christ. (2 Chron. [67] In the morning you shall say, Would God it were even! [23] And your heaven that is over your head shall be brass, and the earth that is under you shall be iron. The Old Testament also contains examples of: other people that Christians can learn from, eg Job. [44] He shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to him: he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for the themselves teachers to suit their own passion, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. [61] Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring on you, until you be destroyed. Do you want to see and savor Jesus as much as you can? If Christians are part of the new covenant, why should we seek to understand and apply the Old Testament (OT)? How does this series make the case that the Old Testament is worth reading for its own sake? Some may feel that the God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New. And that justice is compassionate, but it's still just. The Old and New Testaments work together to give us the whole picture of who God is, who we are and what God does with our rebellion. Jesus talks about judgment, sin and wrath, and hell nearly as often as he talks about forgiveness and love. And Jesus himself even uses a lot of that language. Its not like you cant be saved if you havent read the Old Testament, but there's a kind of goofy, Steven Curtis Chapman song from years and years ago, where he has this image of a kid playing Gameboy standing in the middle of the Grand Canyon. 1:12). [10] He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation. That description is the way that God gets described over and over in the Old Testament. As we learn from the life themes of peoplein the Old Testament, we can be comforted knowing we are not alone in our human struggle. 1. And so the Old Testament helps you to get that full 360 degree picture. [39] You shall plant vineyards, and dress them, but shall neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them. He takes sin and repentance seriously, and so should we. [7] All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field; The Old Testament shows His patience, His plan, and His personality. . We see that Abraham is important to Christianity for his faith is brilliantly revealed when he is ready to give up his son, Isaac. It's adherents, known as Christians, are estimated to make up a majority of the population in 157 countries and territories, and believe that Jesus is the Son of God . Bob Oliver. CT used to do a series called Re-Word where we asked different scholars, thinkers, and pastors to unpack a Bible verse that was particularly significant to them. . [45] Moreover all these curses shall come on you, and shall pursue you, and overtake you, till you be destroyed; because you listened not to the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded you: Im guessing it was because it wouldnt have made sense without the preceding chapters which gave context to the final chapter and made the final chapter understandable. [50] A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young: I know the phrase is a part of the book title of one of the series authors, John Goldingay, so how did you decide it was right for this series as well? profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work (3:1617). Did you read the last chapter first? The New Testament is the fulfillment of Gods plans, purposes and promises which he gave in the Old Testament. [52] And he shall besiege you in all your gates, until your high and fenced walls come down, wherein you trusted, throughout all your land: and he shall besiege you in all your gates throughout all your land, which the LORD your God has given you. Its here that He introduces Himself to the world. And if an entire nation sins, it eventually will reap the results of those sins. In Acts 10:4243, Peter asserts, And [God] commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that [Jesus] is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. It is important to study the Old Testament, and here are eight foundational reasons why: 1. American King James Version; Psalms 8:6 Psalms 8:6You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet:American King James Version, Hebrews 2:6-8 Hebrews 2:6-8 [6] But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that you are mindful of him? The Ten Commandments, and the statutes and judgments based on those commandments, show us how to live God's way of love. You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 22:3740). We meet the same God in the Old Testament as we do in the New Testament. Knowing this colors our understanding of his following charge to Timothy: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. But now we see not yet all things put under him. Even thousands of years ago, people were still people. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not then smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law (1st 5 books of the Bible) until everything is accomplished. (Matt 5:17-18). [65] And among these nations shall you find no ease, neither shall the sole of your foot have rest: but the LORD shall give you there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And those are the people that he preached to, and God forgave them when they repented. The New Testament is the fulfillment of God's plans, purposes and promises which he gave in the Old Testament. [68] And the LORD shall bring you into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spoke to you, You shall see it no more again: and there you shall be sold to your enemies for slaves and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you. 30:8). Joanna Ng finds inspiration through the actions and writing of Timothy Dalrymple and Russell Moore. He is the contributing editor of What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus Bible (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2013) and author of How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology (P&R, 2017). The gospel is the good news that through Jesusthe divine, crucified, and resurrected MessiahGod reigns over all and saves and satisfies believing sinners. [31] Your ox shall be slain before your eyes, and you shall not eat thereof: your ass shall be violently taken away from before your face, and shall not be restored to you: your sheep shall be given to your enemies, and you shall have none to rescue them. The sacrifice of his son is a prophecy of Christ, who sacrificed himself for the world's salvation. 26:2223). 4:24). The first word in the phrase Old Testament must not mean unimportant or insignificant to Christians. 15:4; cf. In the very important passage in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says, "The gospel that I taught . The New Testament is important to Christians as it contains the 4 Gospels or "Good News" of Jesus Christ and His life and ministry on earth, and through Jesus Christ . And more and more we kept coming back to John Goldingays book which just has such a good title that describes exactly what we're trying to do. 3:8, emphasis added). Want to know more about Jesus? The Old Testament is a place to come and meet the living God. Enter this years First Testament seriesa six-part collection of articles that makes the point that the Old Testament is not only essential context for understanding the New, but worth reading for its own sake. I think the authors of this series did a really good job of pointing out the connection points and the consistencies because the God of the Old and New Testaments is not different. People messed up, tried to perform for God, questioned Him, learned from Him, and either rejected or walked with Him. The OT was the only Bible of Jesus and the earliest church (e.g., Matt. CCC 122: Indeed, "the economy of the Old Testament was deliberately so oriented that it should prepare for and declare in prophecy the coming of Christ, redeemer of . The Old Testament is chalk full of prophecies that were either fulfilled in the Old or the New Testament. The First Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures, there's a lot of different ways that people talk about the first 39 books of the Bible. Why was the Old Testament so important to the writers of the New Testament, and why is it important to mankind today? While we didnt feel the need to respond to Andy Stanley in long form, I was talking with Dr. Robert Foster of University of Georgia about doing a series that spoke to Christians who shared this sentiment, that the Old Testament was no longer relevant. Christians believe that when Jesus came and died for our sins, he said that the old testament did not matter any longer. If space says anything, the OT matters to God, who gave us his Word in a book. Ill give 10 reasons why the first word in the phrase Old Testament must not mean unimportant or insignificant to Christians. [48] Therefore shall you serve your enemies which the LORD shall send against you, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron on your neck, until he have destroyed you. 22:3740). You're just going to miss it if you don't have a better handle on what's going on in the Old Testament. The Christian bible has two parts: The old testament and the new testament. God forbid: yea, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31). The OT creates the problem and includes promises that the NT answers and fulfills. Bible Answer: Yes, the Old Testament is as important as the New Testament. For example, much of what Jesus said and didfulfilledprophecy stated about Him in the Old Testament. Paul, citing Deuteronomy 32:35, asserts: Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord (Rom. Had the apostle failed to make known the Lords redemptive plan of blessing overcoming curse in the person of Jesus, he would have stood accountable before God for any future doctrinal or moral error that the Ephesian church carried out (cf. His resource website is jasonderouchie.com. People today can get saved from Gods wrath and from the enslavement of sin by reading the OT through the lens of Christ. Absolutely. In order to understand more about Jesus, its important to know all the thingsthat were said about him and how he was described before He even came to earth. [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. While we now have the NT, we can, and indeed must, appropriate the OT like Jesus and his apostles did for the good of Gods church. The Old Testament is Our Schoolmaster. Jason S. DeRouchie (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as research professor of Old Testament and biblical theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. First of all, reading the Old Testament helps bring a stronger understanding of the New Testament. TheNew Testament states some bold things, and the Old Testament backs it up and proves it to be trustworthy. [8] You have put all things in subjection under his feet. This sentiment has a multiplicity of causes: some Christians read the Old Testament as the "old covenant," and assume it's been made irrelevant by the writings of the New Testament where the "real" gospel is made plain. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. [55] So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he has nothing left him in the siege, and in the narrow place, with which your enemies shall distress you in all your gates. [38] You shall carry much seed out into the field, and shall gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it. As we see these prophecies being fulfilled in Christ, it validates who He is as theMessiah. As Moses himself asserted, the very reason God promised to circumcise hearts in the new covenant age was so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul (Deut. American King James Version; Deuteronomy 6:5 Deuteronomy 6:5And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.American King James Version; Leviticus 19:18 Leviticus 19:18You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.American King James Version). As an OT preacher, he could declare: I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor. With the NT the Scripture is complete, and we now have in whole the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). [37] And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations where the LORD shall lead you. Throughout the Old Testament, Jesus the Messiah is foreshadowed again and again. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him. 19:11-21). It's not hidden. [49] The LORD shall bring a nation against you from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies; a nation whose tongue you shall not understand; And that even goes to some of the nastier stuff. 2:29), all of his teachings in Deuteronomy would still matter: And you shall again obey the voice of the LORD and keep all his commandments that I command you today (Deut. 6:5; 10:19); all the other commandments simply clarified how to do it. It contains the rules which Christians should live by, contained in the Ten Commandments in the book of Exodus. For Paul, Christian preachers like Timothy needed to preach the OT in order to guard the church from apostasy. 6:1415; 1 Cor. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. It appeals to its audiences to acknowledge and serve Jesus as the human expression of the Living God. [26] And your carcass shall be meat to all fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away. [56] The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, The ancient texts show Him to us in profound and unique ways. Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow| Learn more With a UCG.org account you will be able to save items to read and study later!
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