The Christian Faith A study of basic Christian beliefs A study of basic Christian beliefs One each week One each week Week 4, 1/23/2013 Week 4, 1/23/2013 “The Old Testament” “The Old Testament”

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament Contains the “Old Covenant” - made with Israel at Sinai Contains the “Old Covenant” - made with Israel at Sinai Contains histories and prophecies made to people living under the “Old Covenant” Contains histories and prophecies made to people living under the “Old Covenant” “Old Testament” is not a phrase that occurs in the Bible. “Old Testament” is not a phrase that occurs in the Bible. Note: The “Old Testament” was not abolished at the cross but the “Old Covenant” was. Note: The “Old Testament” was not abolished at the cross but the “Old Covenant” was. That is actually an important distinction. That is actually an important distinction.

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament Called the “scriptures” in the New Testament Called the “scriptures” in the New Testament Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” The scriptures here would be the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint or LXX. The scriptures here would be the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint or LXX.

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament Called the “scriptures” in the New Testament Called the “scriptures” in the New Testament Matthew 22:29 “You do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29 “You do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.”

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament Purpose? Purpose? 2 Timothy 3:15-16 “And that from a child, thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by the inspiration of God…” 2 Timothy 3:15-16 “And that from a child, thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by the inspiration of God…” That doesn’t sound like “But that’s in the OT” to me. That doesn’t sound like “But that’s in the OT” to me.

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament Purpose? Purpose? Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament Authoritative for today? Authoritative for today? Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Matthew 11:11-13 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he …For all the prophets and the law were until John.” Matthew 11:11-13 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he …For all the prophets and the law were until John.”

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament Authoritative for today? Authoritative for today? Mark 9:2-8 “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. …” Mark 9:2-8 “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. …”

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament Authoritative for today? Authoritative for today? Mark 9:2-8 “… Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’-- because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!’ Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.” Mark 9:2-8 “… Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’-- because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!’ Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.”

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament To be used for authority today? To be used for authority today? The old law is no longer in force The old law is no longer in force Colossians 2:13-14 “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14 “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament To be used for authority today? To be used for authority today? The old law is no longer in force The old law is no longer in force Ephesians 2:14-16 “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:14-16 “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.”

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament Authority of Jesus - Matthew 28:18 Authority of Jesus - Matthew 28:18 “Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, ‘All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded you.” “Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, ‘All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded you.”

The Christian Faith The Old Testament – Yet… The Old Testament – Yet… 2 Timothy 3:15-16 “And that from a child, thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by the inspiration of God…” 2 Timothy 3:15-16 “And that from a child, thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by the inspiration of God…” These “scriptures” are not the New Testament but the Old! We may not be under the Old Covenant but the writings from God can still make us wise unto salvation. These “scriptures” are not the New Testament but the Old! We may not be under the Old Covenant but the writings from God can still make us wise unto salvation.

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament Early Christians Early Christians “Look carefully into the scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit.” Clement (96) “Look carefully into the scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit.” Clement (96)

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament Early Christians Early Christians “The church unites the Law and the Prophets in one volume with the writings of the evangelists and apostles, from which she drinks in her faith.” Tertullian (200) “The church unites the Law and the Prophets in one volume with the writings of the evangelists and apostles, from which she drinks in her faith.” Tertullian (200)

The Christian Faith The Old Testament The Old Testament Written for our learning Written for our learning Able to make us wise to salvation Able to make us wise to salvation Should be searched / studied Should be searched / studied Jesus is authority today Jesus is authority today Next week? The New Testament Next week? The New Testament