the christian faith a study of basic christian beliefs a study of basic christian beliefs one each...

The Christian FaithThe Christian FaithThe Christian FaithThe Christian Faith

• A study of basic Christian beliefsA study of basic Christian beliefs• One each weekOne each week

• Week 4, 1/23/2013Week 4, 1/23/2013

• ““The Old Testament”The Old Testament”


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament• Contains the “Old Covenant” - made with Israel Contains the “Old Covenant” - made with Israel

at Sinaiat Sinai• Contains histories and prophecies made to Contains histories and prophecies made to

people living under the “Old Covenant”people living under the “Old Covenant”• ““Old Testament” is not a phrase that occurs in Old Testament” is not a phrase that occurs in

the Bible.the Bible.• Note: The “Old Testament” was not abolished at Note: The “Old Testament” was not abolished at

the cross but the “Old Covenant” was.the cross but the “Old Covenant” was.• That is actually an important distinction.That is actually an important distinction.


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament• Called the “scriptures” in the New TestamentCalled the “scriptures” in the New Testament• Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than

those in Thessalonica, in that they received those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and the word with all readiness of mind and searched the searched the scripturesscriptures daily, whether those daily, whether those things were so.” things were so.”

• The scriptures here would be the Greek Old The scriptures here would be the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint or LXX.Testament, the Septuagint or LXX.


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament• Called the “scriptures” in the New Called the “scriptures” in the New

TestamentTestament• Matthew 22:29 “You do err, not Matthew 22:29 “You do err, not

knowing the knowing the scripturesscriptures nor the nor the power of God.”power of God.”


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament• Purpose?Purpose?• 2 Timothy 3:15-16 “And that from a child, 2 Timothy 3:15-16 “And that from a child,

thou hast known the holy thou hast known the holy scripturesscriptures, which , which areare able to make thee wise unto salvation able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripturescripture is given by the inspiration of is given by the inspiration of God…”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 Old TestamentThe Old Testament• Purpose?Purpose?• Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things

were written aforetime were written for were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the and comfort of the scripturesscriptures might might have hope.”have hope.”


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament• Authoritative for today?Authoritative for today?• Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy

the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.”but to fulfill.”

• Matthew 11:11-13 “Assuredly, I say to you, among Matthew 11:11-13 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he …For in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he …For all the prophets and the law were all the prophets and the law were untiluntil John.” John.”


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament• Authoritative for today?Authoritative for today?• Mark 9:2-8 “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, Mark 9:2-8 “Now after six days Jesus took Peter,

James, and John, and led them up on a high James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. …”with Jesus. …”


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament• Authoritative for today?Authoritative for today?• Mark 9:2-8 “… Then Peter answered and said to Mark 9:2-8 “… Then Peter answered and said to

Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’-- because he did not know what and one for Elijah’-- because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. And a cloud to say, for they were greatly afraid. And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear HimHear Him!’ Suddenly, when they had looked around, !’ Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.”themselves.”


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament• To be used for authority today?To be used for authority today?• The old law is no longer in forceThe old law is no longer in force• Colossians 2:13-14 “And you, being dead in your Colossians 2:13-14 “And you, being dead in your

trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirementshandwriting of requirements that was against us, that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament• To be used for authority today?To be used for authority today?• The old law is no longer in forceThe old law is no longer in force• Ephesians 2:14-16 “For He Himself is our peace, who Ephesians 2:14-16 “For He Himself is our peace, who

has made both one, and has broken down the middle has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained the law of commandments contained in ordinancesin ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man , so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.”cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.”


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament• Authority of Jesus - Matthew 28:18Authority of Jesus - Matthew 28:18• ““Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying,

‘All authority is given unto me in heaven and ‘All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore and teach all nations, in earth. Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things which I have them to observe all things which I have commanded you.”commanded you.”


• The Old Testament – Yet…The Old Testament – Yet…• 2 Timothy 3:15-16 “And that from a child, thou hast 2 Timothy 3:15-16 “And that from a child, thou hast

known the holy scriptures, which are able to make known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by the Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by the inspiration of God…” inspiration of God…”

• These “scriptures” are not the New Testament but These “scriptures” are not the New Testament but the Old! We may not be under the Old Covenant but the Old! We may not be under the Old Covenant but the writings from God can still make us wise unto the writings from God can still make us wise unto salvation.salvation.


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament• Early ChristiansEarly Christians• ““Look carefully into the scriptures, Look carefully into the scriptures,

which are the true utterances of the which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit.” Clement (96)Holy Spirit.” Clement (96)


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament

• Early ChristiansEarly Christians• ““The church unites the Law and the The church unites the Law and the

Prophets in one volume with the Prophets in one volume with the writings of the evangelists and apostles, writings of the evangelists and apostles, from which she drinks in her faith.” from which she drinks in her faith.” Tertullian (200)Tertullian (200)


• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament• Written for our learningWritten for our learning• Able to make us wise to salvationAble to make us wise to salvation• Should be searched / studiedShould be searched / studied• Jesus is authority todayJesus is authority today

• Next week? The New TestamentNext week? The New Testament

the christian faith a study of basic christian beliefs a study of basic christian beliefs one each...

Documents

old law

old covenantold testament

greek old testament

holy scriptures

christ jesus

days jesus

new testamentacts

new testamentmatthew