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Does the Old Testament have something to say to today's church?
The Old Testament is essential for understanding the New Testament, as it serves as the foundational narrative and reveals key concepts such as covenants, the nature of God, and prophecies that prepare the way for Jesus. It offers insights into God's character, law, and the history that shapes the New Testament's message of love and forgiveness. By studying the Old Testament, believers can deepen their appreciation of scripture and comprehend the continuity of God's plan through both testaments.
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Does the Old Testament have something to say to today's church?
- 1. Does the OldTestament have something to say to Today’s church?
- 2. Our goal Toreview why we need the Old Testament today – looking for a growing understanding and appreciation of God’s Word To see how the Old Testament helps us to understand the New Testament – especially key concepts and cultural background To explore some ways to dig deeper into the Old Testament
- 3. Why we needthe Old Testament It is the first part of the story! You don’t start to read a novel three quarters of the way through the book Or begin to watch a play at the next to last act The New Testament is best understood when seen as the outcome, or completion, of the Old Testament
- 4. To understand theNew Testament, we need to know some basic facts revealed in the Old Testament How the world was created How the world was spoiled, how human beings became flawed, sinful, separated The nature of God – his character, his values Covenants and promises of God
- 5. Revelation of thecharacter of God Some have said: “The Old Testament is a covenant of law and judgement. The New Testament is a message of love, forgiveness & liberty.” But the first covenant was also a covenant of love:
- 6. 9 Understand,therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love (covenant love) on those who love him and obey his commands. . . . 12 “If you listen to these regulations and faithfully obey them, the LORD your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he promised with an oath to your ancestors. Deuteronomy 7:9, 12
- 7. Revelation of thecharacter of God Other aspects of the character of God revealed through the Old Testament: holiness & justice YHWH, the God of the Old Testament, is also the God of the New Testament – his nature does not change.
- 8. God chose toreveal himself through encounters with individuals, through stepping into history. Only through gradual revelation and experience could humankind begin to understand something of the holiness, power, and love of God and their own need of forgiveness and salvation. It is the Old Testament that records this preparation, and makes it available today.
- 9. How the OldTestament can help us understand the New Testament
- 10. Bruce Metzger, The New Testament, its Background, Growth and Content “ Let it be clear at the outset that of all the ‘helps’ which assist the reader to understand the New Testament, the Old Testament is by far the most important. In the collection of thirty-nine books one finds the religious presuppositions and historical background without which the thinking and experiences of the New Testament writers cannot be understood.”
- 11. Key concepts inthe NT that were introduced in the OT The Law – the Torah – the instructions God gave to Moses Sacrifice – the principle that one life can substitute for another, one person can die for another Satan and evil spirits – Satan is introduced in chapter 3 Covenant – a binding agreement between two parties
- 12. Even understanding thephysical background of the Bible The tabernacle
- 13. More concepts fromthe Old Testament Expectancy of a Saviour-King, a great prophet In the New Testament called “the Christ” or “the Messiah” “ You are the Christ.” (Mark 8:29, also Matthew 16:20, Luke 9:20 ) (Unfortunately many readers miss the “the”.)
- 14. Other titles forJesus often not understood or misunderstood Son of Man Son of David “ In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13, 14)
- 15. Old Testament peoplementioned in the New Testament Because the story continues, characters are carried over. Abraham Mentioned 73 times
- 16. Old Testament peoplementioned in the New Testament Because the story continues, characters are carried over: Abraham Mentioned 73 times Mentioned 80 times Moses
- 17. Old Testament peoplementioned in the New Testament Because the story continues, characters are carried over: Abraham Mentioned 59 times Mentioned 73 times Mentioned 80 times Moses David
- 18. The importance ofprophecy The specific and detailed prophecies of the Old Testament were the evidence that Jesus of Nazareth was the Expected-one. Where he would be born - But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, (Micah 5:2)
- 19. The importance ofprophecy How he would die How he would rise from death - “ because you will not abandon me to the grave nor will you let your Holy One see decay.” “ they put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.” Psalm 69:21 Psalm 22 Psalm 16:10
- 20. The importance ofprophecy “ The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the LORD's favor has come.” (Luke 4:18-19 NLT, quoting Isaiah 61:1-2) What he would do -
- 21. The importance ofprophecy Also prophecies of future events of what is happening today of the return of the Lord, which we expect.
- 22. Understanding the OldTestament worldview
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- 30. Some ways todig deeper Character studies: Women of the Old Testament favourite characters (Joseph, Samuel, David . . . . ) Word studies - “loving faithfulness” A challenge to study books we are not so familiar with – perhaps, Ecclesiastes, Malachi Looking at the minor prophets, studying them in the context of history, as part of the story
- 31. The minor prophets,grouped according to the Exile and The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah Group Book Approximate Dates Pre-Exilic Prophets of Israel Jonah (preached to Nineveh) Amos Hosea 780-850 765-750 755-715 Prophets of Judah Obadiah Joel Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah 840 835-796 740-690 630-612 606-604 625 Post-Exilic Prophets Prophets of the Returned Remnant Haggai Zechariah Malachi 520 515 430
- 32. Group Book ApproximateDates Pre-Exilic Prophets of Israel Jonah (fleeing from the will of God) Amos (Social justice, judgment for those who abuse privilege) Hosea (Love that perseveres) 780-850 765-750 755-715 Prophets of Judah Obadiah (Divine justice, don’t gloat) Joel (The coming of the day of YHWH) Micah (God is just, but he extends mercy) Nahum (God’s judgement ) Habakkuk (Trust God whatever happens) Zephaniah (God’s judgment and discipline will bring blessing) 840 835-796 740-690 630-612 606-604 625 Post-Exilic Prophets Prophets of the Returned Remnant Haggai (God blesses those who put him first) Zechariah (God is a jealous God) Malachi (Return to me an d I will return to you) 520 515 430
- 33. http://bible.org/seriespage/minor-prophets http://www.womeninthebible.net/ GordonFee: How we should read the Bible http://www.gci.org/yi/fee73 Don Carson: The worldview clash http://www.facingthechallenge.org/carson.php Don Carson: Use of the Old Testament in the New Testament http://www.euroleadershipresources.org/resource.php?ID=242&Tab=AudioDownload Websites you might find helpful
- 34. Digging deeper: Trytranslation – or paraphrase The Psalms, and other passages in the Old Testament, are a rich aid to worship or to other spiritual activity – such as confession (Psalm 51), or expressing grief or frustration (Psalm 6).
- 35. Psalm 1 - paraphrased, adopted “ The one who enjoys the full joy of God's blessing is the person who soaks himself in Scripture constantly, thinking about God's words day and night. He does not put himself where he hears unhelpful values promoted, he does not read things which are unhelpful and pull standards down, he does not mix with people who mock God’s Word. “ Instead he finds joy in reading and meditating on God's word. Such a person is like a mango tree planted by a flowing stream, a tree which bears plentiful fruit when the harvest time comes, a tree that is always fresh and green. The Lord guides and cares for those who seek to do his will, but those who reject his help and guidance will be lost for ever.
- 36. Psalm 1 continued“ Those who pay no attention to God's word are not like that. They are like husks of wheat that the wind blows away. When it comes to the day when we all stand before God to give an account of our lives, they will not be found guiltless nor will they be able to dwell among those whom God counts as righteous. The Lord guides and cares for those who seek to do his will, but those who reject his help and guidance will be lost for ever.” Those words, written nearly 3,000 years ago, are as full of promise for us today as they were on the day they were first sung.
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