THE WORLD'S MOST UNUSUAL BOOK
Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 9:04 pm
The idea that God was responsible for the Old Testament thoughts and words is found throughout its writings.
The apostle Peter said that the teachings of Scripture “never came by the will of man” (2Peter 1:20-21). BUT “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (verse 21).
Peter referred to the Hebrew Bible, and the apostle Paul’s writings, as Scripture. He said some people were twisting what Paul said, “as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (2Peter 3:16).
The writer of the book of Hebrews viewed the OT as God’s Word and used its teachings as a model or prototype. Hebrews begins with the statement: “God ... at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets” (Hebrews 1:1).
Jesus Christ made ample use of the Old Testament Scriptures. He said they were God’s Word to the human race. Here are some ways that Christ stamped the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible as being God’s Word:
• Christ began his ministry with an appeal to prophecies of the OT (Luke 4:16-21)
• He said he came in human flesh to fulfil OT teachings, called the Law & Prophets (Matthew 5:17)
• Christ quoted from the OT in his confrontation with Satan (Matthew 4:4,7,10)
• He drew his spiritual teaching directly from the Old Testament Law of Moses (compare Mark 10:19, Matthew 19:18-19 and 22:36-40 with Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18)
• He frequently referred to the OT when teaching his disciples (Matthew 13:10-17).
• Christ regularly used a quotation from the OT to settle the argument in controversies with his opponents (Matthew 12:1-7; 21:15-16; 22:41-45)
• He cried out words from the Old Testament when he was hanging on the stake and dying (Mark 15:34;Luke 23:46)
• Christ said that the spiritual teachings of the Old Testament would always apply to human life and society (Matthew 5:18).
NT writers made lavish use of the Old Testament as well. Dozens upon dozens of Old Testament quotations and allusions found in the New, show how much the apostles relied on the Old to explain the Creator’s character and purpose.
Several books of the Old T are referred to as Scripture in the New. They come from the 3 sections of the Old Testament - the Law, Prophets and Writings.
The apostle Paul used the Old Testament to preach the good news of God’s kingdom and the teachings of Jesus Christ. When Paul requested a meeting with the Jewish religious leaders during his house arrest in Rome, he began to preach Christ “from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening” (Acts 28:23).
The Old Testament is fashioned from God’s revelations through his human instruments, the prophets of old (Hebrews 1:1). The New Testament makes a claim to be God’s Word - its words are based on God’s direct communication to mankind through his Son (John 8:26-28). The author of Hebrews wrote that God “has in these last days spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:2).
The Bible writers agree that God has a blueprint of salvation for us. The Bibles’ main theme traces God’s redemption of individuals, nations and the human race. A few examples make the point that God is interested in helping us attain our ultimate purpose.
• Saves Noah from the Flood and humanity from extinction (Genesis 7:17-23)
• Rescues Israel from slavery in Egypt and promises abundance (Exodus 6:6-8)
• Protects Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6:16-23)
• Redeems humans from the penalty of their sins (1John 2:1-2)
• Preserves the world from total destruction at Christ’s 2nd coming (Matt. 24:21-22,29-31)
• Offers humanity deliverance from mortality (Philippians 3:20-21;1Corinthians 15:51-57).
The apostle Peter said that the teachings of Scripture “never came by the will of man” (2Peter 1:20-21). BUT “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (verse 21).
Peter referred to the Hebrew Bible, and the apostle Paul’s writings, as Scripture. He said some people were twisting what Paul said, “as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (2Peter 3:16).
The writer of the book of Hebrews viewed the OT as God’s Word and used its teachings as a model or prototype. Hebrews begins with the statement: “God ... at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets” (Hebrews 1:1).
Jesus Christ made ample use of the Old Testament Scriptures. He said they were God’s Word to the human race. Here are some ways that Christ stamped the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible as being God’s Word:
• Christ began his ministry with an appeal to prophecies of the OT (Luke 4:16-21)
• He said he came in human flesh to fulfil OT teachings, called the Law & Prophets (Matthew 5:17)
• Christ quoted from the OT in his confrontation with Satan (Matthew 4:4,7,10)
• He drew his spiritual teaching directly from the Old Testament Law of Moses (compare Mark 10:19, Matthew 19:18-19 and 22:36-40 with Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18)
• He frequently referred to the OT when teaching his disciples (Matthew 13:10-17).
• Christ regularly used a quotation from the OT to settle the argument in controversies with his opponents (Matthew 12:1-7; 21:15-16; 22:41-45)
• He cried out words from the Old Testament when he was hanging on the stake and dying (Mark 15:34;Luke 23:46)
• Christ said that the spiritual teachings of the Old Testament would always apply to human life and society (Matthew 5:18).
NT writers made lavish use of the Old Testament as well. Dozens upon dozens of Old Testament quotations and allusions found in the New, show how much the apostles relied on the Old to explain the Creator’s character and purpose.
Several books of the Old T are referred to as Scripture in the New. They come from the 3 sections of the Old Testament - the Law, Prophets and Writings.
The apostle Paul used the Old Testament to preach the good news of God’s kingdom and the teachings of Jesus Christ. When Paul requested a meeting with the Jewish religious leaders during his house arrest in Rome, he began to preach Christ “from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening” (Acts 28:23).
The Old Testament is fashioned from God’s revelations through his human instruments, the prophets of old (Hebrews 1:1). The New Testament makes a claim to be God’s Word - its words are based on God’s direct communication to mankind through his Son (John 8:26-28). The author of Hebrews wrote that God “has in these last days spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:2).
The Bible writers agree that God has a blueprint of salvation for us. The Bibles’ main theme traces God’s redemption of individuals, nations and the human race. A few examples make the point that God is interested in helping us attain our ultimate purpose.
• Saves Noah from the Flood and humanity from extinction (Genesis 7:17-23)
• Rescues Israel from slavery in Egypt and promises abundance (Exodus 6:6-8)
• Protects Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6:16-23)
• Redeems humans from the penalty of their sins (1John 2:1-2)
• Preserves the world from total destruction at Christ’s 2nd coming (Matt. 24:21-22,29-31)
• Offers humanity deliverance from mortality (Philippians 3:20-21;1Corinthians 15:51-57).