Is the Old Testament Obsolete?
Biblical References...
2nd Timothy 3:15-17...
"and
that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to
give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in
Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, for training in righteousness; so
that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
Matthew 5:17-18...
"Do
not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come
to abolish but to fulfill.
For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is
accomplished."
Discussion thoughts...
This is a very short study... done simply to discuss a couple points not
discussed in our other study on old testament laws (please
read our related study "Must we still follow old testament laws?"
Paul's writing in 2nd Timothy is "loud and clear"...
"All Scripture is inspired by God"... Paul does not
say only the new testament is inspired by God; he says All Scripture!!!
--- it is an interesting fact that when Paul wrote those words (about
A.D.66), he did not know there was an "old testament" and a "new
testament" (the first use of the term "new testament" was not coined until
around A.D. 200)... in fact, in the "new
testament" when Jesus and the apostles referred to the scriptures (the
Law, the Psalms, the Prophets, etc.) they were referring to sections of
the bible that we now call the "old testament" (but those writing were not
called the "old testament) until many years later!!!
There is an interesting statement in "The Expositor's Bible Commentary" (Zondervan)
which states that writers of the "new testament" refer to "old testament"
writing over 4,000 times (that certainly does not suggest that the "old
testament" is not relevant).
Matthew 5:17-18 makes it very clear that the "old
testament" is not obsolete!!!
My Beliefs...
As explained in our other study (Must we still
follow old testament laws?)... some of the "laws" in the "old testament"
are obsolete, are not relevant, and do not need to be followed today...
BUT, in general... as explained in the discussion above, the "old
testament" is NOT Obsolete!!!
I like a statement made by a bible scholar... the "old testament" is
prophecy relating to the new testament --- the "new testament" is old
testament prophecies realized!
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