The Old Testament as Christian Scripture
Why would a Christian spend time trying to understand the Old Testament? Surely, we’re no longer under the old covenant, but the new covenant. Shouldn’t we, as New Testament Christians, simply pay attention to the latter part of our Bible? Paul gives us an answer in Romans 15, verse 4. It reads, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction.”
Now, when Paul says “whatever was written” he is clearly referring to what we now call the Old Testament. The Jewish Scriptures. And notice that he says that it was written for our instruction. Not just that we can look back on what Moses wrote for ancient Israel, as if we get to listen in on their conversation, but that it was written for us! For Christians! Apparently, the genealogies of Genesis, the laws of Deuteronomy, the psalms of David, the oracles of Malachi, and everything in between is for us.
The Old Testament Scriptures provide us wisdom for living, as we see God’s design for human life. They illuminate for us the character of God and nature of sin, as we trace the unfolding storyline of Israel. Ultimately, the Old Testament points us forward to Christ by pictures, prophesies, patterns, and foreshadowing.
“Apparently, the genealogies of Genesis, the laws of Deuteronomy, the psalms of David, the oracles of Malachi, and everything in between is for us.”
In all these ways and many, many more, the Old Testament is a distinctly Christian book. So don’t believe the line from certain pastors today who say that we should “unhitch” from the Old Testament. They would advocate deemphasizing the Old Testament. But that doesn’t seem to be Paul’s perspective.
This is why our churches often preach from the Old Testament. We don’t just want Christians who are familiar with only one part of their Bible. There is much richness in the Old Testament! There is depth and beauty that God has communicated to us and that we would do well to listen to.
One application of this is that, if you normally read from the New Testament in your personal Bible reading, consider choosing a book from the Old Testament next time. Genesis or Exodus might be good places to start, as they set the stage for all that will come after.
Brothers and sisters, we need all of God’s word. As Romans 15:4 concludes, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Scott Cope is a church planting resident at Hope Fellowship Church in Cambridge, MA, and Beacon Community Church in Belmont, MA.
