The Old Testament provides the historical setting out of which Christianity and the New Testament emerge.

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Why Study the Old Testament?

10/29/17

  1. The Old Testament provides historical setting out of which Christianity and the New Testament emerge.
    1. The story line of God’s redemption begins in the OT and continues its flow through the NT.
  1. Adam and Noah – Gen. 3:14-21; cf. 5:28-31
  2. Abram (Abraham) – Gen. 12:1-3, 7; 15:1-21 (cutting the covenant); 17:1-10 (the changing of Abram’s name and the sign of the covenant)
    1. Notice the hidden nature of the sign in contrast to the worship practices of the Canaanites (Lev. 19:27-28)
  • Jacob – the blessing received from Isaac (Gen. 27:28-29); Jacob’s dream with God restating Abraham’s blessing and promise to Jacob (Gen. 28:10-22); God changes Jacob’s name (Gen. 35:10-15); Jacob’s blessings in Gen. 48-49.
  1. Joseph – the deliverance of Israel from the famine; Gen. 50:20 can be interpreted as a type and foreshadow of the crucifixion (Acts 3:13-26; Rom. 8:28; cf. Ezra 8:22)
  2. Moses, Samuel, David, and the Prophets
    1. Stephen (Acts 7) and Paul (Acts 13:16-41) use the OT to declare God’s plan for salvation.
    2. What conclusions do we arrive at from the Scriptures being handled in this way?
  1. The OT offers essential and terminological background to the NT.
  2. The OT offers the essential promises of a savior.
  • Therefore, Christianity did not emerge in a vacuum.

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