OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE – NEW TESTAMENT

I. Background

The Bible is divided into two parts – Old Testament and New Testament. They were not referred to as Old and New Testament until after 100 A.D. Prior to then, the Old Testament was referred to as the Law and the Prophets or sometimes the Law, the Psalms/Writings, and the Prophets. The word testament is Latin for Covenant. Old Covenant and New Covenant. Covenant defined – a solemn agreement that is binding on all parties. God and man. Old/New Covenant – God agrees to redeem man in return man agrees to submit to God’s authority. The Old Testament – redemption came through the sacrificial system and submission to God through obedience to the Law. The New Testament – redemption came through the death and resurrection of Jesus and submission to God through obedience to the Holy Spirit. The reason for the need for the coming of a New Covenant is perhaps found in the Book of Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 31:31-34
“The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

The Jews failed to keep their part of the agreement. They consistently refused to submit to God’s authority. Therefore, God said He would establish a New Covenant – one that was not written in stone but in people’s hearts.

Also read Hebrews chapter 8. The author explains further the need for a New Covenant/Testament.

The Apostle Paul writes in the book of Romans that we serve God “in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.” (Romans 7:6) By submitting to God’s Holy Spirit, we are able to meet the righteous requirements of the Law. How? The Holy Spirit is in our minds and hearts directing us in the path of righteousness. Again Paul writes:

But now a righteousness from God, apart from Law, has been made known (i.e., the New Covenant), to which the Law and the Prophets (i.e., Old Testament) testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. (Romans 3:21)

Read Hebrews chapters 9 and 10 for an example of how the Old Testament testifies/points to the New Testament.

Does the New Testament make the Old Testament unnecessary/pointless? By no means! Jesus regularly quoted Old Testament Scripture. Paul in his epistles regularly cites the Old Testament/makes references to the Old Testament Scriptures to support his doctrinal teachings. The early Christians continued to listen to the Old Testament be read. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul tells him to devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul writes:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:14-16)

What Scriptures is Paul referring to? The Old Testament. Paul believed it was still useful.