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Church of Christ

Chart #3: How do the Testaments fit together?

 

The Bible is God’s record of His will dispensed to people.

 

• God has one will – that we relate to Him as adopted children through Jesus Christ as we live holy and blameless in love.  Eph. 1:3-14.

• God “dispensed” this will to people: (1) orally to the heads of households during a period that might be called a “Patriarchal dispensation,” (2) in writing to Israel through Moses and various prophets while everyone else still learned “by natural processes” during a period that might be called a “Mosaic dispensation,” and (3) personally though the life of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament during our period, which might be called a “Christian dispensation.”

• The bible is one book recorded over time by inspired people in two “Testaments,” each of which is structured according to which type of literature a book fits rather than as part of a story line or chronology. 

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The Old Testament is a collection of 39 books by about 30 authors living over a period of 1,400 years writing about more than 4,000 years of history in a united, harmonious continuous account.
 

• The Old Testament is structured into four sections based on the type of literature it includes: The Law (Torah or Pentateuch) [Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy], History or “Former Prophets” [Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings, I & II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther], Poetry that uses “thought rhyme” for a dramatic cycle of narrative and meditative poems (Job), musical prayers (Psalms), figurative pictures and teaching pictures (Proverbs), Wisdom meditations (Ecclesiastes) and love songs that many believe might also have figurative meanings (Song of Solomon), Prophecy or “Latter Prophets” or “Written Prophets” that are applications of Moses’ Law to particular situations to show how Israel was failing and how God would respond using the curses and blessings of Lev. 26 and Deut. 28-32 in the Major (“Larger”) [Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel] and the Minor (“Shorter”) Prophets or “The Book of the Twelve” [Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.]

 

 

The New Testament is a collection of 27 books written by between eight to ten men over a period of about 50 years in a continuous, harmonious account.

• The New Testament is divided into four sections based on types of literature including: Gospels are biographies of Jesus [Matthew, Mark, Luke and John], History after Jesus’ resurrection [Acts], Letters from inspired Apostles and Prophets subdivided into Letters from Paul to collectivities [Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians], Letters from Paul to individuals [I & II Timothy, Titus and Philemon], Letter from someone who may be Paul [Letter to the Hebrews], Letters from those other than Paul [James, I & II Peter, I, II & III John and Jude] and The Prophecy or Apocalyptic Visions through John to the churches of Asia Minor about things that would shortly come to pass in their time using vivid pictures often built on illustrations found in Old Testament prophets [Revelation].

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So how does this one volume fit these two Testaments together to show God’s one will for all humanity?

 

• God promised that His will for all peoples would be:

  • His Kingdom that He would establish,

  • His household and temple that He would build,

  • His Righteous King’s rule, and

  • His new covenant and His Holy Spirit’s outpouring.

 

• God promised that He would establish His everlasting kingdom. Dan. 2:31-45, esp. 2:36-45, esp. 2:44.​

  • This is a time-locked prophecy: empires of Babylon (2:38), Medeo-Persia (2:39), Greece (2:39) and Rome (2:40-43) would lead to this kingdom’s establishment.  “In the days of those [Roman] kings” locks this prophecy into one time.  Either this kingdom was established during the Roman period or this prophecy is wrong.

  • This kingdom would neither be destroyed nor would its right to rule be handed over to a new administration or government.  Dan. 2:44.
     

• ​God promised his household or temple on the tops of the mountains.  Is. 2:2-5, Micah 4:1-2

  • ​This is a time-locked prophecy: it would happen “in the latter days.”  Is. 2:2.

  • Nations would flow into this mountain temple or household “uphill” as people would freely will to follow God’s ways and path.  Is. 2:2-3.

  • These people would be excited to come because a law would come forth out of Zion – the LORD’s word coming from Jerusalem.  Is. 2:3.

  • Those who followed this law would be under a reign of peace no matter which nation they came from.  Is. 2:3b-4.

 

• God promised a King from David’s lineage on a righteous throne.  Jer. 23:5-6.​

  • This king would be from David’s family line.  Jer. 23:5.

  • This king would be given all authority to reign, to create prosperity and to execute righteous judgement.  Jer. 23:5.

  • Those from the southern kingdom of Judah and the Northern Kingdom of Israel would both be saved under this king.  Jer. 23:6.

 

• God promised a New Covenant.  Jer. 31:31-34. 

  • ​God would make a new covenant with both Judah and Israel. Jer. 31:31. 

  • This would definitely be a different covenant from the one made through Moses.  Jer. 31:32.

  • This law would be written in hearts – in consciousness.  Jer. 31:33. 

  • Those who would be under this covenant would already know the LORD so that all would have to be taught to know the LORD before becoming part of this covenant.  Jer. 31:33-34.

  • This knowledge of the LORD would be the result of God’s action that would forgive iniquities so that sins would no longer be remembered.  Jer. 31:34.

 

• God promised His Spirit’s presence for those from all nations.  Joel 2:28-32. ​

  •  God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh so that people would speak on God’s behalf in prophecy and visions.  Joel 2:28.

  • This would be found among men and women, rulers and ruled.  Joel 2:28.

  • This would accompany judgment from God like other Old Testament judgments.  Joel. 2:30-31.

  • The result would be that anyone who would call upon the name of the LORD would be saved, even some in Jerusalem.  Joel 2:32.

 

• God fulfilled His promises that His will for all peoples would be

  • His Kingdom that He would establish,

  • His household and temple that He would build,

  • His Righteous King’s rule, and

  • His new covenant and His Holy Spirit’s outpouring.

 

• God provided an everlasting kingdom during the Roman Empire.​

  • Jesus promised during the Roman Empire that this would happen soon as had John the Baptizer.  Matt. 16:18, Matt. 3:1-2.

  • Jesus said that this would happen with power.  Mk. 9:1.

  • Jesus told His Apostles to wait for power in Jerusalem as a sign of the coming of this Kingdom. Acts 1:8-2:4.Col. 1:13

  • By Paul’s time, Christians were described as part of a Kingdom and they were eating a supper associated with His reign.  I Cor. 11:23 & Lk. 22:29-30.

 

• God provided His household or temple on the tops of the mountains.​

  • The Book of Hebrews describes Jesus being a great High Priest over the household or temple of God.  Heb. 10:21.

  • Paul told Timothy in order that people would know how they are to behave in “the house of God, which is the church of God.” I Tim. 3:15.

  • His church is described after the day of Pentecost “in the latter days” based on teachings that Jesus gave “at the end of those days.” Acts 2:16-17, 38-42, 47, Heb. 1:1-3.

  • This church included people from all nations, beginning with Jews in Jerusalem and growing to both Jews and Gentiles.  Acts 2:39, Rom. 1:16.

 

• God provided a King from David’s lineage on a righteous throne.​

  • Jesus has been given all authority to rule.  Matt. 28:18-20.

  • Peter’s sermon declares Jesus to be the anointed one ruling at God’s right hand.  Acts 2:29-33.

  • Jesus gave commands and prospered followers.  Matt. 28:18-20.

 

• God provided a New Covenant in Jesus. ​

  • Jesus promised that He would establish a church and give keys to this Kingdom where there would be rule – “binding” rules and “loosing” freedoms.  Matt. 16:18-19. 

  • Peter “bound” rules that were new at Pentecost.  Acts 2:36-38.

  • The Letter to the Hebrews says that this New Covenant came with “the death of He who gave it” – Jesus.  Heb. 9:15-17.

  • All those in this relationship believed by paying attention to God’s teachings.  Mk. 16:16, Rom. 10:17.

 

• God provided His Spirit’s presence for those from all nations.​

  • Peter tells us that the events on Pentecost were signs proving that God had done what He promised in Joel.  Acts 2:16-21.

  • The result of this Holy Spirit’s presence was new revelation to Jesus’ Apostles and Prophets recorded in Scripture.  Eph. 3:3-5, I Cor. 2:12-13.

  • This revelation is now complete.  Gal. 1:8-9, Mk. 16:24-20, Heb. 2:1-4, Jude 3, II Tim. 3:16-17.

  • The result would be that anyone who would call upon the name of the LORD would be saved, even some in Jerusalem.  Joel 2:32.

 

• God provided all these things in Christ as shown at Pentecost. ​

  • All references to these promises before Pentecost were future.  Compare Acts 2 with Is. 2:2-5, Micah 4:1-2, Dan. 2:44, Matt. 3:1-2, Matt. 16:18, Mk. 9:1, Matt. 6:9-10. ,I Tim. 3:15, Col. 1:13-14

  • All references to these promised matters as provided follow Pentecost.  Compare Acts 2 with Eph. 1:20-23, Heb. 8:6-13 & 9:15-17.

  • Those who were obedient at Pentecost were added to the number of others who were part of this promised relationship that is later called the congregation or church.  Acts 2:41, 47, 4:32, 5:11.

  • God’s promises were provided – or He is not God.

  • If Pentecost did not provide God’s promises, the Bible is not true.

  • Jesus would have been wrong.  Matt. 16:18-18, Mk. 9:1, Matt. 28:18-20.

  • Jesus’ Apostles would have been wrong.  Col. 1:13-14.

  • Daniel would have been wrong.  Dan. 2:31-45.

  • God’s prophets would have been wrong.  Is. 2:2-4.

  • The Bible would be wrong.  Eph. 1:3-14.

 

• God provided what He promised – and He is God.​

  • Since The Old Testament promises fit into the New Testament provisions "like a hand in a glove,” the Bible is true.

  • Since the Bible is true, God’s plans revealed in it are important.

 

Next chart: How is this new relationship for people important?