Only New Testament or Both?

[intricatic]

Hi all, I've been pondering something lately. I've been talking to some friends who have told me that they only study the New Testament, as the Old Testament is irrelevant to Christians in our time. I'd like to know whether this is a common thought?

 

[Latreia]

Depends on what your friends have in their minds. Perhaps the New Testament seems to carry a more modern tag than the Old Testament. I could see how that might appeal to them.

Reading the Bible is just like many things, one encounters so many changes as the years go by.

As a teen, I hated liver, now it can be very tasty.

Not to be superficial, but remember Ecclesiastes 3:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

My readings today of Psalms and Proverbs reveal great riches, rather than impressive style and prose.

Sometimes, God waits until we are ready for the wonders to be seen.

 

[intricatic]

Ecclesiastes has always been one of my favorite books.

I agree, all things come in due time. My friends are saying, basically, that the Old Testament is irrelevant to a believer - that it might as well not even be a part of the Bible because we only need the NT for salvation. It seems to be almost a dogma.

 

[HypnoToad]

I would hardly call it dogma - there are extremely few Christians I've ever heard claim the OT is "irrelevant".

True, the NT is the only thing we "need" for salvation, but that hardly makes the OT irrelevant. There is a wealth of knowledge and history there, and a lot of back-and-forth between the testaments, they shed light on each other. To limit study to only the NT is REALLY missing out on a great many things.

 

[sandman]

Well I still hate liver hope that doesn’t make me an unbeliever ………………

Understanding the Bible as a whole will give you greater insight as to why God had the entirety of the book inspired; it is all relevant but does not all apply to us.
The seven Church epistles are the ones that are directly applicable to us in this age of grace {Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians} The rest is for our learning …..but how valuable they are.
The book of Acts for instance shows us the rise and expansion of the first century church, the four gospels record the life and times of our savior Jesus Christ, the books of Samuel and Kings are written from a human viewpoint, whereas the books of Chronicles is written from Gods viewpoint which is why you will have seemingly contradictory accounts between them. Where would we be without Genesis and the understanding of creation and how we became in need of a savior? And the Christ line thread that is woven from Genesis 3:15 to Revelation 22:21
It all fits, it is all relevant, it is just understanding to whom it is written and why

 

[ContentInHim]

It wasn't the NT which made me understand how much I needed a savior - it was the OT where I saw myself in all the unbelief and waywardness of the Israelites. If they with all their heroic deeds weren't saved, how could I be saved? Not by a scale of good and bad - only by the blood!

 

[intricatic]

It wasn't the NT which made me understand how much I needed a savior - it was the OT where I saw myself in all the unbelief and waywardness of the Israelites. If they with all their heroic deeds weren't saved, how could I be saved? Not by a scale of good and bad - only by the blood!

 

[pugby]

I think perhaps the OT is more important to our understanding than the NT. What new is revealed in the NT, I see everything of the NT already foreshadowed in the OT. Our understanding of sin is surely grasped by the books of law and history, we see the prophets proclaim so many things about the Messiah, the NT is simply showing these things come to be. And yeah, Ecclesiastes is pretty sweet too.

 

[pugby]

I think perhaps the OT is more important to our understanding than the NT. What new is revealed in the NT, I see everything of the NT already foreshadowed in the OT. Our understanding of sin is surely grasped by the books of law and history, we see the prophets proclaim so many things about the Messiah, the NT is simply showing these things come to be. And yeah, Ecclesiastes is pretty sweet too.

 

[catwoman2]

The OT gives a fuller picture of our Savior. What I'm studying now is the term "Son of David" which means little if you don't look it up in the OT like 2 Sam. 7 and Is. 11.

It's like reading a book filled with clues to a buried treasure; Christ is on every page of the OT. finding Him is exciting!

 

[JTLauder]

While they won't go so far as to say the OT is completely irrelevant, I know many people who focus mainly on the NT because they regard the OT as mainly Laws for Israelites and basically historical stories, while they see the NT as mostly having theological Christian principles.

But the NT is incomplete without the OT. Without the OT, you would not understand the significance of Christ dying on the cross and all that represents.

 

[justp3achy]

It's true that some of the OT does seem irrelevent since Jesus did away or expanded on the laws, but there's so much more to it than just laws. I've learned a great deal about faith and following God just by reading some of the stories found there. The NT is amazing in the way that it directly tells us how to live, but the OT tells us/infers how to live and provides examples. You can read stories about ordinary people trying to follow God, and learn from their (many) mistakes.
Not to mention the poetry books, which are incredible in their own way. Where would we be without Psalm 23?
Just my two cents.

 

[markbelieves]

I am pleased to see that NT only has not received and votes. We should never discard any of God's word.

 

[hosea6v6]

I would get new firends, because your friends are telling you wrong. The word of God is one book not two. It is not an old or New testament, but the whole thing is the testament of God.

Hosea6v6

 

[Your Neighbor]

... they only study the New Testament, as the Old Testament is irrelevant to Christians in our time. ...

What an ignorant position to take.

Speaking with the Old Testament in mind, see what it is good for:

[FONT=Times New Roman, Times]"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16.

[/FONT]Speaking with the Old Testament in mind:
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times]"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4.
[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, Times]
[/FONT]Speaking with the Old Testament in mind:
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times]"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:27.[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, Times]
[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, Times]
[/FONT]Speaking with the Old Testament in mind:
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times]"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times]
[/FONT]Speaking with the Old Testament in mind:
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times]"And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?" Acts 8:30. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, Times]"Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." Acts 8:35.
[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, Times]
[/FONT]Speaking with the Old Testament in mind:
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times]"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:15.
[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, Times]
[/FONT]Speaking with the Old Testament in mind:
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times]"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4.
[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, Times]
[/FONT]Speaking with the Old Testament in mind:
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times]"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times]

[/FONT]

 

[Bethshaya]

Hi all, I've been pondering something lately. I've been talking to some friends who have told me that they only study the New Testament, as the Old Testament is irrelevant to Christians in our time. I'd like to know whether this is a common thought?

The Old Testament is Christ concealed, the New Testament is Christ revealed.

Yes, the bible is a book with the answers in the back. How will you know what the question was if you don't read the Old Testament?

To read only the NT is like reading the "Cliff Notes" and not reading the novel. The entire purpose of the book is to show a God of promise, a God of Love and a God of Grace. It isnt just shown in what he did through Christ, but the magnificance of it is that He told them all along, showed them, revealed to them, announced to them...that He was coming.

To miss out on the "Jewishness" of the Old Testment, you miss out on alot of the symbolism that is in the New. Look at how the Jewish Feasts shout Christ as the sacreficial lamb. Not just the holiday itself, but in each and every thing they were commanded to do, year after year in preparation. It was a Dress Rehersal so that the Jews wouldn't miss Christ when he came. And he did...RIGHT on the exact day. It is no coincidence that Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on the night before Passover. It is no coincidence that he was slain during Passover, it is no coincidence that he rose three days later on the feast of Firstfruits (He was the first go ressurect), it is no coincidence that he rose into heaven on Pentacost, it is no coincidence that He was born at the time of Tabernacles (God With Us).

Look at the stories throughout the Old Testament and how they reflect Jesus. Joseph, an innocent man accused, rises to power and into a position to save the nations from famine. Jesus was falsely accused, but still saved us from a famine of the soul. Look at Ruth, the story of the kinsman redeemer. Jesus is the only one worthy to be a kinsman redeemer at the End Times to break the seal. This seal is the scroll of the deed of the earth in which Satan currently holds. It is Jewish custom that every seven years, a kinsman redeemer can break the seal on the scroll, pay the price agreed to at the original sale, and buy the land back for the inheiritance of the family. Christ will do this for us at the end time. He has already paid the price in full and Satan will turn over the rights to the earth to Christ to reign.

You miss so much if you don't read the OT! I have the following pasted to the front of my bible to remind me HE IS in every book! Its a POWERFUL song that I used to memorize the books of the bible.

He Is, by Aaron Jeoffrey
http://lifeoutreach.sitestream.com/http/MP3/Music/Aaron%20Jeffory%20-%20He%20Is.mp3

In Genesis, He's the breath of Life
In Exodus, the passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He's our high priest
Numbers, the fire by night
Deuteronomy, He's Moses' voice
In Joshua, He is salvation's choice
Judges, Law giver
In Ruth, the kinsman redeemer
First and Second Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He's sovereign
Ezra, true and faithful scribe
Nehemiah, He's the rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He's Mordecai's courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms, He is our morning song
In Proverbs, wisdom's cry
Ecclesiastes, the time and season
In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream

In Isaiah, He's Prince of Peace
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
In Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, He's the call from sin
In Daniel, the stranger in the fire
In Hosea, He is forever faithful
In Joel, He's the Spirits power
In Amos, the arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He's the Lord our Savior
In Jonah, He's the great missionary
In Micah, the promise of peace
In Nahum, He is our strength and our shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He's pleading for revival
In Haggai, He restores a lost heritage
In Zechariah, our fountain
In Malachi, He is the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God, Man, Messiah
In the book of Acts, He is fire from heaven
In Romans, He's the grace of God
In Corinthians, the power of love
In Galatians, He is freedom from the curse of sin
Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servants heart
In Colossians, He's the Godhead trinity
Thessalonians, our coming King
In Timothy, Titus, Philemon He's our mediator and our faithful Pastor
In Hebrews, the everlasting covenant
In James, the one who heals the sick.
In First and Second Peter, he is our Shepherd
In John and in Jude, He is the lover coming for His bride
In the Revelation, He is King of Kings and the Lord of Lords

 

[français]

both, definetely.

i think it's sad at how few chrisitans realize how much judaism has influenced our religion. without judaism, there would be no christianity!