North Charlottesville church of Christ

Meeting Purpose

Review the purposes of the Old Covenant and discuss its relationship to the New Covenant, emphasizing the importance of proper biblical interpretation.

Key Takeaways

• The Old Covenant serves as a shadow and precursor to the New Covenant, containing numerous prophecies and types that point to Christ

• Jesus and the apostles viewed the Old Testament as inspired Scripture, using it as evidence for Christ's identity and mission

• Proper biblical interpretation involves examining all relevant passages to discern patterns and draw sound conclusions, rather than dismissing this approach

• Some modern scholars and theologians are promoting problematic views that undermine the inspiration and unity of Scripture

Topics

Purposes of the Old Covenant

• Cause people to see their need for a Savior by revealing sin and the insufficiency of animal sacrifices

• Prepare for and point to Christ through prophecies, types, and shadows

• Demonstrate God's holiness and man's sinfulness through the law

Shadow and Substance in Scripture

• The Old Covenant contains many shadows/types that are fulfilled in Christ (e.g. Passover, Abraham offering Isaac)

• Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies in detail, demonstrating divine inspiration

• Understanding these connections provides powerful evidence for the truth of Christianity

Jesus' View of the Old Testament

• Jesus treated the Old Testament as inspired, authoritative Scripture

• He expected it to be fulfilled in every detail

• He used it as evidence for His identity and mission

Proper Biblical Interpretation

• Examine all relevant passages on a topic to discern patterns and draw conclusions

• Avoid false dichotomies between law/grace or Old/New Testaments

• Recognize the unity and inspiration of all Scripture

Problematic Modern Views

• Some scholars promote ideas that undermine biblical inspiration and reliability (e.g. Deuteronomistic history theory)

• Claiming the Bible can't be used to draw doctrinal conclusions

• Dismissing attempts to harmonize Scripture as improper "pattern theology"

Next Steps

• Continue studying the relationship between the Old and New Covenants

• Be prepared to address modern criticisms of biblical inspiration and interpretation

• Develop a deeper understanding of Old Testament prophecies and types pointing to Christ