The Old TestamentThe Old Testament writers believed their message was God-breathed and, therefore, utterly reliable. More than 400 times from Exodus 4:22 to Malachi 1:4, they declared, in just three Hebrew words, “Thus says the Lord.” Moses wrote detailed laws and instructions after God spoke to him. Exod. 24:4 "Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said." To emphasize this divine authority many of the prophets received God’s message through a powerful experience. For example, the prophet Jeremiah recorded that at the beginning of his ministry, “The Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: ‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth’” (Jeremiah 1:9). The prophets so identified themselves as God’s spokesmen that they frequently spoke as though God Himself were speaking. In Isaiah 5:1–2 the prophet spoke of God in the third person--He—but in verses 3–6 Isaiah spoke for God in the first person--I. Isaiah had become the actual spokesperson for God. No wonder King David spoke of the word of the Lord as “perfect” (2 Samuel 22:31; see also Proverbs 30:5. The NIV translates this word as “flawless”). The New Testament writers did not doubt that the Old Testament prophets spoke for God. Peter and John saw the words of David in Psalm 2, not as the opinion of a king in Israel, but as the Word of God: “You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David” (Acts 4:25, NIV). Similarly, Paul accepted Isaiah’s words as God speaking to men: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers” (Acts 28:25). The New Testament writers were so convinced all the words of the Old Testament Scripture were inspired by God that they even claimed, “Scripture says,” when the words quoted came directly from God. For example, “The Scripture says to the Pharaoh” (Romans 9:17). Clearly, the Lord Jesus Himself believed the words of the Old Testament were God-breathed. In John 10:34(quoting from Psalm 82:6), He based His teaching upon a single phrase: “I said, ‘You are gods.’” In Matthew 22:43–44 He quoted from Psalm 110:1 and emphasized a single word, “Lord,” to reveal Himself as the Son of God. The Apostle Paul had no doubts about every bit of the Old Testament scriptures. In Act 24 he states------14 “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. "First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God." Romans 3:2 Apostle Paul The New Testament treats Genesis 1–11 as historical narrative. At least 25 New Testament passages refer directly to the early chapters of Genesis, and they are always treated as real history. Genesis 1 and 2 were cited by Jesus in response to a question about divorce (Matthew 19:4–6; Mark 10:6–9). Paul referenced Genesis 2–3 in Romans 5:12–19; 1 Corinthians 15:20–22, 45–47; 2 Corinthians 11:3; and 1 Timothy 2:13–14. The death of Abel recorded in Genesis 4 is mentioned by Jesus in Luke 11:51. The Flood (Genesis 6–9) is confirmed as historical by Jesus (Matthew 24:37–39) and Peter (2 Peter 2:4–9, 3:6), and in Luke 17:26–29, Jesus mentioned the Flood in the same context as he did the account of Lot and Sodom (Genesis 19). Finally, in Luke’s genealogy of Christ, he includes 20 names found in the genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11 (Luke 3:34–38). The Author's intended message (AIM) is what we are after. from CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY a Nazarene scholarly work by H.Orton Wiley The highest witness to the canon of the Old Testament as divinely inspired, is for the church, to be found in the fact that it was ratified by our Lord and His apostles. The importance of such supreme testimony cannot be overestimated, in establishing the Old Testament Scriptures as the sufficient and infallible Oracles of God, for the preparatory dispensation. It is just this,. in fact, that seals the Jewish canon as Christian Scriptures to be united with those which should afterward be given by the same Spirit, thus completing the objective canon of all the sacred Scriptures of the two dispensations. Of this evidence Dr. Pope writes that their divine origin is guaranteed to the Church by the fact "that the Saviour has given His authenticating testimony to the whole body of them in their integrity. That sanction, First, makes the Old Testament the revelation of Christ. As it testified of Him so He testifies of it. He took it into His hands, and blessed it, and hallowed it forever as His own. As revelation is Christ, and Christ is the subject of the Old Testament, the Old Testament is of necessity the revelation of God. Knowing better than any human critic can know all its internal obscurities, He sealed it nevertheless for the reverence of His people. The canon of the ancient oracles, precisely as we hold them now, no more no less, he sanctified and gave to the Church as the early preparatory records of His own Gospel and kingdom. That sanction, Second, assures us that the New Testament is His own authoritative completion of the Scriptures of revelation" (POPE, Compend Chr. Th., pp. 39, 40). Almost every book of the Old Testament is quoted as Holy Scripture in the New Testament. Here are some of the references, compiled by Don Stewart. GenesisJesus cites the creation account of humanity in Genesis (1:27) as authoritative Scripture. And he answered and said, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'" (Matthew 19:4-5). Exodus Paul quoted the Book of Exodus (20:12). Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise) (Ephesians 6:2). Leviticus Jesus cited the Mosaic law for the cleansing of a leper (Leviticus 14:2-32). And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them (Matthew 8:4). Numbers The faithfulness of Moses (Numbers 12:7) is cited in the Book of Hebrews. Now Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken late (Hebrews 3:5). Deuteronomy Deuteronomy is quoted a number of times. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13 when He was tempted by the Devil. Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only'" (Matthew 4:10). Joshua The writer to the Hebrews quotes the Book of Joshua (1:5) as Scripture. Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for he himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Judges While Judges is not directly quoted as authoritative Scripture, events that are recorded in the Book of Judges are cited in the Book of Hebrews. And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets (Hebrews 11:32). Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah are all featured in stories in the Book of Judges. Samuel Jesus cited the account of David and those with him eating bread on the Sabbath (1 Samuel 21:1-6). He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread - which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests" (Matthew 12:3,4). Citing the book of First Samuel would also include Second Samuel since they were one book in the Hebrew arrangement. Kings Paul cited God's reply to Elijah (1 Kings 19:18). And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal" (Romans 11:4). First and Second Kings were one book in Hebrew. Therefore a citation from First Kings means the entire book was cited. Chronicles First and Second Chronicles is one book in Hebrew. While Chronicles is not directly cited in the New Testament Jesus attests to its authority. The death of the prophet Zechariah is listed in Chronicles. So that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar (Matthew 23:35). This event was recorded in 2 Chronicles 24:20,21. Job Paul quotes Job 5:13. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness" (1 Corinthians 3:19). Psalms The Psalms is one of the most often quoted Old Testament books. For example, Jesus quoted the Psalms 82:6. If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken) (John 10:35). Proverbs James cites Proverbs 3:34. But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). IsaiahThe Book of Isaiah is quoted often in the New Testament. Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah (61:1,2) at a synagogue in Nazareth. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:17-19). JeremiahMatthew cites a passage from Jeremiah the prophet (31:15). Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more" (Matthew 2:17-18). LamentationsMatthew records an allusion to the Book of Lamentations (3:30). They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again (Matthew 27:30). EzekielEzekiel is alluded to on several occasions in the New Testament. Paul alluded to Ezekiel 37:27. What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people" (2 Corinthians 6:16). DanielJesus identifies Daniel as one of the prophets and quotes him authoritatively (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel - let the reader understand (Matthew 24:15). The Twelve The Twelve Minor Prophets were considered to be one book. The fact that one of them is cited authoritative testifies to the divine authority of all of them. However, nine out of the twelve are specifically cited as Scripture in the New Testament.Hosea Matthew quotes the prophet Hosea 11:1. Where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son" (Matthew 2:15). JoelOn the Day of Pentecost Peter cited a passage from Joel 2:28-32. This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel (Acts 2:16). AmosIn Acts the Book of Amos is quoted (Amos 9:11,12). After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things (Acts 15:16-17). JonahJesus referred to the incident of Jonah being swallowed by the large sea creature (Jonah 1). He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:39-40). MicahMatthew cites Micah in the place where the Christ is to be born (Micah 5:2). And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd my people Israel (Matthew 2:6). Habakkuk Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4. Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." (Galatians 3:11). HaggaiThe writer to the Hebrews quotes Haggai (Haggai 2:6 in the Septuagint) And his voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven" (Hebrews 12:26). Zechariah The Book of Zechariah is quoted on Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9). Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden" (Matthew 21:5).Malachi Jesus cited the necessity of the coming of Elijah (Malachi 4:5). The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things" (Matthew 17:10-11).The New Testament Cites All The Old Testament Books (With Four Exceptions) All Old Testament books are quoted as authoritative works by the New Testament writers with four exceptions: Ezra/Nehemiah, Esther, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. The absence of any quotations of these books does not speak against their canonicity. While Ezra/Nehemiah, Esther, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes are not directly cited in the New Testament this does not mean that they were not part of Scripture. The number of books had been long- fixed before the time of Christ. This list included these four works. Summary We find that most the books of the Old Testament are directly cited as Holy Scripture. The fact that these books were cited demonstrates the belief of the New Testament writers that they were quoting from God's Word. There are only four books that were not cited - Ezra/Nehemiah, Ecclesiastes, Esther, and Song of Solomon. While these other books are not directly cited in the New Testament, their inclusion in the Hebrew canon is testified to by other means. Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. Romans 3:2
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