Comments on: Reading the Bible in the Right Direction (Part 2)

By: Jonathan Toenniges

Jonathan Toenniges — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:08:43 +0000

This is a good example of interpreting the New Testament in light of the Old. Without understanding the OT, we would have to interpret Matthew’s quotation in a way that undermines the OT, as Richard also gave an example of. The other option to undermining the OT is to skim over that verse, or ignore it’s OT context, leading to quasi-Marcionism. But Interpreting the NT through the OT just makes the NT make sense, giving a rich meaning.

By: Shaklee

Shaklee — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:50:00 +0000

Reading this makes me want to wipe my New Testament memory and forget it all until i have spent years in the Old Testament maybe even only listen to OT preachers to that teach the OT without connecting it o the NT.

By: Matt Dettman

Matt Dettman — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:09:20 +0000

Consider a reader who has only read the New Testament and a few “favourite” texts from the Old Testament. What you have just written, shows that If I were to follow a method of only reading the NT with a sprinkling of OT, I would wind up (eventually) in heresy, or worse. Where understanding is lacking, frustration lurks for an opportunity to take the reader off the narrow path.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:06:21 +0000

I love the way the NT quotes of OT pulls Jesus into the story of Israel. And I also love feeling the impact of how unexpected Jesus’ first coming was to the Messianic expectation. For example, I was just looking at Matt. 1:21, the same passage of Gabriel’s announcement that was referenced above. He says that a son will be born and you shall call him [Joshua] (OT hero who lead Israel across the Jordan into the promise land). Without us asking why this name, Gabriel answers. Because he will deliver his people. Pause and think of the Jewish expectation for a great deliverer who would save them from their enemies. But no, Gabriel says that Jesus will save His people from their sins. While the sins of the people and their captivity are dynamically linked, I cannot help but stand in awe of the unexpected twist God threw into His story at the birth of Jesus.

By: James Kufeldt

James Kufeldt — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:55:20 +0000

I liked reading this a lot. You are helping me on my path of recovery from quasi-Marcionism, though it does seem a bit overwhelming….I’m getting the sinking feeling that it will take me years to come to the place of being able to see things like that in the text for myself. Years and years and years.
This recovery path is looking to be long and arduous indeed.

By: Kristina Wu

Kristina Wu — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:10:04 +0000

Wow. This is so eye opening! I must admit that I have fallen into the category of people that have interpreted Matt. 2:15 as a proof-text for the Messiah-ship of Jesus. But the way that you have presented it, by seeing Jesus as the climax and consummation of the story of Israel, there is so much more depth and power. I must look into this!

By: Kara VanHover

Kara VanHover — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:39:08 +0000

Your thoughts on Matthew and how you view it through the lens of the Old Testament is intriguing. I was wondering if you came up with these ideas from your own personal study or if it has partially stemmed from other authors you’ve read.

By: Katie Thompson

Katie Thompson — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:15:40 +0000

This is good! As I am reading, I found myself say, “wow…this is really all about Israel (or very, very much about Israel)!” I definitely need more understanding of Hosea to really make an informed comment, but I can see how this is so much bigger than just Jesus being a fulfillment to prove that He is Messiah, but that it encompasses so much more (the history of Israel, God’s promises, God’s faithfulness to His promises, Israel’s exodus out of Egypt, and ultimately, who Jesus is). I have a question though…could it possibly be both interpretations? (or does that not align with the meaning of Hosea?)

By: Spencer Baker

Spencer Baker — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:47:03 +0000

It’s kinda funny, but I don’t know that I ever came across this problem until I heard you bring this verse up at homegroup once. In my school and church and such, I had always heard that Jesus fulfilled all these OT prophecies, so I don’t think I even bothered to ever look up the OT passages. After looking at these supposed inconsistencies though, I find that this view seems much more powerful and beautiful than the other. Instead of the Biblical authors just listing a bunch of facts about why Jesus is who he is, they actually invite the reader into the story of the whole Bible, discovering that the climax of that story is found in the person of Jesus Christ.

By: Kendall Beachey

Kendall Beachey — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:54:02 +0000

What, you mean that apologetics persentation at my youth group, where if we filled the state of Texas waist deep with silver dollars and marked one with a red X we could see the statistical impropbablility of Jesus fulfilling every one of those propheses, was wrong. Where is my case for Christ now. Don’t I need all those to be literal predictive claims in order to maintain that Jesus is the Messiah! How are we going to prove to the Jews that Jesus really was the their Messiah who fulfilled every single one of their propheses. How are they going to be convinced… oh, they’re not convinced, are they.