Providence Presbyterian

The Continuity of Holy Scripture: Holding it All Together

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Lessson 1

When looking at the Holy Scriptures, what do you see? Some see only a book of stories. Some see a book broken down into three, seven or even twelve discontinuous sections, with a virtual brick wall between each section. And some see a flowing story, a single story made up of several stories, but all intertwined to make up the overarching narrative.

In this study we want to look at the continuity of the Holy Scriptures.

1. God is One, His Word is One.

1. A Biblical Presupposition - there is only One God. Therefore the God of the Old Testament Scriptures is the God of the New Testament Scriptures (Deut. 6.4; Isaiah 45.5-7 & 46.8-11; 1 Cor. 8.6).
2. Another Biblical Presupposition - Because God is holy, good, just, merciful, compassionate, etc, His commandments are holy, just and good (Romans 7.12ff; Psalm 19.7-14). This means that to denounce the Old Testament laws as cruel, unjust, unfair, etc. is to denounce the Giver of the Law - to sit in judgment of the Judge. That is a perilous position.
3. Therefore, the Biblical position is opposed to Marcionism, which rejects the Old Testament completely, and claims [either overtly or covertly] that the god of the Old Testament was a god wholly of Law, who was fickle, capricious, despotic and cruel, and had nothing in common with the God of Jesus Christ.

2. The Law of God is Authoritative Under the New Covenant, Based on the Apostolic Example.

1. 2 Timothy 3.15-17. What portion of Holy Scriptures is Paul primarily referring to (Think about when Timothy was growing up, & realize that none of the NT texts were written any earlier than 46 a.d.). What does Paul say about the Holy Scriptures, which Timothy was taught as a child (v. 15)? What does Paul say that those Holy Scriptures are to do even now (16-17)?
2. 1 Cor. 9.8-10 & 1 Timothy 5.17-18. In both these passages, the same Scripture is quoted. (1) From whence does this Scripture come (address)? (2) What is Paul"s assumption in using this text (I"m drawing a necessary inference from his Apostolic example). (3) Does Paul do this in other places? Do the other NT writers do this?
3. James chapters 1 & 2. James is probably the earliest written Christian letter. (1) What Scriptures would he be calling mirror (1.23), word (1.21-23), the perfect law of liberty (1.25), & the royal law (2.8)? (2) What Scripture is he quoting in 2.8? Is it an Old Testament Scripture or a New Testament Scripture (this might be a bit tricky). (3) Does he make any defense for using this Old Testament Scripture a standard of authority? (Note: Read 1 John, and notice how he does exactly the same thing. He assumes it"s authority.)
4. Romans 3.19-20; 6.15-8.4. "Under law" in 3.19-20 is obviously under the justified guilt that comes from law. Therefore, in 6.14ff, "not under law" has to do with the condemnation & guilt deserved as a lawbreaker. But what has happened? Notice that to in 7.1-6, the idea is not that the law is done away, but that the law itself releases you from its condemnation at the "death of the husband." But the law still applies, but in a new "husband" situation. Then Paul spends the rest of chapter 7 showing how the good, holy & just Law is still good, holy & just. The problem is not God"s law, but the law of sin & death. The answer to the struggle is not to remove the Law, but to satisfy it"s just requirement of condemnation & pronouncement of guilt. God Himself does this in Christ at the Cross (8.1-3). So now, we no longer live condemned, but free of condemnation, so that the righteous requirements of the Law can be fulfilled in us.
   
   Observe that Paul later comes back & supports the Law"s authority in 13.8-10. If the Law itself is done away, then Paul didn"t need to quote it as authoritative & applicable today.
5. 1 Timothy 1.3-11. Follow the logic of this passage, which states how the law is to be used, why, and that the law is according to sound doctrine.

Therefore, looking just at Apostolic example alone, it is obvious that the Old Testament Scriptures not only talk about Christ & God, and are profitable for those doctrines; but also that they have the teeth (authority) to rebuke, correct & instruct in righteousness - fully equipping a man of God for every good work. The Law of God, and the Old Testament are still God's viable & applicable Word.

Lesson 2: How to Read the Bible >>

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