The Testimony of the New Testament to the Old Testament
In Peter’s sermon at Caesarea, when speaking of the Lord coming to judge, he says, “To Him give all the prophets witness, that, through His name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” Observe, here, he includes all the prophets. We would only add as to Peter’s testimony that in his first epistle, he refers to the scriptures of the Old Testament as final and conclusive. With him, “it is written,” was enough, and he quotes from, or refers to Exodus, Genesis, Isaiah, Psalms, Hosea, and other Old Testament writings. He enjoins his readers to be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets (2 Peter 3:22That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (2 Peter 3:2)).
Now let us hear Paul’s testimony. In his first memorable sermon at Antioch, he begins by running through the ways of God with the people of Israel, from Egypt to that day, and thus authenticates the books of Moses, Joshua, Judges, Samuel on to David, from whom he traces the Savior Jesus. He further refers to Old Testament scriptures as to His death on the cross, in the brief statement, “when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a sepulcher; but God raised Him from among the dead.”, He then goes to Psalm 2, which shows that God sent and gave His only begotten, whom men rejected, and he quotes Psalm 16, to show that He saw no corruption. Paul’s ministry here was founded on the divine authority of Old Testament scriptures. It is well to observe that in those days preaching was giving out, not human ideas and eloquence, but “the word of God.” Hence, we read, “almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.” “And the word of the Lord was published,” and in the next chapter, “God gave testimony to the word of His grace.”
In Acts 17 we find Paul preaching at Thessalonica in a Jewish synagogue, and according to his manner, he “reasoned with them out of the scriptures.” What scriptures? The Old Testament; from which he shows that “Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from among the dead; and that this Jesus which I preach unto you is Christ.” The result was that many believed. Now if we turn to the 1st epistle to the Thessalonian believers, we find Paul by the Holy Spirit writing to them, that he “thanked God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh in them that believe” (1 Thess 2:13). Can any testimony more fully prove the divine inspiration of the Old Testament scriptures? for the apostle began his ministry to them from those writings, and now as the Lord’s servant, he commends them for receiving the testimony as “the word of God.”
Paul then carries the gospel to Berea; and we are told that the Bereans were more noble than those in Thessalonica; and why? Because they held that the scriptures (then the Old Testament) were the only balance God had given to test everything by; so “they searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so.” Yes, and they were commended for testing even the ministry of an inspired apostle by the scriptures. Oh that people would do the same in our day! We should not then hear such words of unbelief, alas! so common, as expressing opinions on this and that scripture, and asking others what their opinions are. The fact is, the opinions of men are often useless, and savor strongly of infidelity, because God has given us His own word. This, faith rejoices in. Never, then, let us forget this divine commendation of the Berean believers.
Passing over much of Paul’s testimony, we find him at length before king Agrippa. There he declares that he said “none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come; that Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from among the dead, and should show light unto the people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:22-2322Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:22‑23)). In the conclusion of the Acts, we find him at Rome “persuading (the Jews) concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening;” and ended by giving another testimony to the Old Testament scriptures having been divinely inspired. “Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers” (Acts 28:23,2523And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. (Acts 28:23)
25And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, (Acts 28:25)).
(To be continued.)