Old Testament vs. New Testament

[Pocky]

I've heard several answers to this, but since I'm studying religion and having completed the a course on the New Testament and now finishing up my course on the Old Testament, why do many Christians mainly focus on the New Testament? Why does it seem like, although the Old Testament is supposed to be the word of God, it's treated almost as though it doesn't exist and whenever a debate occurs, quotes from the New Testament appear, but rarely anything from the Old Testament?

[tokyo]

I thought the New Testament starts with Jesus?

[alphamale]

the old testament is the fundamental basis of judiasm, christianity and islam. all three religions believe in the old testament.

 

the "new" testament is the Bible and what Christians believe in and the basis of Christianity. Judiasm and Islam don't follow the new testament.

 

the new testament is what differentiates christians from all other followers of the old testament.

 

so the "new testament" for jews is the torah and for muslims it is the koran.

[LucreziaBorgia]

I guess Peter was just especially persuasive?

 

Seriously, though I am curious to see the responses to your question though. I expect its because much of it is rendered obsolete by the NT scriptures (to Christians, anyway), and the old Jewish laws would not apply to Christians. That's not to say it wouldn't still be respected as the word of G_d - it just would be seen as something not applicable after the events in the NT.

[Pocky]

Maybe I'm not making sense or clarifying myself.

 

While I understand the differences between the religions it doesn't explain why it seems like Christians don't even recognize the Old Testament. I understand that the New Testament, within a religious aspect, is the main focus of their religion, but that shouldn't completely negate the Old Testament should it? I find this inconsistent. The word of God is the word of God and if God gave his word to the people in the Old Testament before Jesus came shouldn't it, within Christianity, be as important? It's as though God didn't exist until the New Testament.

[alphamale]

Originally posted by Pocky

While I understand the differences between the religions it doesn't explain why it seems like Christians don't even recognize the Old Testament.

well, Christians are supposed to recognize the O.T.,

[Bronzepen]

Don't have all the details but in the new testament Jesus pretty much wipes the slate clean with old testament. All the rules about pork, uncleanliness, etc.......are nulled by Jesus, according to new testament followers.

[MySugaree]

My theory is that the OT is too Jewish for many Christians--too ethnic or tribal.

 

The OT, however, soars as literature as compared to the pedestrian writing in the NT.

 

Although I'm neither Christian nor Jewish, I find the OT to be a much more riveting read than the NT.

[Pocky]

Originally posted by MySugaree

Although I'm neither Christian nor Jewish, I find the OT to be a much more riveting read than the NT.

 

I agree with you. I'm enjoying my Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) course far more than the New Testament course I took last semester.

[tiki]

I admire some of the viewpoints of the OT. I thought that the NT was a more 'worldly' version (per se). Our church is all over the place with the big B.

[Moose]

The best way I can explain it based on what I've learned is that the Old Testament has the geneolgy, and the prophesies that foretell the coming of Christ who will in all sense of the word do away with the Old Laws and free man from his sins.

 

It's not that we totally ignore the Old Testament, it's extremely important to our faith because it proves that what we believe in has been fortold for thousands of years, or during that Church age. It gives us proof as to Jesus' lineage, the history of Christianity, and it also provides us with a lot of wisdom on how we should live our lives.

 

Since the coming of Christ, the Old laws, rules and regulations that man were following to stay in good graces with God are all put away with the realization that there is no possible way, shape or form that man could possibly follow everything down to the letter.

 

The New Testament was written for today's Church age which is why it seems we are totally focused on that portion of Scripture. Knowing that man would progress to such an age where the Old laws would literally be impossible to follow, God provided us with His Son to free us from sin and provide us with the only possible way to Him, (without traveling back in time before Christ).

 

This is just my take on this, doesn't mean it's the say all, end all truth.......but it's as close to how I understand it as I can get.

[HokeyReligions]

Isn't there something in the NT where Jesus addresses this? I seem to remember something from my old Sunday School days about about this.

 

Like someone said, the OT is the foundation, it is a history book, not a 'rule' book like the NT.

[Moose]

I'd have to look up where Jesus said something about it, I found this in Romans pretty quickly though:

 

Romans Chapter 7:

6 But now we have been released from the law by dying to what enslaved us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit, not under the old written code.

[Pocky]

Originally posted by Moose

The New Testament was written for today's Church age which is why it seems we are totally focused on that portion of Scripture. Knowing that man would progress to such an age where the Old laws would literally be impossible to follow, God provided us with His Son to free us from sin and provide us with the only possible way to Him, (without traveling back in time before Christ).

 

 

So, the OT is antiquated and no longer relevant to the current culture and the NT is so therefore you focus your religion on the NT. Isn't the NT antiquated as well? Isn't it just as difficult to apply some of the teachings in the NT as it is to apply the teachings in the OT?

[Pocky]

Originally posted by HokeyReligions

Isn't there something in the NT where Jesus addresses this? I seem to remember something from my old Sunday School days about about this.

 

Like someone said, the OT is the foundation, it is a history book, not a 'rule' book like the NT.

 

Funny thing though is that the OT is nothing but rules and what happens when you follow or don't follow those rules.

[Pocky]

Originally posted by Moose

I'd have to look up where Jesus said something about it, I found this in Romans pretty quickly though:

 

Romans Chapter 7:

6 But now we have been released from the law by dying to what enslaved us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit, not under the old written code.

 

How do you know that Jesus was sent from God? How do you know he wasn't just another prophet and not the son of God? How do you know that God wanted the old ways to change? How do you know that he wanted everything that he had done to be pushed to the side and this new book to be created?

 

How do you know that Jesus isn't a false prophet and what the NT has done is actually taken you away from your God and duped you into worshiping a false prophet?

[Moose]

Now that I read a little more into it, the scripture I quoted seems to be more towards laws of marriage......I'll do some more looking around tonight.

So, the OT is antiquated and no longer relevant to the current culture and the NT is so therefore you focus your religion on the NT. Isn't the NT antiquated as well? Isn't it just as difficult to apply some of the teachings in the NT as it is to apply the teachings in the OT?

The Old Testament is still VERY relevant to our faith as far as it's teachings and history, it's more the laws have been out dated, not neccessarily banned because other sects still practice them, just to us they aren't neccessary because of the saving grace of Jesus.

 

Can you clarify what is so difficult to follow as far as New Testament Teachings?

[Moose]

How do you know that Jesus was sent from God?

Because when Christ did come, Old Testament prophesies were fullfilled.

How do you know he wasn't just another prophet and not the son of God?

Again, because He filled every single solitary prediction as described in the Old Testament.

How do you know that God wanted the old ways to change?

Because God knew, and still knows what and where human kind is progessing into........and I'll clue you all in, it's not pretty where we're headin'.

How do you know that he wanted everything that he had done to be pushed to the side and this new book to be created?

Nothing was pushed to the way side, everything was relevant during that particular place in the time line.

How do you know that Jesus isn't a false prophet and what the NT has done is actually taken you away from your God and duped you into worshiping a false prophet?

Because like the Old Testament, the prophesies pertaining to our day and age contained in the New Testament have been, and continue to come true, down to the letter. Besides, I worship God Himself. Jesus is God.

[Chris777]

The OT is extremely informative especially since their are still MANY unfufilled prophecies still contained within it

 

The Psalms, and Proverbs are both meaty books that , at least in my own case, I still chew on and feel like I have barely scratched the surface. Not to mention the Prophets, and the Pentatech.

 

Part of the problem, and yes I do think it is a problem, is that their are many who try and claim that they are the "one true adherents" of whatever cult or false religion, or whatever. (and hear me out before you start stoning me for calling Islam, and mormonism, and what not false)

 

It is like all the different so called denominations of Christianity, one tries to differentiate themselfs from the other by claiming they follow something "new" and "improved" but in reality their really is nothing new under the sun , their were thousands of false religions when jesus came their are thousands of false religions now.

(including atheism, evolution, and science itself, look into the historical foundations of them)

Religion in of it self is a persons fundamental belief on the universe and the hows and whys of it.

When I first began to believe in christianity, I was embarrassed, by the crusades, by fundamentalist(which I now tend to think most of are actually too liberal) and all of the so called "ignorant" beliefs contained within them. So I thought I will just become a Jew, like Jesus was. After much Study , and learning , It dawned upon me that their was one little problem with that, I am not a Jew. (and neither was Jesus, but that is a whole other can of worms to be opened in a different topic)[if Jesus existed before Abraham, and Abraham was the first Jew, then how is it jesus could be a Jew If he was already here First?]

 

Back to topic: The old testament was the old covenant, the new testement is the new covenant.

Once Jesus came to redeem us he fufilled the law under the old covenant for us, because we are incapable of it. We are all too corrupted to ever be sinless, without the power of God himself to intervene. Now since we are under the new covenant, many "Christians" assume that the old is "outdated" and "old fashioned" just like many people now assume about the Bible Itself, both old and new Testaments. Mankind has always tried to find its own way of doing things. We are Proud, we are boastful, and we are ignorant, and blind.

 

If you look at the old testament and compare it to the new you can see that they reflect each other in many ways, and the Text even speaks of the old testament being the shadow of things to come. Just like man is a Shadow of God. However because of the fall We are Dark like the shadow and We needed the Light Of Christ to "Chase away the darknes" in us so to speak. The old Testament Was Given So that the Jews could See how God Wanted them to be, but they ,like many "Christians" today, had the tendancy to exhalt themselves, rather than see themselves for the corrupted shadows they really were. So as the Jews who "followed" the Law , when Jesus came, "claimed" they were following the truth, so to do many "Christians" claim, that all they need is the new testament. I have even heard so called "pastors" say that if all they had was one book out of the new testament, that it would be enough for their salvation.

 

Mostly it is out of an ignorance, but when has it not been that way?

 

their is nothing new under the sun

 

"It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

[Pocky]

Originally posted by Moose

........and I'll clue you all in, it's not pretty where we're headin'.

 

I find it interesting that that judgment day is always just around the corner, but hasn't just around the corner been since the NT was written?

[alphamale]

Originally posted by Pocky

I find it interesting that that judgment day is always just around the corner, but hasn't just around the corner been since the NT was written?

 

and what about the 2nd coming of Christ. I mean....most people who think they are Christ are thrown into the looney bin and put on psychotropic medications.

 

how will we know when He comes to earth? and if he did show up don't u think the CIA or some other govt agency would assasinate him cause he would be a detriment to nat'l security?

[Pocky]

The Psalms, and Proverbs are both meaty books that , at least in my own case, I still chew on and feel like I have barely scratched the surface. Not to mention the Prophets, and the Pentatech.

 

We just finished discussion Prophets. On to Psalms I believe.

 

Once Jesus came to redeem us he fulfilled the law under the old covenant for us, because we are incapable of it. We are all too corrupted to ever be sinless, without the power of God himself to intervene.

 

From a documentary I recently viewed, Mary is said to have been born sinless, hence the reason she was capable of giving birth to Jesus. If, with God's intervention we are capable of being born sinless, then why aren't we born sinless? If sin is corruption and corruption is bad then why must we be born with sin? I understand Adam and Eve and how that is to explain why we have sin, but if he could purify Mary, why not purify all and not force his people to live in sin? Aren't we sinful because he wants us to be sinful? He gave the choice to Adam and Eve - he gave a choice and punished for that choice. Why give a choice at all? If he wants us to adhere to a specific way of life why not give us that only way of life? He gave Mary no choice.

 

If you look at the old testament and compare it to the new you can see that they reflect each other in many ways, and the Text even speaks of the old testament being the shadow of things to come. Just like man is a Shadow of God. However because of the fall We are Dark like the shadow and We needed the Light Of Christ to "Chase away the darknes" in us so to speak.

 

But if God created us, the darkness is his creation, isn't it? If he made all things, he also made the darkness and therefore perpetuated his own creation.

[quankanne]

We were taught in catechism classes that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. When you compare readings in both books you'll find how the Old Testament foreshadows the New (i.e, read and compare Psalm 22 with Matthew 27:33-54) — the Old Testament is not superseded by the New Testament but enhanced by the presence of Christ.

 

Jesus also put the Ten Commandments into an easy to fathom teaching: Love God, and love one another. There is no second-guessing or beating around the bush when you look at it as such, just a simple directive to love God and those around you. Because, as Moose said, the New Testament was written for "modern" audience, one which still held the beliefs of what their Jewish spiritual forefathers taught, but were living a radical experience in their belief of Christ, who they professed as the Son of God who came to offer himself up for their sins.

[Moose]

Originally posted by Pocky

I find it interesting that that judgment day is always just around the corner, but hasn't just around the corner been since the NT was written?

I know what you mean. A day, week, year, decade, century......who knows? One thing we know for certain is that Jesus told us that this generation, (of mankind), will be witness to His second coming. So we can rest assured that no World War or any space anomaly is going to destroy the Earth..........

[Moose]

Originally posted by alphamale

and what about the 2nd coming of Christ. I mean....most people who think they are Christ are thrown into the looney bin and put on psychotropic medications.

 

how will we know when He comes to earth? and if he did show up don't u think the CIA or some other govt agency would assasinate him cause he would be a detriment to nat'l security?

These are all good questions. It may give you loads of clarity to just pick up the NT and read for yourself. Revelations is very descriptive as to how this will all unfold.