Questions and Answers

Question: Christians are supposed to teach Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and that He rose from the dead. Why, then, does your magazine so often refer to the books of the Old Testament?

Answer: The Old Testament consists of the inspired writings of God’s servants who lived before Jesus Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. The New Testament writings do not disparage the Old Testament; rather, they validate it. The Apostle Peter, for example, described the Old Testament as divinely inspired—and not from private interpretation or origin (2 Peter 1:20–21).

The Apostle Paul reminded the young evangelist Timothy that "from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:15–16). Those "Holy Scriptures"—able to make Timothy wise for salvation—were the Old Testament books!

What did Jesus Christ Himself say? "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’" (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4). Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, and was referring to all of God’s word from Genesis to Malachi—the canonized Bible of His day.

The New Testament shows that Jesus accepted Old Testament accounts as historically accurate, including those about Adam and Eve (Matthew 19:3–4), Abel (Matthew 23:35), Noah’s flood (Luke 17:26–27), Sodom and Gomorrah (Luke 17:28–29) and Jonah (Matthew 12:40). Modern Bible critics often question and malign these Old Testament accounts, but Jesus Christ directly validated them with His words! Note also Jesus’ reference to "Moses’ writings"—which the Jews understood as the first five books of the Old Testament. Jesus admonished his critics, saying: "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me: for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" (John 5:46–47). Without accepting Moses’ writings, one cannot have real faith and belief in Jesus Christ!

Not only history, but also fulfilled prophecy, stands as a powerful witness to the authenticity of the Old Testament. Throughout the Old Testament there are many references that predicted Christ’s first coming. These have come to pass. For us, today, the many prophecies of His second coming—following specific end-time events foretold in Scripture—are filled with inspired relevance. To disregard the Old Testament would lead one to reject much of the vital truth about Jesus Christ, His message and even God’s Church, which is built on the "foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:19-20).

After Christ’s resurrection, He spent time with His disciples to help them understand what had occurred. Notice which part of the Bible He used: "And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:27). This also included the Psalms (v. 44).

Was Jesus teaching His disciples to observe the ceremonial laws that foreshadowed His sacrifice—a sacrifice that replaced them? No! As Hebrews 10 explains, the Old Testament laws of sacrifice are not required of Christians. As Isaiah taught, the Messiah was to come to magnify the law (Isaiah 42:21). Christ said that He came to fulfill "the Law and the Prophets"—not to abolish them. He plainly taught His followers to keep the Ten Commandments (Matthew 5:17–20; Luke 18:18–20). He made this possible by giving Christians the Holy Spirit so that they could have Christ’s faith living within them (Galatians 2:20).

As you see, true Christians cannot preach—and indeed cannot practice true Christianity—without teaching from the Old Testament as well as from the New Testament. The Old Testament is validated by divine inspiration, supported by the Apostles and the New Testament writings and confirmed by Jesus Christ Himself. For this reason, Tomorrow’s World magazine strives to "declare to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).