The Old Testament in the New Testament

Course Description:

Every New Testament writer quotes from, alludes to, or echoes the Old Testament.   Yet many Christians are taught to disregard the Old Testament.  Is the New Testament intended to replace the Old Testament?   How much continuity does the Old Testament have with the New?   In this course students examine the use of the Old Testament in selections from the Gospels, the letters of the Apostle Paul, and the book of Revelation.   By studying what the writers say about the gradual unfolding of the panoramic picture of God’s involvement in history, students can discover how the epic plan of God from Genesis to Revelation is finally fulfilled in Jesus.

Guiding Questions:

• How dependent is the New Testament on the Old Testament?

• How much liberty do New Testament writers take when interpreting and applying the Hebrew Scriptures?  

• Do Old Testament verses that appear in the New Testament retain their original meaning?

• What does it mean when the Bible says, “According to the Scriptures?”