OT Quotes, Allusions, and Citations in the NT
The New Testament frequently quotes, alludes to, and cites the Old Testament, demonstrating a deep interconnectedness between the two parts of the Christian canon. These references are numerous and are not made according to a single, uniform method [1].
When the New Testament was written, the Old Testament was not yet divided into chapters and verses as it is today [1]. Consequently, New Testament authors often referred to Old Testament passages by describing the section or narrative from which they were drawing. For example, Luke 20:37 refers to Exodus 3:6 by mentioning "Moses at the bush," indicating the section containing that record. Similarly, Mark 2:26 references 1 Samuel 21:1-6 with the phrase "in the days of Abiathar," and Paul refers to 1 Kings 17-19 as "in Elias" in Romans 11:2 [1].
The New Testament authors employ Old Testament texts for various theological purposes. For instance, 1 Peter 2:6-8 brings together three Old Testament quotations to identify Christ as a stone: the cornerstone for the new temple (Isaiah 28:16), the cornerstone elevated despite rejection (Psalm 118:22), and a stone that causes stumbling (Isaiah 8:14). These three passages were likely combined early on to articulate the nature and significance of Jesus as the Messiah [9]. Augustine also noted the harmony between the Old and New Testaments, particularly regarding precepts of charity, recognizing that the command to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart" is a direct quotation from the Law given by Moses [5].
Many New Testament passages contain multiple cross-references to the Old Testament. For example, Titus 3:3, which speaks of humanity's former state, cross-references passages such as Genesis 38:9, Proverbs 1:22, and Isaiah 44:20 [2]. Titus 3:6, concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, connects to Proverbs 1:23, Isaiah 32:15, and Joel 2:28 [3]. Similarly, Titus 2:14, discussing Christ's redemptive work, draws parallels with Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 7:6, and Malachi 3:3 [4].
The quotations in the New Testament are often taken from the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament, sometimes with minor verbal changes [6]. These quotations serve to demonstrate that prophetic conceptions of the Messiah's work included salvation for the Gentiles, indicating that Christ's ministry extended beyond the Jewish people [6]. While many quotations are explicit, some New Testament references are allusions or thematic connections rather than direct quotes. For example, Luke 11:49 contains a quotation that is not explicitly from the Old Testament [10]. The Old Testament also frequently associates thunder with God's voice (e.g., Job 36:29, 33; 37:5; 38:1; Exodus 19:16-19; Psalm 104:7), a theme that resonates throughout biblical literature [7]. Similarly, fire is associated with the day of the Lord in the Old Testament (e.g., Isaiah 30:30; 66:15-16), a concept that finds its way into New Testament eschatology [8].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Quotations — From the Old Testament in the New, which are very numerous, are not made according to any uniform method. When the New Testament was written, the Old was not divided, as it now is, into chapters and verses, and hence such peculiarities as these: When Luke (20:37) refers to Ex. 3:6, he quotes from "Moses at the bush", i.e., the section containing the record of Moses at the bush. So also Mark (2:26) refers to 1 Sam. 21:1-6, in the words, "in the days of Abiathar;" and Paul (Rom. 11:2) refers to 1 Kings ch. 17-19, in the words, "in Elias", i.e., in the port”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Titus 3:3 cross-references: Genesis 38:9, Genesis 39:16, Psalms 36:2, Proverbs 1:22, Proverbs 8:5, Proverbs 9:6, Isaiah 44:20, Obadiah 1:3, Matthew 21:29, Luke 21:8, John 8:34, Acts 9:1, Acts 26:19, Romans 1:29, Romans 3:9, Romans 6:17, Romans 6:22, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 2 Corinthians 12:20, Galatians 6:3, Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 1:21, Colossians 3:7, 2 Timothy 3:2, James 1:26, 1 Peter 1:14, 1 Peter 4:1, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 13:14, Revelation 18:2”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Titus 3:6 cross-references: Proverbs 1:23, Isaiah 32:15, Isaiah 44:3, Ezekiel 36:25, Joel 2:28, John 1:16, John 4:10, John 7:37, John 14:16, John 16:7, Acts 2:33, Acts 10:45, Romans 5:5, Romans 8:2, Ephesians 3:8, Ephesians 4:2, Titus 1:4”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Titus 2:14 cross-references: Genesis 48:16, Exodus 15:16, Exodus 19:5, Leviticus 25:41, Numbers 7:15, Numbers 25:13, Deuteronomy 7:6, Deuteronomy 14:2, Deuteronomy 26:18, Psalms 130:8, Psalms 135:4, Ezekiel 36:25, Ezekiel 37:23, Malachi 3:3, Matthew 1:21, Matthew 3:12, Matthew 20:28, John 6:51, John 10:15, Acts 9:36, Acts 15:9, Acts 15:14, Romans 11:26, Romans 14:7, 2 Corinthians 5:14, Galatians 1:4, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 5:2, Ephesians 5:23, 1 Timothy 1:15, 1 Timothy 2:6, 1 Timothy 2:10, 1 Timothy 6:18, Titus 2:7, Titus 3:8, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 10:24, Jam”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 4: Augustine — Anti-Manichaean, Anti-Donatist — CHAP. 9.--HARMONY OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT ON THE PRECEPTS OF CHARITY.[3] (part 1): 14. Come now, let us examine, or rather let us take notice,--for it is obvious and can be seen, at once,--whether the authority of the Old Testament too agrees with those statements taken from the gospel and the apostle. What need to speak of the first statement, when it is clear to all that it is a quotation from the law given by Moses ? For it is there written, " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with a”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: against” a person, same word as “alienation” just before. 1633 The quotations in the passage on which this homily is based are all taken from the LXX. with a few trifling verbal changes. They are designed to show that the prophetic conception of the Messiah’s work contemplated salvation for the Gentiles, so that Christ was not to be merely a “minister of the circumcision,” but that he is to bring through the Jews salvation to the Gentiles so that they shall “glorify God for his mercy” ( 9 ). The passages in the O.T. relate primarily either to the Psa”
- Job (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Job 37:2: 37:2 The Old Testament often associates thunder with God’s voice (36:29, 33; 37:5; 38:1; Exod 19:16-19; Ps 104:7).”
- 2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 3:7: 3:7 The Old Testament associates fire with the day of the Lord (see Isa 30:30; 66:15-16).”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 2:6: 2:6-8 The three Old Testament quotations in these verses each identify Christ as some kind of stone: the cornerstone on which the new temple is built (2:6); the cornerstone that God, despite peoples’ rejection, has elevated to be the keystone of his redemptive plan (2:7); and the stone that makes people stumble (2:8). Jesus quotes Ps 118:22 (Matt 21:42), and Paul quotes both Isa 8:14 and 28:16 (Rom 9:33). Likely these three quotations were brought together very early as a combined Old Testament testimony to the nature and significance of Jesus the Messiah.”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 11:49: 11:49 The quotation is not explicitly from the Old Testament.”