The Importance of the Old Testament in Knowing Christ

The Old Testament plays a crucial role in understanding Christ, as it provides the foundational context for the New Testament narrative. The apostle Paul writes to Timothy, "From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" ^[1]. This passage highlights the significance of the Old Testament in preparing one for the gospel.

The term "Scripture" in the New Testament invariably refers to the Old Testament, denoting the collection of sacred books regarded as given by inspiration of God ^[2]. The Old Testament contains prophecies, types, and foreshadowings that point to Christ, making it essential for comprehending the New Testament. Jesus himself explained to his disciples that "all the Scriptures" — referring to the Old Testament — "point forward to the coming of Jesus the Messiah and the salvation that he would bring" ^[11].

The Old Testament is divided into three main sections: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. Jesus referenced these sections when he said, "Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled" ^[9]. This tripartite division underscores the comprehensive nature of the Old Testament's witness to Christ.

The importance of the Old Testament in understanding Christ is further emphasized by the apostle Paul's statement that "all that God caused to be recorded in the Old Testament has supreme relevance to believers, who experience the fulfillment of God's plan" ^[7]. The Old Testament provides the historical, cultural, and theological context necessary for grasping the significance of Christ's life, death, and resurrection.

In the view of some Protestant academics, the Old Testament Scriptures give the wisdom to receive salvation through faith in Christ Jesus ^[5]. The early Christian community, including figures like Timothy, were nurtured on the Old Testament, which helped them understand the doctrines of Christianity ^[8]. The New Testament writers frequently cited the Old Testament to demonstrate how Christ fulfilled prophecy and typology.

The relationship between the Old and New Testaments is often described as a covenantal one. The New Testament is seen as the "new covenant" in contrast to the "old covenant" ^[3]. This new covenant is not a rejection of the old but rather its fulfillment. Christ's sacrifice is understood as the ratification of this new covenant, making it possible for humanity to be reconciled to God ^[10].

In the interpretation of some Nonconformist/Puritan scholars, the gospel is considered as a testament, with Christ's blood being the seal that makes it valid and effectual ^[10]. The Old Testament contains numerous references to Christ, including prophecies and types that prefigure his coming. For instance, the concept of the Messiah is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, with passages like Isaiah 61:1 and Daniel 9:24-26 pointing to Jesus as the Anointed One ^[4].

The early Christian understanding of the Old Testament's importance is reflected in the writings of the apostles and the early church fathers. The Old Testament is not merely a historical document but a living text that continues to instruct and guide believers. As one tradition interprets it, the Old Testament's teachings, when combined with the life and teachings of Christ, provide a comprehensive understanding of God's plan of salvation ^[6].

The significance of the Old Testament in knowing Christ is thus multifaceted. It provides the necessary background for understanding the New Testament, contains prophecies and types that point to Christ, and offers a covenantal context for grasping the nature of God's relationship with humanity. As such, the Old Testament remains an indispensable part of Christian Scripture, illuminating the person and work of Christ.

The historical context in which the early Christians understood the Old Testament also sheds light on its importance. The Jewish community, from which Christianity emerged, placed a high value on the Scriptures. Timothy's early education in the Old Testament, under the guidance of his mother and grandmother, exemplifies this ^[8]. This Jewish heritage and the continuity between the Old and New Testaments underscore the vital role of the Old Testament in Christian theology.

Sources

II Timothy “II Timothy 3:15 (BSB) — From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: New Testament — (Luke 22:20), rather "New Covenant," in contrast to the old covenant of works, which is superseded. "The covenant of grace is called new; it succeeds to the old broken covenant of works. It is ever fresh, flourishing, and excellent; and under the gospel it is dispensed in a more clear, spiritual, extensive, and powerful manner than of old" (Brown of Haddington). Hence is derived the name given to the latter portion of the Bible. (See [438]TESTAMENT.)”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Christ — Anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah" (q.v.), the official title of our Lord, occurring five hundred and fourteen times in the New Testament. It denotes that he was anointed or consecrated to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people. He is Jesus the Christ (Acts 17:3; 18:5; Matt. 22:42), the Anointed One. He is thus spoken of by Isaiah (61:1), and by Daniel (9:24-26), who styles him "Messiah the Prince." The Messiah is the same person as "the seed of the woman" (Gen. 3:15), "the seed of Abraham" (Ge”
2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 3:14: 3:14-15 from childhood: Timothy’s Jewish grandmother and mother, Lois and Eunice (see Acts 16:1-3), provided his education in the Old Testament Scriptures (see 2 Tim 1:5), and their lives reinforced their teaching. • The Old Testament Scriptures give the wisdom to receive . . . Christ Jesus. In turn, Jesus Christ is needed to understand the Old Testament Scriptures fully.”
2 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Peter 1:19: In these words the apostle lays down another argument to prove the truth and reality of the gospel, and intimates that this second proof is more strong and convincing than the former, and more unanswerably makes out that the doctrine of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is not a mere fable or cunning contrivance of men, but the wise and wonderful counsel of the holy and gracious God. For this is foretold by the prophets and penmen of the Old Testament, who spoke and wrote under the influence and according to the direction of the Spirit of God. Here no”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 15:4: 15:4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us: All that God caused to be recorded in the Old Testament has supreme relevance to believers, who experience the fulfillment of God’s plan.”
2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 3:15: From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures - The early religious education of Timothy has been already sufficiently noticed; see Ti2 1:5, and the preface to the first epistle. St. Paul introduces this circumstance again here for the confirmation of Timothy's faith. He had learned the doctrines of Christianity from a genuine apostle; and, as Christianity is founded on the law and the prophets, Timothy was able to compare its doctrines with all that had been typified and predicted, and consequently was assured that the Christian religion was true. Able to mak”
Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 24:44: 24:44 the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms: Jesus referred to the three sections of the Hebrew Scriptures: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. The entire Old Testament points to God’s salvation through Christ.”
Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 9:15: In these verses the apostle considers the gospel under the notion of a will or testament, the new or last will and testament of Christ, and shows the necessity and efficacy of the blood of Christ to make this testament valid and effectual. I. The gospel is here considered as a testament, the new and last will and testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is observable that the solemn transactions that pass between God and man are sometimes called a covenant, here a testament. A covenant is an agreement between two or more parties about things that are in”
Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 24:27: 24:27 All the Scriptures, meaning all of the Old Testament, point forward to the coming of Jesus the Messiah and the salvation that he would bring.”

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