Where do the teachings in our New Testaments originate from? Where do they find their definitions, explanations and expanded details?
In my life as a Believer I began my study of God’s Word in a little Baptist church as “the neighbor kid”. I said the “sinner’s prayer” in between pews with a lovely lady that helped me say the right words. I was fortunate enough to have some youth group experience and a few summer camp experiences. Then, prior to getting married in the Lutheran Church, the Pastor told me that either my fiancé or I had to take 9 weeks worth of classes to learn about the Bible as taught by the Lutheran tradition. It was my favorite class throughout my entire college experience (and it helped that the precious Pastor’s wife would often bake homemade bread and bring it to me at my sorority house).
Then in my late 20s my family began attending church regularly. At that point I also began an in-depth study of God’s Word with a group of women. The first book that God gave me to study was the Book of John. I was VERY confused by all of the Johns (John the Baptist, John the Beloved…was he the same John that wrote 1, 2, 3 John and Revelation?). So, because I came to the game late, I began to devour the Scriptures. I built my theology in the New Testament, and used the Old Testament as a somewhat irrevelent, yet holy backdrop.
I studied this way for about 12 years …until I realized that the Old Testament (The Tanak) was the Bible Jesus read, and the Bible that the Apostles studied diligently. It was at that moment that I began devouring the Old Testament Scriptures, and began to rework my theology using the “Bible that Jesus read” as my foundation. It would be a gross understatement to say that the New Testament became technicolored as I filtered it through the lens of the Old Testament.
As a part of this process, one of my favorite simple study techniques has become to take a New Testament idea, and flesh it out to a greater extent using the Old Testament for definitions, explanation, and expanded details. This morning I took the New Testament charge of being Jesus’s witnesses throughout the earth and pulled it through the Old Testament.
I think we are all quite aware of the Great Commission as outlined many places in the New Testament, but probably most familiarly in Act 1:6.
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven’.”
As I study the Old Testament, I see shadows of The Great Commission there too. It is in many places actually. As I was reading out of 1 Kings 8:41 this morning I saw it in play.
Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name’s sake (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.”
The foreigner who attaches himself to Yehovah is spoken of often. I would love to hear where you see glimmers of The Great Commission active in the Old Testament Scriptures. Friends, let us search out the things that God conceals thereby bringing glory to us, and to our Father in Heaven.