NT in the OT Quiz

Paul said that all Scriptures are inspired and profitable for doctrine (teaching people), reproof, correction (correcting yourself and others), instruction in righteousness. With it, a man of God can become perfectly prepared for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17). Although many of us memorized that verse as kids, many of us did not also memorize the verses immediately prior, and didn’t know that Paul was talking about the Scriptures that Timothy was trained up in by his mother and grandmother (v14). In other words, Paul was talking specifically about the Old Testament! The Old Testament is inspired, profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness.. etc. Yes, Paul is also, by implication, referring also to the NT (which had not yet been completed), but the point here is that his comments are aimed at the Old Testament.

Let’s test ourselves.

1. 1. Make a list of all doctrines essential for the Christian Faith (however you might happen to define them). Be sure to include the tenants of Jesus’ teachings on the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7)  – after all, right before teaching that sermon, Jesus said He was *NOT* undoing the OT.  (funny how many sermons I’ve heard from people who said that Jesus was instituting something new in the SotM, even though Jesus said He wasn’t. But I digress.) Your list should include the following:
   • The existence of God as Amighty Father, creator of heaven and earth
   • Jesus Christ, His only Son, also as God (not by that specific name, of course)
   • Jesus being conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin
   • Jesus Christ a) suffering for sins, b) death, c) burial, d) resurrection on the third day
   • Jesus Christ descending to hades then ascending to heaven and being seated on the right hand of God
   • Jesus Christ coming in the future to judge the living and the dead and reign forever
   • Forgiveness of sins through the life, death and resurrection of Christ
   • The presence and work of the Holy Spirit in giving life
   • The physical resurrection of saints who will live and reign with Christ forever
2. Find support for these doctrines in the Old Testament.

Believe it or not, these doctrines really are there, but for some of them, it will take a bit of hunting and connecting dots.

What strikes me as a little curios is what Jesus called the 2 on the road to Emmaus because they didn’t know (or believe) these things (Luke 24:25).  I believe the term was “fools, slow of heart to believe”.  In today’s vernacular, that translates loosely into “You fool! You get a D-minus for not knowing or believing your Bible! …and I’m grading on a curve!”

Granted, we’re not told what He elaborated to them from the OT, so there is a bit of speculation as to what “the things concerning Himself” entails. I figure the above list, along with the Sermon on the Mount is proabably a good place to start.

So I wonder what would Jesus call me if He walked alongside me on the road to Emmaus?

Do I know (and believe!) enough to make His grade?
Do I know His Word (OT *and* NT) well enough to see (and believe) the things in there, or am I running on just the NT, unhinged from the OT?