Encountering The Old Testament - Term Paper Example

Encountering The Old Testament Section 1. The first theme in the Old Testament is the evil problem (Sproul, 2006). The Old Testament has attempted to explain and give an answer to the question of the manner in which God can be good and extremely powerful yet accept evil within the world. Starting from Eve and Adam’s initial disobedient behaviour in Eden, all books of the bible confirms that the evil in human is the effect of human disobedience that is inevitable and rather not the neglect or malice of God. For instance, the initial chapters of Genesis show out God as grieved due to the wickedness of humans. This is a proof that humans, are in charge of human evil rather than God. Other books like the Kings and Judges display the repeated attempts of God to sway humans (Israelites) from the influence of their own evil. A number of stories in the Old Testament insist on the capacity of humans to have to reject the help of God, meaning that the evil responsibility is set in humanity. This is evidence in the book of Judges that clearly points out that the Israelites once more took part in whatever was evil in God’s sight. One challenge to the goodness of God, which is troublesome, is the natural evil existence. This is the great destruction and the pain that humans do experience. In many cases, God has instructed the Israelites to have all cities destroyed, killing women, men, and children in the process. In the book of Job, The implication of God on natural evil is directly questioned. Job is punished heavily by God in order to give a proof to Satan that Job is faithful religiously. Lastly, it is made clear to Job that the powerful ways of God are over the understanding of humans and should never be questioned. This means that God, may use natural evil as an instrument that is rhetoric in showing out His power of bring forth a point in a world that is already corrupted by humans. The second theme in the Old Testament is the redemption possibility. The response of God to the injustice of humans is justice, implying that humans would always get whatever they wanted. Additionally it is evidenced that the evil are punished by God and the righteous are blessed by God. The redemption and mercy, which is developed in the stories of the bible appear to be a contrast of the standard retribution. In different books, redemption is seen in two categories. In other situations, one individual forgives another through ignoring the offense of the other or by just forgetting the offense. Jacob goes back to his homeland immediately after cheating his own brother. In this case, we expect vengeance and hatred from Esau. However, Jacob is welcomed by Esau with an embrace, changing the expectations of Jacob despite the fact that Jacob had changed Esau’s fate. Apart from this, king David is seen to treat all his enemies with mercy and kindness, an act that appears as short-sighted in terms of dismissal of justice that is traditional. Another type of redemption is used in the third party intervention as a sacrifice mediator to reduce the anger of God with wrongdoers. The frantic prayer of Moses in Mount Sinai made God to alter his mind and shift from having the Israelites destroyed. Samson, in the book of Judges gives out his life as a sacrifice in order to get the redemption of the Israelites from the oppression of the Philippines that comes about due to the evil of Israel. In this case, the promise of God is a mirror of the acts of humans in the law of religion to forgive the sins of humans according to the offerings and sacrifices. The covenant of God with the humans includes all His promises to provide Abraham together with his descendants the religious laws and the Promised Land that is provided to the Israelites. On the other hand, the covenant takes after the ancient treaties and legal codes whereby a landowner identifies the vassal condition so as to protect the return on vassal. The covenant in the Bible does not represent a mere agreement but a relationship that is passionate between humans and God. The covenant of God is passed to the descendants of Abraham, bringing unity to the desperate individuals in the developing story. The two main themes of the Old Testament argue out that the story is not for individuals but for God. This is a way in which God shows out his values and his purpose to the humans through their relation with a unit family. Covenant is also seen as a structure of unity, which allows the character of humanity to have their lives evaluated as a manner of symbolic experience. Initially, the covenant signs are external and physical. The relationship of God to Abraham is through commandments. God commands Abraham to take part in the circumcision rite and to have his son (Isaac) killed. The Israelites are given commandments by God in Exodus through separating the Red sea waters and appearing in the form of a fire pillar. The laws of religion are equally a covenant symbol. The give a representation of behavioural rules and customs that unite the Israelites lives within the religious society that is devoted to God. Moses gives a suggestion that the laws will be words that are sacred that will be cherished by Israelites in their minds and hearts. In this respect, covenants do shape the memories of individuals and identifies the Israelites collectively. Section 2. Arguably, the Old Testament along with what it contains indicate preparations for examples and types of what needs to be fulfilled or awaiting for fulfilment in the New Testament. As widely cited, there is a close link between the Gospels of Mark, Mathew, John and Luke and what is reflected in the Old Testament. For instance reading John 1:1-5 and Gen. 1; 1-3 an individual to begin to understand the role of the Old testament of an entity that it later comes to be revealed as Jesus. How the Universe came into being and for Jesus, how such a gift of eternal life became the gift of mankind while justifying how great a sacrifice Jesus Christ made to descent from heaven to come to earth. This implies that translation of the Old Testament appear to be portraying God as the harsh, and exacting Judge, whereas, the New testament tend to paint a portrait of the character of Jesus as love, forgiveness, kindness, and a tender mercy. This perhaps point to the fact that when one looks at a New Testament in a light of the Old Testament, he or she should imagine a sort of a rebellious Son who stands between us and His unforgiving father yet looking at the very Old testament in the light of the New Testament, he or she sees the very loving Jesus Christ of the New testament was Lord of the Old Testament as reflected in the book of Heb. 13:8, which says that Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and forever. In essence, the connectivity between the Old Testament and the New Testament aught not be in doubt. Evidently, the Old Testament has a role to play in terms of preparing us for the New Testament. Clearly, there is a lot of teaching about the problem of sin, the nature of salvation, the gracious action of God, as well as the condition for humanity in the Old Testament. As from Heb. 10:7, it is written concerning Christ ‘How does the Old testament provide a guideline as to the understanding of the works of Christ?’ This raises eyebrows and it is subject to such questions as why Christ? Was it just but an accident that he was meant to appear in the human history? Why had he to state that his coming was directed by the need to offer himself as a living sacrifice for human kind? Why come through a virgin birth but not as an adult? Who was Jesus and how could he perhaps perform miracles and yet teach with such levels of authority? It is certain that the Old Testament provide the context to respond to such questions. In a case where there would have been the New Testament alone, there would be no provision of coming to the gospels and there would be no knowledge as to how Jews were set looking for the Messiah. Moreover, without having the Old Testament, one would not understand why the said Messiah or the saviour king would come (Isaiah 53) and neither could there has been information important for identification of Jesus Christ of Nazareth as being the Messiah through such prophecies provided to him such as his birthday Micah 5;2, the way he was to die Psalms 22, His resurrection Psalms 16:10 alongside other details. The Old Testament helps provide an understanding on the Jewish Customs, which are later highlighted in passing the New Testament. It would be perturbing to think about the perversions the Pharisees made to the law of God during when they added their tradition on it. The Old Testament serves to provide an understanding of why Jesus Christ became upset while cleansing the courtyard temple and help one gain an understanding of the wisdom Jesus Christ used when replying to the adversaries that befell him. In consideration of the new Testament and the Old testament, it is worth noting that the acts of Apostles and the new testament as a whole record most of the fulfilments of the prophesies recorded so many hundreds of years in the Old Testament. During the circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ, his resurrection, miracles, life and death as recorded in the Gospels, it is clear the fulfilment of the prophesies of the Old Testament relating to the first coming of the Messiah. These are the details that work to validate the claims of Jesus as being the long promised Christ. The prophesies found in the New Testament are build on the earlier prophesies that are found in the Old Testament books. Such prophesies have a link with the events that surround the second coming of Jesus Christ. More evidently, given that the revelations within the Scripture is said to be progressive, the New Testament highlights the teachings known to have been alluded in the Old Testament. For instance, the Hebrews provides a description of how Jesus Christ is a true High Priest and the way His one sacrifice can replace all the previous sacrifices that were basically mere portrayals. In this respect, the Old Testament provides that the Law having two parts in totality. These are the blessings or curse and the commandments, which come alongside obedience or disobedience for those commands. It goes ahead and clarifies on the idea that God provided such commandments with a view to indicate to men concerning the need for salvation. This means men were never perhaps intended to serve as a means of a way of salvation according to Romans 3:19. It can also be eluded that the Old Testament provides a description of certain sacrificial system that God gave to the Israelites to help temporarily cover their own sins. Whereas, the New Testament makes it clear that such systems alluded to the Christ sacrifice were through whom perhaps alone salvation can be found according to the books of Acts 4:12 and the Hebrews 10:4-10). When the Old Testament shows how paradise was lost, the New Testament, on the other hand, indicate the way paradise was regained for purposes of mankind via the second Adam who is Christ, as well as how one day it shall be regained and restored. In the book of Genesis chapter 3, it is declared that man became separated from the Almighty God through sin, while the New Testament, on its part declared that man can gain restoration while relating to God. This is reflected in the book of Romans chapter 3 and 6 (Tim, 2007). References Sproul, R.C. (2006). THE MYTH THEORY OF THE FALL. Oxford. Oxford university publishers. Tim G. (2007). The Old Testament in the light of the New Testament. New York: Johns and Sons. Read More