Is The Old Testament Only for jews?

[Starwynd]

I have a friend who claims that the old Testament is only for Jews and applies only for Jews.

is this true?

If not, how could i convince her otherwise?

I don’t believe it to be a true statement. Because isn’t the entire story of Jesus in the old Testament? Not to mention the Ten Commandments?

I think she’s confusing the laws in Leviticus with the rest of the OT.

 

[davidv]

If the OT is only for the Jews, why is it included in the Catholic, and other Christians’ Holy Bibles?

 

[Starwynd]

I don’t know, and keep in mind, i am not the one who is making the claim.

 

[spauline]

this requires a careful response:

the OT is truly Scripture, and it communicates, for the most part, a literary treatment of the beginning ages of human history that prepared the way for the Coming of Our Savior. It includes the preeminent stages (Creation, Fall, Flood, Babel, Abraham) as well as the stages of the Jews (Egypt, Exodus, Prophets, Exile, Restoration, OT Antichrist Antiochus).

The OT is essential to Catholic doctrine, for God NECESSARILY had to, in order to have, in the end, the greatest possible spiritual good, intervene and guide a Covenant People to prefigure the fulfillment in Christ.

I like to use Jack Nicholson: “you can’t HAAANDLE the truth.” (jeff Cavins coined that in his Bible study. ) Humanity had to be PREPARED to receive the full bug of Divine Revelation and Grace in Catholicism. That required stages of intervention and development to gradually move humanity into a condition able to receive the fullness of truth.

BUT, it necessarily means that much of the Old Jewish Law was merely a CEREMONIAL and RITUALISTIC foreshadowing of things in Christ, and meant to set the Jewish people apart (the teach the lesson of the specialness of fidelity and holiness), so that much of these minor laws and rituals are no longer binding, and have been fulfilled, as it were, in the rituals and love of the New Covenant.

So there is a yes and no here. We no longer wash our sheets and cups in a special way, kill two pigeons and Lambs, and have relations at strict intervals around menstruation (although NFP is strikingly similar! ). But, the moral essence of the Ten Commandments, and the Sermont on the Mount do form a basis as the NT commandments, the commandments that are summarized as "“Love God with all that is in you, and your neighbor as yourself.”

I don’t know if this helps, strywnd?

 

[Starwynd]

It does help some, thanks.

But I still feel like there’s a lot more information on this subject that needs to be explored.

 

[canne]

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (121-123):

“The Old Testament is an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture. Its books are divinely inspired and retain a permanent value, for the Old Covenant has never been revoked.

“Indeed, the economy of the Old Testament was deliberately so oriented that it should prepare for and declare in prophecy the coming of Christ, redeemer of all men. Even though they contain matters imperfect and provisional, the books of the Old Testament bear witness to the whole divine pedagogy of God’s saving love: these writings are a storehouse of sublime teaching on God and of sound wisdom on human life, as well as a wonderful treasury of prayers; in them, too, the mystery of our salvation is present in a hidden way.

“Christians venerate the Old Testament as true Word of God. The Church has always vigorously opposed the idea of rejecting the Old Testament under the pretext that the New has rendered it void (Marcionism)

---

Whenever one hears that the Old Testament’s moral law is no longer in force, one is hearing an echo of Marcionism.

The Word of God is God’s Word, whether spoken in 1400 BC or AD 60. Above all, remember our Savior’s instruction, quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Christians cannot understand Jesus Christ, His doctrine, His church, and God’s plan without the Old Testament. We can see this by how frequently the apostles quote from the writings of Moses, David, and the prophets to support and fill out their doctrinal teachings. There is hardly a page in the New Testament that does not have a quotation or allusion to the Old Testament on it. It is a vital part of the—New Testament—Christianity.

 

[Robbinson]

One cannot understand the New Testatement fully without a full understanding of the Old Testament. The only scriptures Jesus and the apostles had was the Old Testatement. All of the prophesisies about Jesus and the Messiah are contained within the Old Testatment? Most of what Jesus refers to in the New Testatment is an amplification and builds upon what is in the Old Testatement. The concept that the Old Testatment is not relevant to Christians is a terrible mistake in theology.

Blessings,

Brian

 

[John_Hiner]

Laudatur Iesus Christus.

Perhaps these two passages from the New Testament will help.

“Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” (Matthew (NAB) 13:51-52).

Here Jesus is saying that a knowledge of the Old Testament is required, if one is to understand the New.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy (RSV) 3:14-17).

Considering that much of the New Testament had not been written even when this letter was sent to St. Timothy and that the reference is to sacred writings which existed in Timothy’s childhood, one can see that St. Paul is directly saying that the Old Testament is useful in understanding Christ and preparing to do the work commanded by Christ.

I hope this is of some help.

Spiritus Sapientiae nobiscum.

John Hiner

 

[Starwynd]

Well, when I presented her this information, she backpedaled on me and said “I never said that!” then went on insulting me.

 

[Mea_Culpa]

Well, when I presented her this information, she backpedaled on me and said “I never said that!” then went on insulting me.

Sounds like a great friend. Maybe it’s time to shake the dust off your sandals and leave her.

 

[KingAlfred]

I have a friend who claims that the old Testament is only for Jews and applies only for Jews.

is this true?

If not, how could i convince her otherwise?

I don’t believe it to be a true statement. Because isn’t the entire story of Jesus in the old Testament? Not to mention the Ten Commandments?

I think she’s confusing the laws in Leviticus with the rest of the OT.

There was a heresy based on this idea in the Early Church. I believe it was Montanism. I can’t recall off-hand. But no…the OT is for Christians, as well. Consider the applicability of the Wisdom Literature, for example, and the history of the establishment of Israel, the stories of Abraham, Moses and the Exodus, and so much more. It’s a major part of our religious heritage.

 

[JoeBlow]

I have a friend who claims that the old Testament is only for Jews and applies only for Jews.

is this true?

If not, how could i convince her otherwise?

I don’t believe it to be a true statement. Because isn’t the entire story of Jesus in the old Testament? Not to mention the Ten Commandments?

I think she’s confusing the laws in Leviticus with the rest of the OT.

Jesus said “the grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of God stands forever”, so we know from that, if from nothing else, that the OT is still for us.

However, within the Old Testament, there is the Old Covenant, which was for the nation of Israel, alone. I think your friend may be confusing the Old Covenant with the Old Testament.