The Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Church

Relation of Old Testament to Words of Jesus

There was an intimate relationship between the Old Testament writings and the words of Christ Jesus our Lord. He puts His words on the same basis and as of equal authority and value with the words of divine revelation through the prophets of old, as will be seen in such passages as the following: BSPC 12.3

“Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39. BSPC 12.4

“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?” Verses 45-47. BSPC 12.5

In 1 Timothy 5:18 Paul, referring to the Scripture, quotes, “The laborer is worthy of his reward.” But where is this scripture? Evidently not in the Old Testament. But it is in the New and in the words of the Master as recorded in Matthew 10:10, where it reads, “The workman is worthy of his meat.” BSPC 13.1

In the light of these references we conclude that not only God’s revelation through His prophets of old constituted the “holy Scriptures,” but also the words of Christ Jesus our Lord, the teachings and counsels of His apostles, and the records we find in the Gospels, the epistles, and the Apocalypse, are all worthy of a place in “the volume of the book,” and are to be recognized and accepted as sacred writings—God’s message to the hearts of men today. BSPC 13.2

We must remember also that the two Testaments, the Old and the New, are interwoven; they cannot be separated. One cannot be understood without the other. Each Testament is a lexicon—a glossary, a commentary—for the other. It has been well said: BSPC 13.3

The New is the gospel unfolded—the Old is the gospel enfolded. The New is the gospel unveiled—the Old is the gospel veiled. The New is in the Old concealed—the Old is by the New revealed. The New is in the Old contained—the Old is by the New explained. The Old is the gospel confined—the New is the gospel defined. The Old is the gospel enclosed—the New is the gospel disclosed. BSPC 13.4

In the Spirit of prophecy we read: BSPC 13.5

“The word of God includes the Scriptures of the Old Testament as well as of the New. One is not complete without the other.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, 126. BSPC 13.6

“In rejecting the Old, they [those who set aside the Old Testament] virtually reject the New; for both are parts of an inseparable whole.... The Old Testament sheds light upon the New, and the New upon the Old. Each is a revelation of the glory of God in Christ.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, 128. BSPC 13.7