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Bible Reliability / Answer across Scripture
Christian trust in the Old Testament is shaped by Jesus' use of Israel's Scriptures and the way the New Testament reads them as fulfilled in Christ.
Study theme
Bible Reliability
Christians can trust the Old Testament because Jesus and the apostles receive Israel's Scriptures as God's word and read them as the story that leads to Christ. The Old Testament should not be treated as disposable background or as a flat collection of proof-texts. It tells the story of creation, covenant, promise, failure, judgment, mercy, wisdom, worship, and hope that the New Testament says reaches fulfillment in Jesus.
After the resurrection, Jesus teaches his followers to read Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms as Scripture that bears witness to him. Romans also treats the earlier Scriptures as written for instruction, endurance, and hope.
Luke 24 is the central passage because Jesus reads Israel's Scriptures as the story that leads to his suffering, resurrection, and mission. Romans 15:4 shows the continuing value of the Scriptures for instruction, endurance, encouragement, and hope.
Key passages
36As they said these things, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace be to you."
37But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they saw a spirit.
38He said to them, "Why are you troubled? Why do questionings arise in your hearts?
39See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn`t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have."
40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41While they still didn`t believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"
42They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.
43He took it, and ate in front of them.
44He said to them, "This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me."
45Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the scriptures.
46He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
47and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48You are witnesses of these things.
49Behold, I send forth the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high."
1Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up.
3For Christ also didn`t please himself. But, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."
4For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.
5Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus,
6that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Therefore receive one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God.
One mistake is setting the Old Testament against Jesus. It should be read with its own historical and covenant context.