How Does the New Testament Interpret the Old Testament? | 3 Views
- Chad Lee
- Aug 16
- 7 min read
Type of Doctrine: Tertiary
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world."
-Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV
Why Does It Matter?
Should we study the Old Testament like the New Testament authors have modeled for us? It sounds like an easy question, doesn't it? Not so fast. Sometimes they seemed to use the Old Testament Scriptures in ways that seem out of context from the original passage. (Some examples will be given below.)
This subject also has huge implications for how we interpret Scripture in relation to Jesus. Will you read the Old Testament and connect it to Jesus, as he did? (See Luke 24:27 for more.) How will you connect it to Jesus? Will you make it up with your creative imagination? Will you follow the pattern of the New Testament authors? On the other hand, will you only connect it to Christ as the New Testament authors explicitly do? Or will you avoid connecting it to Jesus altogether and merely interpret the Old Testament as a Jew would?
Further, this subject could also impact the confidence that we have in the Scriptures and its authors. Put simply, if God inspired the original text, then why is it being repurposed or reinterpreted later? (I thank God for solid scholars who have worked hard to defend Scripture from scholars who wish to decrease our confidence in the authority, inerrancy, and inspiration of Scripture.)
God inspired the New Testament authors to use the Old Testament texts in this manner. However, did the Old Testament human authors know they were actually writing about Jesus? Do the Old Testament texts have a single meaning? Or, on the other hand, was there an original meaning to the OT text and a fuller meaning is being revealed much later? Thus, we will look at the three main views in understanding this issue.
Typically, this is thought of as a tertiary issue. While one's understanding can have large implications on Bible reading, interpretation, and preaching, well-meaning Christians can usually attend the same church even if they disagree.
What Is It?
The New Testament authors quote, interpret, and use the Old Testament in various ways. "That doesn't surprise me," you might say. But, what may surprise you is some of the passages are used in ways that the original Old Testament authors probably did not have in mind.
Jonathan Lunde describes the problem,
[S]ome of the OT passages that are "fulfilled" in the NT don't look at all like predictions in their original contexts. Others that do look like predictions often appear to have been fulfilled in events that happened or in people who lived far earlier than Jesus. In addition, theological affirmations in the OT are occasionally restated with a new and distinct reference . . . [Thus] it is sometimes difficult to avoid the impression that the NT application of OT texts is arbitrary and forced.[1]In other words, it seems like the New Testament authors are taking the Old Testament out-of-context at times.
Key Issues
The following five issues, given by Jonthan Lunde and Kenneth Berding, will help frame the conversation.[2]
Sensus Plenior | single meaning vs. multiple layers of meaning
Is there a single meaning for the Old Testament and New Testament texts?
Or, are there multiple layers of meaning in the biblical text that the New Testament authors later share?
Typology | human author aware of connection to Christ vs. unaware of connection to Christ
The divine author knew what he was doing to foreshadow later events and people.
But did the human author know about the future connection to Christ as well?
Context | in context vs. out-of-context (or, perhaps, deeper context)
Do the New Testament authors take care to use the Old Testament Scriptures in their original context?
If not, is it simply the same meaning in a different context or is it a new, fuller, deeper meaning?
Exegetical Methods | new interpretation methods vs. using the Jewish interpretation methods of their time
Do the New Testament writers use Jewish biblical interpretation methods that were common at that time?
Replicate | copy NT authors method of interpretation vs. view NT authors as unique and do not copy their methods
Can we replicate the methods that the New Testament authors used in their interpretation of the Old Testament?
Key Scriptures
While there are way too many to share exhaustively, here are a few examples.
The first one is pretty straight-forward. It is less controversial since it is a direct, clear prophetic text that is being applied and explained later.
Old Testament:
[Isa 28:16 ESV] 16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.'
[Isa 8:14 ESV] 14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
New Testament:
[Act 4:11 ESV] 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
[Rom 9:32-33 ESV] 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
[1Pe 2:4-6 ESV] 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
On the other hand, there are more controversial texts repeated in the New Testament such as this one from Psalm 2. This is a royal psalm that the people of God sing to "remind themselves of how God made David and his descendants to be kings in order to enable them to fulfill the very purpose for which Abraham was called"--that is, to bring blessings to the nations (Gen. 12;1-3).[3] Later, Psalm 2:7 is used in reference to Jesus. See below.
Old Testament:
[Psa 2:7 ESV] 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
New Testament:
[Act 13:32-33 ESV] 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.'
Another example is Genesis 15:6. In this case, Abram was in a crisis. He went childless, but persevered in believing that God would give him a child. Thus, he is considered righteous by faith in God's ability to provide a child despite not having seen it. Later, Paul uses this verse and argues that we are counted righteous by faith in Jesus rather than by works (justified by faith vs. justified by works). See below.
Old Testament:
[Gen 15:6 ESV] 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
New Testament:
[Rom 4:3 ESV] 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."
Also quoted in Romans 4:22, Galatians 3:6, and James 2:23.
There are many more examples; some may leave you scratching your head. Click here to check out the excellent page that the folks at Blue Letter Bible put together showing the New Testament quoting the Old Testament.
So, how are we to understand how the NT authors used the OT? Below we will examine 3 views.
3 Views on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament
Here is a chart demonstrating the three views on this topic.[4]
Views | Definition | Adherents |
Same Meaning, Same Intention | The Old Testament authors mean the same thing and had the same thoughts in mind as the New Testament authors when they wrote the text (even in the Old Testament texts that don't immediately seem to have a clear connection to Jesus). | Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. |
Same Meaning, Different Context/Intention | While the meaning is the same in the Old Testament text and the New Testament text, the authors had different contexts, different things in mind, and the texts are being applied to new situations as God's purposes unfold. | Darrell L. Bock |
New/Fuller Meaning, Different Context/Intention | New Testament authors perceive new meanings in the Old Testament texts that the original writers didn't have in mind (based on their conviction that the Scriptures are fulfilled in Christ). | Peter Enns |
Application
Here are some key thoughts of application:
What are the implications for how we study the Bible?
How does the Old Testament connect to Christ?
My own view is that we should continue to study Scripture in it's original grammar, literary context, and historical context. However, we shouldn't read or interpret the Old Testament like a Jew. We know the end of the story (i.e., Jesus), and we shouldn't read the beginning of the story as if he doesn't exist. Instead, we must take the principle given by Jesus of relating the Old Testament to Jesus while avoiding made up, novel, and creative readings where we force Jesus behind every bush in the Old Testament.
How? We should become familiar with the texts and themes that the New Testament uses in relation to Jesus and utilize those to help us understand the Old Testament. This is easy when the New Testament authors do it for us. If a verse is referenced in the New Testament simply follow the interpretation that the New Testament author gives.
However, it is more challenging if there is not an explicit reference in the New Testament. In this case, we should use New Testament theology and themes to apply to Christ while avoiding an unwarranted connection to Christ. (I subscribe to the redemptive-historical model of Bible interpretation. For more on that subject, please click here to read the article titled, "How Is the Bible Relevant for Today? | 4 Views"?)
Where Can I Learn More?
End Notes:
[1] Kenneth Berding and Jonathan Lunde, eds., Three Views on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008), 8-9.
[2] Ibid., 12-41.
[3] ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008), 943.
[4] The chart is adapted from Kenneth Berding and Jonathan Lunde, eds., Three Views on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, 40-41; 233-243.
Other links/resources:
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament: A Comprehensive Bible Commentary on Old Testament Quotations, Allusions, and Echoes that Appear from Matthew to Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007).
