Christian....because the old testament was "the old law" and the new testament recinded that law...?

Question

why keep the old testament in the bible? It makes christianity seem barbaric to many non-christians. All that slavery and stoning puts many people off that might otherwise look more closely atr your beliefs.

Answer 1

NO! - It seems to me that many chrisitan do not understand why there is still the "OT" while the "NT" is in effect! We recognize that many in the denominations believe that WE ARE UNDER THE NEW TESTAMENT. However, the degree to which they go to the Old Testament to authorize some current-day practices convinces us that many do not fully understand this rightful division of the word of God. This was a very serious problem within the church in the 1ST century. It seemed to arise in almost every church, mainly because of the influence of Jewish converts.

THE TRUTHFULNESS AND VALUE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

There is absolutely not one verse in the New Testament that indicates that the Old Testament is not totally true, or that it should not be believed today. Recall again where Jesus said "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:17-18). Jesus believed in the validity of the Old Testament, and so should we.

Of what value is the Old Testament? First and foremost, it is important because it is essential to our understanding of the New Testament. The Old Testament is quoted throughout the New Testament to explain the full meaning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Without an understanding of the Old Testament, these New Testament passages are meaningless; thus we cannot understand all of the New Testament unless we have some basic understanding of the Old Testament. This makes this understanding of and faith in the validity of the Old Testament essential to our salvation today. Christians must dedicate themselves to a study and understanding of the Old Testament -- not because it is God's law for us today, but to understand God's law for us today, i.e., the New Testament. [In case you feel uncomfortable about calling the New Testament God's law for us today, read 1 Corinthians 9:21, where Paul said that he was "not without law to God, but under the law to Christ."]

A second reason is that the Old Testament is important is that it contains timeless knowledge with regard to the nature of both God and man.

• How can we understand suffering without the book of Job?
• How can we sing songs of praise to God without the book of Psalms?
• How can we obtain the wisdom of the wisest man whoever lived without the book of Eccle-siastes?
• How can we know where we came from without the book of Genesis?

We could go on and on, but Jesus said it best when he said: "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Every word includes the Old Testament.

Finally, we know that the Old Testament is a priceless treasure because the New Testament tells us that it is. In Romans 15:2-4 we read: "Let every one of us please [his] neighbor for [his] good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." First, Paul quoted an Old Testament scripture (Psalms 69:9) as proof that Christ pleased not himself. Then he stated the value of the Old Testament scriptures ("things ... written aforetime"). They are for our learning that we might have hope through patience and comfort of the scriptures.

Consider the writing of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10. This is a very powerful chapter that many people do not wish to hear. It states unequivocally that Christians (which implies that they are in a saved, covenant relationship with God) can be lost just as the Israelites who were saved (out of Egypt) fell from God's grace. After describing what happened to them in great detail, he stated (1 Corinthians 10:11-12): "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." The Old Testament was written for our admonition. Remember, God is no respecter of persons. We can clearly and graphically see that those of old were clearly condemned for their disobedience. Do you think that we are better than they? On the contrary, "how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salva-tion?" (Heb. 2:3). So the Old Testament should be believed because it is the truth revealed of God. Faith in its validation will lead us to conclude that we are not under its edicts today; with the death of Christ we are under the New Testament. However, the value of the Old Testament is to enable us to understand the New Testament, 1) Helping us understand the nature of God, 2) Helping us to have comfort in hope, and 3) Admonishing us to be faithful.

Christian are not barbaric people who believes in non-sense! Non-christian or even those who was called christian simply don't understand the faith.

Answer 2

The same reason that so called "grace" in the new testament fails on a regular basis, the hardness of heart in men and women. It has never been about the law or anything else, it's been about people not caring about themselves or anyone else which has always been at the heart of the matter. We live in a society were everyone wants a crutch to explain away the things that have happened or not happened in their lives. Jesus, God, Satan, Mom, Dad, Teacher, Preacher, Brother, Sister, etc. has done something or not done something to make our lives miserable or even worse, we look to these individuals to somehow make us feel complete. Jesus' main message was about the Kingdom and he constantly pointed everyone who would listen to the path of the Kingdom. Quote: The Kingdom of God is Within You. He said he would show us the way to making our lives more meaningful, so what did he do when he had to make real life choices and decisions? He separated himself from everyone, apostles included, and went deep within seeking the Creators guidance in deep and reflective meditation. And here's the important part, when the answer was revealed he actually did it, what a concept. He obeyed the instructions given and it worked for him each and every time. For all those who claim to "follow" his example, I wonder how much better their lives would be if this example was actually followed? For as the bible itself states "He who knows to do right and does not do it, to him it is counted as sin". Relationships with others is important and we can receive guidance and instructions from others as well, but the person most responsible for our well being is us and no matter what the Creator may or may not offer, if we don't fully accept it and take responsibility for it, it is of no good to us.

Answer 3

The main two reasons that come to mind is:

1) Much of the Old Testament isn't the Law of Moses, there are many other commandments, teachings, stories of faith, histories etc.

2) Even the parts that are the Law of Moses have direct symbolism to Christ, which is an interesting read, and give a little more meaning to what the atonement is all about.

Answer 4

Yes, the scriptural old testament was done away with. One of the tests for Christians in this country is ; 'What is the scriptural old testament'? The scriptural old testament is the law of Moses (Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1; my witnesses Joshua, Nehemiah, David, Solomon, Malachi, Jesus, God the Father, Paul, and others), not Genesis-Malachi (which violates 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
This reply by myself currently does not worry being about 'politically correct', but advocating God's word.
Would you like to go further currently?
Further if one can 'rightly dividing' (2 Tim.2:15 KJV) the word of truth, one can 'wrongly dividing' the word of truth also.

Answer 5

Sir Ian McKellan,

Those Books in the Old Testament told of the Law of Moses. And there were harsh judgements to show how harsh judgements could be for sin. It was the Law of the Hebrews and later came to rest upon the Jews to carry them as an oracle people. That part of the Law displayed how serious sin is to God. 'For sin is death.' It's not something that can be taken lightly by God, and judgement is harsh.

But other things were being said in the Old Testament as well! They were things about the Messiah, prophecies concerning him and other events in the world, the places that existed in those times that were lost - then found by archaeologists using the Bible as a guide, and the Old Testament also reveals how God thinks. Jesus also revealed some of that in that he rewarded trust in him, and condemned distrust. God is always the same.

So the Bible and it's scriptures therein are not for the approval of the common reader, but it is for those who wish to comply to it's direction and order. The order? God comes first. It's his subjective opinion that becomes our objective focus.

That is why the Old Testament is in the Bible.

Answer 6

The New Testament does not recind the law. The New Covenant with Christ, fulfills the law. The law said that sin meant death. Christ paid the price for that sin. The law is still just a valid as ever, but the penalty demanded by that law has been paid. If you take out the OT, you don't know what Christ death paid for. It would be like sending someone a statement marked "paid in full", but not telling them what store it is from or what they purchased.

Answer 7

The New Testament did not recind the Old Testament Law. Jesus fulfilled Old Testament and even says in the New Testament.

Matthew 5:17-19
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Stoning back then is the equivalent to death sentances today.

Answer 8

But people cant look at it like that. How about all our history books we read in school about wars and other violence? Or the holocaust? Its terrible and a bad time for many but its history..it happened. Thats why the Old Testament is there..its history. Think if the Bible was only the New Testament..it wouldnt be comeplete.

Answer 9

A lot of early Christians thought the same thing. The earliest known canon of Scripture was compiled by Marcion, and excluded the Old Testament altogether.

Answer 10

If non-christians want to view the old testament as barbaric then go ahead? If that is the excuse you want to use to explain why you would rather not believe then ok. If it wasn't this excuse it would be another. Christians believe that in the end God wins. The route to get there may seem unfair but just as long as we are in Heaven when the fat lady sings I will praise God until He instructs me otherwise.

Answer 11

You are deffinately in error when you say, "the new testament recinded that law."

Do not confuse the law given to the Levites for national administration, with universal law which is eternal.

Jesus said, "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved. So if you break the smallest commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven."
Matthew 5:17-19