which is valid, the OT or the NT?

Question

how does it work. do you follow whichever fits your needs? is the OT obsolete? what's the deal?

Answer 1

They are both ridiculous and anyone who actually believes any of the stories in them is ignorant.

Answer 2

This is an interesting question. The answer isn't simple!

Traditional Christianity affirms that the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament (known as Torah in Judaism) is fully inspired by God. However, much of Christian tradition has historically denied that all of the laws of the Pentateuch apply directly to Christians. There are several different explanations within Christianity that endeavor to explain if and how the laws given by God through Moses apply to Christians.

The New Testament indicates that Jesus Christ established a new covenant relationship between God and his people (Jeremiah 31:31–31:34; Luke 22:20; 2Cor 2-3; Heb 8-9). Christianity, almost without exception, understands this new covenant to be the instrument through which God offers mercy and atonement to mankind. However, the various views of the Old Testament Law in Christianity result from very different interpretations of what exactly this new covenant is and how it affects the validity of the Mosaic Law. These differences mainly result from attempts to harmonize Biblical statements that say that the Law is eternal with New Testament statements that suggest that it does not now apply at all, or at least does not fully apply. Most Biblical scholars admit the issue of the Law can be confusing and the topic of Paul and the Law is still frequently debated among New Testament scholars; hence the various views.

Some conclude that none is applicable, some conclude that only parts are applicable, and some conclude that all is still applicable to believers in Jesus.


The Catholic view
Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas explained that there is a threefold division in the Law: moral, ceremonial, and judicial. God’s commands were “ordained for a double purpose; the worship of God, and the foreshadowing of Christ.” Upon the advent of Christ, the purpose of all the ceremonial and judicial commands, which was to pre-figure Christ, was fulfilled, causing them to be “annulled” and “dead.” The moral commands remain for the worship of God, summed up in the Ten Commandments. The Catechism of the Catholic Church: Part 3, Life in Christ: Section 2, The Ten Commandments: "Teacher, what must I do . . .?" states:

"2068 The Council of Trent teaches that the Ten Commandments are obligatory for Christians and that the justified man is still bound to keep them; the Second Vatican Council confirms: 'The bishops, successors of the apostles, receive from the Lord . . . the mission of teaching all peoples, and of preaching the Gospel to every creature, so that all men may attain salvation through faith, Baptism and the observance of the Commandments.'"
"2076 By his life and by his preaching Jesus attested to the permanent validity of the Decalogue."

According to Aquinas, not only do the ceremonial portions of the Law not apply now, but it is actually a “mortal sin” to keep these observances after the events of Christ’s Passion. Ceremonial laws, in this view, include the regulations pertaining to ceremonial cleanliness, festivals, diet, and the Levitical priesthood.

Those in disagreement with the Catholic view point out that nowhere is a division of the Law mentioned in the Bible, but rather there is evidence that it is indivisible, and it would be practically impossible to sort commands by these types. Others in disagreement point out that the Law is described in various places as “everlasting” and none of it can terminate or expire; nor could anything that an unchanging God called “righteous” and “good” now have become “sin.”

Answer 3

Both are valid. In the Christian view, the NT is the fulfillment of the OT prophecies. The entire OT pointed to Messiah(Christ). Both Christians and Jews agree on this, however only Christians (hence the name) believe that Jesus of the NT is the promised Messiah.

Answer 4

Both are the inspired word of God....the Old Testament tells of the beginning, the history, the laws, the genealogy, the prophecy of things to come....the New Testament tells of the fulfillment of those prophecies, the growth of the early church, revelations speaks of the future...there are parts all over in the Bible that refer back and mention something in the old or new that only God could have put together...

Answer 5

The OT was meant for Jews. The NT was meant for non-Jews.
This is my opinion as a Jew.
And this is what Judaism for non-Jews looks like:
http://www.noahidenations.com/content/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Answer 6

I was raised a Lutheran, and both Testaments were equally important and valid.

The Catholics lean more towards the New Testament, and the Jewish only use the Old Testament.

Answer 7

The OT points TOWARD the coming Messiah..the NT honors the Messiah which came.

In the OT sins are remembered ever year..in the NT sins are forgiven.

There was no forgiveness of sins in the OT Testament (covenant).

The description New Covenant of grace is used to show the difference between the Old Covenant of law keeping.

Both testaments (covenants) are sacred and binding...as long as they are in force. (Joshua 9:18-21 and Galatians 3:15)

Both testaments are confirmed with blood.

The Old with Animal blood, the New with the blood of Jesus.

A testament is a contract made between two parties and ratified with certain actions.

The Bible talks about contracts between men such as: Giving the hand (Ezra 10:19); loosing the shoe (Ruth 4:7-11); giving presents (Genesis 21:27-30); making a feast (Genesis 26:30); and offering of sacrifices. (Genesis 15:9-17)

The OLD testament (covenant) has one glaring problem: it coud not get rid of sin.

By obeying the OT(covenant) one could worship God & live a life of faith, but sin could never be fully removed until Christ paid the price. (Heb. 10:4).

That's why Christ came.

The OT (covenant) was like a doctor who could tell you you're sick, but couldn't cure you. Jesus dying on the cross became the "cure" & fulfilled the old Law. (Mtt. 5:17-20).

Because of Christ's death a new & better testament (covenant) was established..one that can both tell you you're sick,but also point out the "cure". (Heb. 8:6-7)

In the OT (covenant) those who lived in a faithful relationship to God were saved.

When Christ died on the cross his blood finally covered & removed the sins of every faithful person who lived & died before Him. (Heb. 9:15)

Truly Jesus came to die for all men. (Titus 2:11) however obedient faith has always been the condition of salvation, no matter which testament (covenant) man lived.

The New Testament (covenant) fulfilled and made the Old Covenant obsolete...setting it aside. (Hebrews 8:13 and 10:9)

The New Testament, with all its blessings, is available for all men. God has done his part.

Gal. 3:24 Wherefor the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.Gal. 3:25 But after that faith is come, we NO LONGER are under a schoolmaster.

Heb. 10:1 The LAW was just a SHADOW of things...NOT the very image (which is sharp and clear)

Gal. 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the Law? It was added BECAUSE of transgressions, TIL the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it is ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (CHRIST is our mediator)

The OLD testament is extremely valuable to us today.....it was written for our LEARNING (Romans 15:4)....not our living (Galatians 5:4).

We can LEARN from its examples ( 1 Corthians 10:11)...but sins were NOT remitted in the OLD testament....they were rolled over year after year (Hebrews 10:4)

The OLD testament was a TEMPORARY law (Galatians 3:19)

The PURPOSE of the OLD testament was to lead men to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25).

It served as our schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24)...we are NO LONGER under the schoolmaster. (Galatians 3:25)
Jeremiah's prophecy fortold of the NEW testament....Jeremiah 31:31-34

CHRIST shed HIS blood for the NEW testament.......Mark 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the NEW testament, which is shed for MANY.

CHRIST abolished the Law (OLD testament)...........Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace

By the body of CHRIST, we are DEAD to the Law...Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become DEAD TO THE LAW BY THE BODY OF CHRIST; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God

We are NOT under the Law (OLD testament)...Galatians 5:18 But IF ye be led of the Spirit, ye are NOT UNDER THE LAW.

The priesthood changed & so did the LAW..we are now under the LAW OF CHRIST...Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a CHANGE also of THE LAW.

CHRIST is the mediator of a BETTER covenant.....Hebrews 8:6 BUT NOW hath HE obtained a MORE EXCELLENT ministry, by how much also HE is the mediator of a BETTER covenant, which was established upon BETTER promises.

Hebews 8:7 For IF that FIRST covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the SECOND.
CHRIST shed HIS blood for the NEW testament.......Mark 14:24...

CHRIST is the mediator of the NEW testament....Hebrews 9:15-17 In that he saith, A NEW covenant, he hath made the FIRST OLD. Now that which decayeth and waxeth OLD is ready to VANISH AWAY.

The NEW testament replaced the OLD testament...Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith, A NEW covenant, he hath made the FIRST OLD. Now that which decayeth and waxeth OLD is ready to VANISH AWAY

We are under the NEW and LIVING way.....Hebrews 10:20 By a NEW and LIVING way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh

Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death..Heb 9:17

For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Mankind is now living under the NEW testament for which Christ shed His blood.

ROMANS 16:16 :o)

Answer 8

Wait for the Newer Testament. I heard a release date is coming soon.

Answer 9

You need to read it.

Read the New Testament book of Romans and Galatians.

The OT was given to show us that we can't find favor with God by obeying a bunch of rules. You need a one-on-one relationship with God through Jesus. When you have that, most of the OT stuff doesn't apply to you.

Galatians 2:15ff: "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

"If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Gal 3:10-14: "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."

Answer 10

Neither, of course.

But it's funny that christians believe in jesus, but claim the OT does not apply...


1) “For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19 RSV) Clearly the Old Testament is to be abided by until the end of human existence itself. None other then Jesus said so.

2) All of the vicious Old Testament laws will be binding forever. "It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for the smallest part of the letter of the law to become invalid." (Luke 16:17 NAB)

3) Jesus strongly approves of the law and the prophets. He hasn’t the slightest objection to the cruelties of the Old Testament. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place." (Matthew 5:17 NAB)

3b) "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness..." (2 Timothy 3:16 NAB)

3c) "Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God." (2 Peter 20-21 NAB)

4) Jesus criticizes the Jews for not killing their disobedient children according to Old Testament law. Mark.7:9-13 "Whoever curses father or mother shall die" (Mark 7:10 NAB)

5) Jesus is criticized by the Pharisees for not washing his hands before eating. He defends himself by attacking them for not killing disobedient children according to the commandment: “He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.” (Matthew 15:4-7)

6) Jesus has a punishment even worse than his father concerning adultery: God said the act of adultery was punishable by death. Jesus says looking with lust is the same thing and you should gouge your eye out, better a part, than the whole. The punishment under Jesus is an eternity in Hell. (Matthew 5:27)

7) Peter says that all slaves should “be subject to [their] masters with all fear,” to the bad and cruel as well as the “good and gentle.” This is merely an echo of the same slavery commands in the Old Testament. 1 Peter 2:18

8) “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law" (John7:19) and “For the law was given by Moses,..." (John 1:17).

9) “...the scripture cannot be broken.” --Jesus Christ, John 10:35