Over the last two posts we have been making a case for the reliability of the Old Testament through various lines of evidence. This includes evidence from ancient manuscripts, archeology, prophecy, science authenticity, saved lives and lines of transmission over time. Because of the abundance of evidence, and trust in the fact that it is what God wants us to have, we can have confidence that what we are reading today is the inspired Word of God!

Here is the class presentation for this week that helps give us the “Big Picture” of the Bible and the all important connection between the Old and New Testaments known as the “Scarlet Thread of Jesus.” The presentation notes are below along with this week’s Bible study practice.

Overview notes from the presentation:

Bible study: The importance of getting the big picture

Knowing the big picture of the Bible, and focusing from there, will help us not fall into the trap of twisting Scripture—it will help keep us in the right context as we study

Learn the historical timeline, cultural settings, surrounding events, connecting people and geographical locations as you study each book that makes up the Christian Bible.

Understand that the entire Bible points to the person of Jesus – The Scarlet Thread:

• His role in the Trinity
• The Old Testament Covenants are a promise of His mission as Messiah
• The Old Testament foreshadowings and prophecies are of His ministry, sacrifice and resurrection
• His Kingdom is revealed along with His final victory over death and Satan
• His preparation of an eternal home for us who trust in Him

Old Testament: “Big Picture”

• God creates us to be in relationship with Him (Genesis 1-2)
• Humans lose that relationship at “the Fall” when they disobey God’s only command (Genesis 3) and we live with the consequence of that today
• God immediately Promises a way of salvation and begins to work that [rescue] plan out in “Covenants” throughout the Old Testament—giving encouragement, warning and hope through the prophets (Genesis 3:15; Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 15:5-19; Genesis 26:3-5; Genesis 28:10-15; Genesis 49:9-12; Exodus 12-15; 19-20; 2 Samuel 7:5-17; Jeremiah 31:31)
• Every book (39), story, and event contain a foreshadow, model, or prophecy of Jesus (who He would be and what He would do)—the Scarlet Thread of the Old Testament
• The Nation of Israel was chosen to be God’s people and role-model to the other nations, but they failed all the time, showing the need for a Savior, and it would be through this Nation that Messiah would come

New Testament: “Big Picture”

THE GOSPEL:

• Jesus is born, the promised Messiah from the tribe of Judah and line of David (Luke 3:23-37)
• Jesus is the New Covenant in fulfillment of God’s Old Covenant and the hundreds of prophecies made about Him centuries before (Luke 22:20; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:7-13; 9:1-15)
• Jesus’ ministry proves that He is God incarnate evidenced by His sinless life and multitude of miracles attesting to His power over the natural order and His love for humanity (evidenced throughout the Gospels)
• Jesus dies as a substitute for all humanity, then resurrects from the grave in defeat of death and Satan, restoring that lost relationship with humankind and providing a path for eternal life (John 3:11-21)

THE CHURCH:

• Jesus’ followers begin to spread this good news at Jesus’ command and giving of the Holy Spirit to all believers (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:7-8)
• The early Church begins as disciples gathering in various places worshipping and studying Scripture (book of Acts)
• Jesus promises to come back bringing the full Kingdom of God creating a New Earth and New Heaven with no more pain, suffering, or death (John 14; Revelation 21:1-7)

CONCLUSION:

Our job, or purpose, until then is to share this good news with as many people as we can, living as God’s Ambassadors for the Kingdom, preparing for eternity. See…

• Matthew 28:18-20
• 2 Corinthians 5:20
• 1 Peter 3:15

Bible Study Skill

Cross-referencing the Bible

One of the most amazing things about the Bible is that it supports itself. All 66 books written hundreds of years apart, and in some cases over a thousand years, support and reference each other. At times when you find a difficult passage, or concept, it is helpful to find other places in the Bible where it is talked about.

• One of the main reasons we know we have the right Bible, and books therein, is that they all reference each one in one way or another
• There are approximately 2800 cross-references in Scripture

Cross-references…

1. are usually listed in the side or middle margins of a study Bible.
2. help support the section of Scripture you are studying by showing other locations in the Bible where you can find similar themes, further information, or confirmation of the subject.
3. help in doing word studies.
4. are powerful because they show the commonality in thought and theme across both the Old and New Testaments.
5. show the unveiling of God’s redemptive plan throughout history from Genesis through Revelation.
6. were used by Jesus and the Apostles as they regularly quoted from the Old Testament.
7. validate the authors and books of the Bible as they quote each other, and eliminates the so-called missing books of the Apocryphal and Gnostic writings.

Cross-referencing examples

(Old Testament – New Testament)

• The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  Psalm 23:1 (NASB)
• “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”  John 10:11 (NASB)

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Deuteronomy 6:5-6 (NIV)
• Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)

Example of a topical cross-reference study

Topic: Lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and pride of life…

This is emphasized in Scripture as the reason for the fall of humankind, and the reason for evil and suffering we endure in this life. Jesus’ overcame these three things in the wilderness temptation, and near the end of the New Testament John warns the Church.  See…

• Genesis 3: The Fall (because of these three things)
• Matthew 4: Jesus’ overcomes Satan’s temptation (of these same three things)
• 1 John 2: John’s warning to the early Church (of these same three things)

Jesus used cross-referencing

• Jesus validated the Old Testament as historical by referencing people and places that were real, not myth
• For example, in the Gospel record Jesus refers to Adam and Eve, Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, Jonah and many other events and people
• See… Matthew 10:15; 12:40; 19:4; 22:29; 22:43-44; Mark 7:13; Luke 11:28; 17:26

Jesus also said…

• This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Luke 24:44
• Jesus speaking to the Jews on a Sabbath Day said… You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me… John 5:39
• 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. Matthew 5:18
• Scripture is always true. John 10:35b

Reflection

Practice knowing the books of the Old Testament and their categories

1. What are the 39 books of the Christian Old Testament (in order)?
2. What are the 5 main categories these books fall under?

Bible Study

Read Genesis Chapters 11:26-14
Introduction to Abraham and God’s Covenant Promise; Abram and the Pharaoh; Abram and Lot; War of the Kings and A Priest named Melchizedek

Cross-Referencing Practice and Bible Study:

1. Where was Abram when God called him? (Note: God will later change his name to Abraham) Was he in Ur (Mesopotamia) or already in Haran? To help with the answer read Genesis 11:26-32 and Genesis 12:1. Then cross-reference by reading Stephen’s history review (as he defended the Gospel) in Acts 7:1-5.
2. Read Genesis 12:1-9 then cross-reference by reading Hebrews 11:8-19. What does this say about Abraham’s faithfulness? Application: How do we respond to God when we are faced with tough decisions and situations?
3. The unfolding of the original Genesis Promise (3:15) is important to follow throughout the Old Testament and on into the New Testament as it culminates in Jesus. Read Genesis chapter 3 for the context of the story and then focus on Genesis 3:13-15 – this occurs right after Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s only command in the Garden and trusted Satan instead. What is the specific promise God makes in verse 3:15? Read and review Genesis 12:1-3 – what are the three main things that God is promising here? Going deeper: How do these two promises connect?
4. (Genesis 12:10-20) Why did Abram go down to Egypt and what happened when he went there? (Summarize the story) Discuss: Considering the culture at the time, do you think Abram had other options? What would you have done?
5. (Genesis 13:1-13) Why did Abram and Lot separate and where did they end up settling? Discuss: What seems to be the problem with Lot’s choice?
6. (Genesis 13:14-18) What part of the Covenant did God reaffirm with Abram at this point and why?
7. (Genesis 14:1-16) Why was there a war and who was it between? What brought Abram into this war and what was the outcome? Discuss: Why do you think Abram would not take any of the spoil offered by the king of Sodom after the war (see 14:21-24) and what kind of model might that set for us today?
8. (Genesis 14:17-20) Who is Melchizedek and what happened between him and Abram? Cross-reference by reading Hebrews 6:20 through 7:28 – What does it say about Melchizedek in reference to Jesus?

Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the Old Testament: Session 3 – Genesis Apologetics – An Overview”

———————————————————————