Topic: Elucidating The Testaments (A)
Text
Of Interest:
“I
have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is
come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever
he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”Jn
16:12-13
“Which
things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which
the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1Cor 2:13
Case Study Text:
“All scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works.” 2Tim 3:16-17 (KJV)
It is commonly known among people that
the bible is divided along the lines of two testaments, known as the Old and
New Testament. The entire bible is made up of 66 books; the Old Testament has
39 whereas the New Testament has 27 books. The word testament could mean the
following: law, agreement or covenant but I prefer to use the word
relationship. The Greek word translated Testament is the word diatheke meaning
a disposition, a contract or a devisory will. The testaments run through eras
and consist of historical books, prophetic books, poetic books, songs and
letters. So, if it is a covenant or agreement it implies that it must have been
conducted between two people or more. As a covenant it must contained terms and
obligations which must be fulfilled by parties involved, if not a default
occurs. The defaulter is expected to mend the broken part(s) in order to
fulfill the stipulations of the covenant and if not the covenant becomes of
none effect.
A better understanding of what the
making of each of the testament stands for will definitely help the believer to
develop the right footing as regards to his or her faith in Jesus Christ. The
Testaments are documents or records revealing or indicating the type of
relationship God has with His people at a given period of time, and this
relationship is revealed in the stories and events that took place in the
period they were recorded. The kind of relationship God had with people in the
book of Genesis is very different from what is found in the books of the laws
and prophets and also what is found in the New Testament.
And so it is that in the book of
Genesis we found some pockets of individuals that have relationship with God
without serious terms or conditions attached to it; in the sense that their
misconducts did not as a matter of fact cause the relationship to veer or stop.
God continued to relate with them though at one point or the other they missed the mark. The story is not the same from Exodus through Malachi, the events
that took place in that era, unveiled serious terms and obligations on the side
of the people and the consequences are not averted unless otherwise there is an
appeasement. Though there are some individuals that lived their life relatively
to what is obtainable in Genesis while in that era. Also, in the gospels the
story didn’t change much just that the presence of Jesus made things look
different but the people still held-fast their commitment as regards to the law.
From the book of Acts through the letters a New Testament was born, which in
fact ushers in a new relationship between God and people (Jeremiah 31:31-33).
In every covenant or testament, there
must be a seal or something that powers the covenant. In the old order, the
covenant is powered by the blood of animals and in the current dispensation the
covenant is being powered by the blood of the Man Christ. The stories and
events that took place right from Genesis through revelation are just pointing
to one Man. The Old Testament is called the Scriptures or mysteries, because
most things are not plainly revealed as in the New Testament. Therefore,
suffice it to say that the Old Testament is called the Scriptures or Mysteries
and the New Testament is called the Revelation. This means that the New
Testament reveals the Old Testament.
To be continued…..
Till I come your way again, keep on
basking in the Arena of Indubitable Truth!
Chukwuemeka C. Asiegbu
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