Why Quote the Old Testament?
Why Quote the Old Testament ? Acts 2:16–21 , 25–28 , 34–35 Excerpt The variety of methods of interpretation and application of the OT parallels the fact that the OT was used for a variety of purposes. People tend to think only in terms of the use of the OT to show that Jesus was the Messiah, but there are a number of other uses with a variety of goals. Many OT texts are used to show Jesus is the Messiah, the fulfillment of the OT promises ( Lk 4:16–21 ). Without lessening the fulfillment emphasis, however, other verses are applied to Jesus for other purposes: to evangelize ( Acts 8:32–35 ); to demonstrate or convince ( Acts 13:33–35 ); to rebuke ( Mk 7:6 , 7 ; Rom 11:7–10 ); to describe ( Rv 1:12–15 ); and to worship ( Phil 2:10 , 11 ). More Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. “Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament .” Baker encyclopedia of the Bible 1...