New testament references to the old testament
The New Testament contains numerous references to the Old Testament, which are often called "allusions" or "quotations." These references serve several purposes:
- Establishing continuity: The New Testament authors wanted to show that the events and teachings of the Old Testament were fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Illustrating principles: The Old Testament stories and prophecies were used to illustrate the principles and teachings of Jesus and the early Christian church.
- Proving Jesus' identity: The New Testament authors used Old Testament references to demonstrate that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
Here are some examples of New Testament references to the Old Testament:
Matthew
- Matthew 1:22-23: Jesus' name is derived from Isaiah 7:14, which prophesied the birth of a virgin-born Messiah.
- Matthew 2:15: Jesus' flight to Egypt is compared to Moses' flight from Egypt (Exodus 2:15).
- Matthew 3:3: John the Baptist's message is based on Isaiah 40:3-4, which prophesied the coming of the Lord.
Mark
- Mark 1:2-3: Jesus' baptism is compared to the baptism of Elijah (1 Kings 18:24) and the baptism of John the Baptist (Malachi 3:1).
- Mark 7:6-7: Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13, criticizing the Pharisees for neglecting the weightier matters of the law.
Luke
- Luke 2:25-35: Simeon's prophecy about Jesus is based on Isaiah 40:5-6, which prophesied the coming of the Lord.
- Luke 4:18-21: Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1-2, announcing the beginning of his ministry.
John
- John 1:1-14: Jesus is compared to the Logos (Word) of God, which is a reference to the creation account in Genesis 1:1-3.
- John 12:38-41: Jesus quotes Isaiah 53:1, which prophesied the rejection of the Messiah.
Acts
- Acts 2:16-21: Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32, which prophesied the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 13:33: Paul quotes Psalm 16:10, which prophesied the resurrection of the Messiah.
Romans
- Romans 1:17: Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4, which prophesied the coming of the righteous one.
- Romans 9:25-26: Paul quotes Hosea 1:10, which prophesied the salvation of Israel.
Hebrews
- Hebrews 1:5-13: Jesus is compared to the angels, which is a reference to Psalm 2:7 and 110:1.
- Hebrews 10:5-7: Jesus is compared to the high priestly offerings of the Old Testament, which is a reference to Psalm 40:6-8.
These are just a few examples of the many references to the Old Testament in the New Testament.