Why Study the Old Testament? part 5

The New Testament Quotes the Old Testament Like Crazy

Depending on exactly how you count and categories OT quotes, there are approximately 341 direct quotations of the Old Tesatament within the pages of the New Testament.  Of course, beyond the direct quotations, there are hundreds of allusions and references to Old Testament people, events, places, symbols, and ideas.  The New Testamament literally builds its theology using the bricks of the Old Testament.

The importance of Old Testament quotations tend to fall into three categories.

1. To demonstrate the fulfillment of an OT prophecy (Matt 1:22; 2:6).
2. To contrast a NT doctine (Matt 4:21-22; 4:27-28)
3. To develop a new doctrine (Rom 3:10-18; 9:25-26)

When I read a book, I tend to skip over parts when the author quotes another book.  That’s a huge mistake when reading the New Testament.  If you don’t know the OT, you’re missing a lot.