What does the Bible say about new and old?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that God’s new covenant in Christ fulfills and surpasses the old covenant without denying the enduring truth of God’s earlier revelation. John 1:14 declares that the eternal Word became flesh, bringing grace and truth in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 8:6-13 explains that Christ mediates the promised new covenant, written on believers’ hearts and providing full forgiveness, so the former covenant’s ceremonial order has become obsolete. Yet the Old Testament remains God-breathed Scripture, profitable for equipping God’s people, as 2 Timothy 3:16 teaches. Since holy men spoke from God by the Holy Spirit, according to 2 Peter 1:21, Christians receive both Testaments as one faithful witness to Christ and God’s redeeming purpose.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- John 1:14
The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
- 2 Timothy 3:16
Every writing inspired by God is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness,
- 2 Peter 1:21
For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
- Hebrews 8:6-13
[6] But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. [7] For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. [8] For finding fault with them, he said, "Behold, the days come," says the Lord, "That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; [9] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, In the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; For they didn't continue in my covenant, And I disregarded them," says the Lord. [10] "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days," says the Lord; "I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be to them a God, And they will be to me a people. [11] They will not teach every man his fellow citizen, Every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' For all will know me, From the least of them to the greatest of them. [12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more." [13] In that he says, "A new covenant," he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away.
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