UNDERSTANDING GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT PART OF THE BIBLE. PART TWO: How to study Genesis to Malachi
UNDERSTANDING GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT PART OF THE BIBLE PART 2
The knowledge of God in Christ is paramount to us as believers. This is because it will affect every aspect of our relationship with God. Many persons serve the devil as God because they lack the right knowledge of God. In the part one of this series, we looked at how Christ is the express image of God. To understand God even in the old testament part of the Bible, we must look at Christ. If it cannot be seen in Christ, it cannot be seen in God .
1 John 5
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life
In the coming of Christ we have the true understanding of God. This is key in investigating God in the Hebrew text (Old testament part of the Bible ). Kindly click here to read part one .
Emphasis in this part two will be on how to interpret Genesis to Malachi. Remember the Bible is a book set apart to show us Christ. So it is very important to know how to study the book especially as it relates to the knowledge of God in Christ. Jesus said in John 5:39.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
The scriptures testify of Christ. If you read the scriptures outside Christ you can get different things out of the Bible . You can get history, traditions of men, doctrines of devils and other evils from the Bible . So what about Jesus does the scriptures testify ? It is salvation through faith which is Christ.
2 Timothy 3
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The scriptures are able to make you skillful in salvation through faith which is in Christ.
So how do we interpret GENESIS TO MALACHI as part of the scriptures? Have you ever been confused after reading some parts of Genesis to Malachi then you come to the Greek Text(New Testament Part of the Bible ) and see what seems to be otherwise? For example, you will see some portions in Genesis to Malachi that present God as a killer and as one that causes evil. But when you come to the new testament, you see Christ who is the express image of God doing good. We see that it is the devil and men that kill and do evil. So how to do we reconcile this about God? Don’t forget any knowledge of God outside Christ will be false . In Christ we see the true and real nature of God.
For us to understand how to interpret Genesis to Malachi, we have to look at how Jesus interpreted that portion of the Bible and how Paul and other apostles interpreted it .
HOW DID JESUS INTERPRET GENESIS TO MALACHI?
When Jesus takes the Scriptures(Genesis to Malachi) , He limits it to HIMSELF.
John 5
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
Jesus pointed out that the life in the scriptures is in testifying of Him. The scriptures bear witness of Christ. Remember when the Bible uses the word ‘scriptures’ it is referring to Genesis to Malachi. As at the time Jesus was speaking here, there was no book of John . The document available as scriptures was Genesis to Malachi. You will see different places where scriptures is mentioned and a quote is given from Genesis to Malachi(Example: Luke 4:17-21 Jesus quoted Isaiah and calls it the scriptures, in Romans 4:3 Paul quoted Genesis 15:6 and calls it scriptures).
So the scriptures testify of Jesus. How do we then bring out Christ from the scriptures? Or how does the scriptures testify of Jesus?
After resurrection, Jesus did his first Bible study with the disciples from Emmaus showing us how to interpret Genesis to Malachi.
Luke 24
13
And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed togetherand reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications arethese that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
These two disciples were discussing the event of the death of Jesus and the news that He is risen . Notice verse 19 reveals that these disciples believed in Jesus as a prophet mighty in deeds and actions. They also expected Jesus to save Israel physically from bondage. What was Jesus response? Did he endorse that belief? Never . This shows us that if all you believe about Jesus is that he is a mighty prophet that walked the earth , you have not believed anything that the devil doesn’t believe. The devil knows that Jesus is powerful. Even we believers consistently show his power by driving out devils . As a prophet, He was the prophet that other prophets spoke about. Jesus REBUKED that particular belief and explains to them the THINGS CONCERNING HIMSELF. Let’s look at the scripture again.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
All that the prophets has spoken in this context remains the event of the death burial and resurrection of Jesus. So in verse 26 Jesus asked ought not Christ to have suffered these things and enter into his glory? Which things ? The things they have been discussing. The death of Jesus and his resurrection. PAY ATTENTION TO VERSE 27. Jesus began at Moses (the writings of Moses from Genesis) and all the prophets in all the scriptures (Genesis to Malachi) and EXPOUNDED to them THE THINGS CONCERNING HIMSELF. So how did Jesus study Genesis to Malachi? HE EXPOUNDED it to the disciples. What does the word EXPOUND MEANS? The word expound (from the Greek word diermēneuō means to explain thoroughly ; by implication to translate: – expound, interpret. It was used as interpret/interpretation in many places . Example; Acts 9: 36 Tabitha which by interpretation means Dorcas. The same word was used for interpretation of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14. This means that GENESIS TO MALACHI DEMANDS INTERPRETATION. It cannot be taken literarily. Jesus in explaining the scriptures interpreted it. The same way you speak in tongues and the interpretation doesn’t look alike is how we read Genesis to Malachi and the interpretation will be different. So we cannot afford to take it literal. For example when you see the tree of life in Genesis, you cannot afford to take it literal. When you see saying evil spirit from the Lord in Genesis to Malachi , you cannot afford to take it literal. It is mysteries, secrets that demand interpretation. SO HOW DO WE GET THE INTERPRETATION? Are we to give our own interpretation in bringing out Christ from Genesis to Malachi? Do not forget it is centered on the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. So HOW DO WE GET THE INTERPRETATION?
To know this let’s see HOW THE APOSTLE PAUL AND THE OTHER APOSTLES INTERPRETED GENESIS TO MALACHI?
Romans 16
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Paul calls the message that he preaches the revelation of the mysteries(Secrets) from Genesis to Malachi). He calls it the preaching of Christ which is the revelation of the scriptures of the prophets. What is known as secrets in Genesis to Malachi has been made manifest. Therefore we are not left with the task of interpreting Genesis to Malachi. The interpretation has been given to the apostles. What we see as secrets in Genesis to Malachi are revealed to the apostles. SO WHERE DO WE FIND THE REVELATION OF THESE THINGS ABOUT CHRIST? Where are these secrets revealed seen ?
Ephesians 3
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Paul was given a dispensation( a stewardship) of the grace of God. This stewardship is the revelation of the mysteries(secrets) as written in his epistles (verse 3). Notice verse 4, WHEN YOU READ, YOU UNDERSTAND THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST. Now we have the revelation documented in the epistles. So all we do is READ, READ AND READ AGAIN. SO WE READ REVELATION. There are no more mysteries to us. Any thing you see in Genesis to Malachi you read the interpretation in the epistles. This revelation is what eyes has not seen before nor ear heard in 1 Corinthians 2 2. It has been revealed by the Spirit. Remember when Jesus told his disciples that he has many things to say but the Spirit will reveal it to them. The so many things have now been revealed to the apostles as documented in the epistles. Let’s see what Peter said about this .
1 Peter 1
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of yoursouls.
10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
The prophets prophesy of grace in Christ. In their prophecies we see a searching of the what and how of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. This means in their prophecies we see details of the death , burial and resurrection of Christ. These things they prophesied have been revealed to Peter and the other apostles as we see in verse 12. Notice emphasis is on their prophecies and promises. So in reading Genesis to Malachi, you will see promises and prophecies about Christ. We learn from their everyday life, but emphasis is on what they said; their speakings of God. For example you will see in Genesis 1 to 3 Moses teaching salvation. In his teaching, he mentions creation . He mentions the image of God and the tree of life. DO NOT FORGET YOU CANNOT TAKE THOSE SPEAKINGS LITERARILY. THEY ARE SECRETS THAT DEMAND INTERPRETATION. So you turn to the epistles where the interpretation is found. In the epistles we see that Christ is the image of God so man is in that image by being in Christ. In the revelation we see that Adam and Eve were deceived from the gospel. So we know that whatever Moses painted as tree of life must be to believe the gospel to have life. Don’t forget the interpretation doesn’t look like the mysteries(secrets). This is simply how to interpret Genesis to Malachi. In Genesis to Malachi we see that it is written evil spirits from God. In the epistles we see that God cannot give evil spirits rather we cast out evil spirits with the power of God. The speakings of God in Genesis to Malachi are in sundry times and divers manners as we seen in Hebrews 1:1-3.
Hebrews 1
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
In time past, the prophets spoke about God to the fathers in sundry times and divers manners . This means they spoke in different portions and different ways . In their speakings you will see what is called progressive revelation. Christ is the heir the one that inherits the speakings of the prophet. This Christ is the express image of God’s person. So the CERTAINTY of their words is in Christ. The clarity is in Christ. In the beginning we have the speakings of Christ. The word was in the beginning. The same word was made flesh in Christ. Only that in Genesis to Malachi you see the speakings of Christ as secrets. These secrets are revealed and documented in the epistles.
In summary, we have seen how to interpret Genesis to Malachi. We have also seen that what we see in Genesis to Malachi demands interpretation. The interpretation has been given to us and documented in the epistles so WE CAN READ. The Bible is a complete book on Christ. We cannot be confuse about God in Genesis to Malachi. We have the revelation now. Any character of God we cannot see in the Christ as interpreted in the epistles can never be God . We know that God cannot change. We see God in Christ in Genesis to Malachi as mysteries. We see the same God walk the earth in the four gospels. We see the same God in men as documented in the book of Acts. We see the God explained in the epistles. We will further examine other details about the nature of God in the old testament part of the Bible in subsequent parts of this series.
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