How does the New Testament and Old Testament relate to each other?

What I would like to begin exploring on Bible Thoughts Today is the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. The church has always affirmed that what is known as the Old Testament is Christian Scripture, as much as the New Testament is. Has the coming of Jesus changed the status of the Old Testament? Is the Old Testament and what it contains merely a "shadow" of things fulfilled in the New Testament? These questions are not easy to answer, because the Old Testament is read differently in the light of what Jesus has done in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension to God the Father's right hand. I am going to make a statement related to the issue of the relationship between the two testaments, and let the discussion begin, and as that discussion unfold, talk about what has been said about the testaments' relationship.
The Bible can be read multivalently. It is fruitful to read Genesis by itself, read it in its relationship with the rest of the Old Testament, and read it in relationship with the rest of the Christian Canon. The messages we get from Genesis as we do this are beneficial and complementary to each other. An example of this is when we read in Genesis 12:1-3 that through Abraham's seed all the families of the earth will be blessed. In relation to Genesis alone, we see this clearly in the story of Joseph, as he saves the families of the earth from starvation. In relation to the Old Testament as a whole, we see Israel's mission of blessing and witness to all of the peoples of the earth. In relation to the New Testament, we see this blessing through the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Abraham's greatest Son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. We can see, as well, that believers in Christ are to extend the blessing, as heirs of Abraham's promise.

Respond to this blog, and let the discussion begin. Tomorrow, I will reflect on how the Old and New Testaments are fruitfully read in dialogue with each other, looking at How the Book of Hebrews reflects on the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16, and what light Leviticus casts on what Christ's sacrifice accomplishes.

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