How Does the New Testament Use the Old Testament?
The relationship between the Old Testament (OT) and the New Testament (NT) is central to biblical interpretation. Quotations, paraphrases, and allusions to the OT appear in nearly every NT book, shaping doctrine, ethics, liturgy, and apologetics. Jesus and the apostles consistently rooted their teaching in the OT, showing how God’s promises were fulfilled in Christ. Without the OT, the NT would be unintelligible, since its theological foundation rests on covenant, election, promise, and judgment.
This article explores the NT’s use of the OT through several key categories: its functions in interpretation, its role in the Gospels and Paul, the distinctive emphases of Hebrews and Revelation, and the continuity between the two Testaments.
1. Functions of the Old Testament
The NT employs the OT in three primary ways: legal, prophetic, and analogical.
Legal interpretation answers the question: What does God require of his people? Jesus cites the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4–5) and Leviticus 19:18 as the greatest commandments (Mark 12:29–31), grounding Christian ethics in love for God and neighbor.
Prophetic interpretation highlights fulfillment. Jesus opens his ministry by declaring Isaiah 61:1–2 fulfilled in himself (Luke 4:18–19). The NT consistently shows how Jesus embodies Israel’s messianic hopes.
Analogical interpretation uses typology and comparison. Paul calls Adam a “type of the one who was to come” (Romans 5:14). Jesus compares Jonah’s three days in the fish to his own burial and resurrection (Matthew 12:40).
These functions show that the NT does not discard the OT but interprets it in light of Christ, who fulfills the law, prophets, and promises.
2. Jesus and the Gospels
Jesus’ use of Scripture often paralleled rabbinic methods, yet with a distinctive eschatological and Spirit-driven focus. He quoted the Hebrew text, the Greek Septuagint, and sometimes Aramaic renderings, demonstrating a wide familiarity with Scripture.
When tempted in the wilderness, Jesus resisted the devil with Deuteronomy (Matthew 4:1–11). He upheld the law’s moral weight but reoriented its application around love, mercy, and the kingdom of God. For example, he declared, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13).
Jesus also employed prophetic texts to explain his mission. He identified John the Baptist with Malachi 3:1 (Matthew 11:10) and used Daniel 7:13 to describe himself as the “Son of Man” who would come in glory (Mark 14:62). His teaching culminated in the claim that the Scriptures found their fulfillment in him: “These are the Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39).
3. Distinctive Emphases in the Four Gospels
While the Gospels share common OT citations, each emphasizes them differently:
Mark anchors the good news in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1, presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel’s longing. At the transfiguration, the echo of Deuteronomy 18:15 affirms Jesus as the prophet like Moses.
Matthew stresses fulfillment more than any Gospel, repeatedly using the formula “that it might be fulfilled.” He presents Jesus as lawgiver, prophet, and Wisdom incarnate.
Luke–Acts portrays Jesus and the church as the continuation of Israel’s story. Luke’s narrative speeches, saturated with OT phrases, show that God’s promises to Israel find their realization in the risen Christ (Luke 24:44–47).
John employs a pattern: OT references in the first half show Jesus acting “as it is written,” while in the second half they highlight fulfillment in his rejection and passion (John 12:37–41). For John, Jesus’ crucifixion is the climactic fulfillment of Scripture.
Each Gospel demonstrates continuity between Israel’s Scriptures and Jesus’ identity as Messiah and Son of God.
4. Paul’s Use of the Old Testament
Paul quotes the OT around one hundred times, often aligning with the Septuagint but sometimes drawing uniquely from the Hebrew text or offering creative reinterpretations. For Paul, the OT provides the theological scaffolding for the Gospel.
Romans 10:6–8 offers a striking example. Drawing on Deuteronomy 30:12–14, Paul applies the text about God’s commandment to Christ, declaring that no one needs to ascend to heaven or descend to the abyss, for Christ has already accomplished salvation through his death and resurrection. The only requirement is faith and confession (Romans 10:9–10).
Elsewhere, Paul interprets Abraham’s faith (Genesis 15:6) as the model for justification (Romans 4:3). He views Israel’s wilderness experiences as “written down for our instruction” (1 Corinthians 10:11). For Paul, Christ fulfills the OT promises while inaugurating the long-awaited kingdom of God.
5. Hebrews and the General Epistles
Hebrews demonstrates one of the richest uses of the OT. With over thirty-six explicit quotations and dozens of allusions, it portrays Jesus as greater than angels, Moses, and the priesthood. The author employs typology rather than allegory, showing how OT institutions pointed forward to Christ.
For example, Melchizedek prefigures Jesus’ eternal priesthood (Hebrews 7). The sacrificial system finds fulfillment in Christ’s once-for-all offering (Hebrews 9:26). The wilderness generation serves as a warning against unbelief (Hebrews 3–4).
The general epistles echo similar themes: James draws on the law’s call to love (James 2:8), while 1 Peter interprets Isaiah 53 as pointing to Christ’s suffering (1 Peter 2:24–25).
6. Revelation’s Old Testament Allusions
Revelation contains no explicit quotations but is saturated with allusions to Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the Psalms. Its imagery of beasts, a new temple, and a restored paradise demonstrates that the NT closes where the OT began—with God dwelling with his people in a renewed creation (Revelation 21–22).
By weaving together OT imagery, Revelation reveals the climax of redemptive history. The promises to Israel and the prophetic visions of judgment and restoration find their consummation in Christ’s return.
7. Continuity Between the Testaments
The NT’s use of the OT underscores continuity rather than disjunction. Jesus fulfills the law (Matthew 5:17) but also embodies the covenant and carries forward Israel’s story. The apostles proclaimed the Gospel not as a new religion but as the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham, Moses, and David (Acts 13:32–33).
The continuity between the Testaments guards against neglect of the OT and highlights the Jewish roots of Christianity. The God of creation, covenant, and salvation revealed in the OT is the same God who brings redemption through Christ in the NT.
Conclusion
The NT’s use of the OT is more than proof-texting. It demonstrates that God’s promises in the OT find their fulfillment in Christ, the center of the biblical story. By understanding the OT’s legal, prophetic, and analogical functions in the NT, readers can see how Jesus and the apostles interpreted Scripture and how the church today can faithfully proclaim the one Gospel.
The unity of the Testaments reinforces the truth that God’s redemptive plan spans all of history. From creation to consummation, the Bible testifies to Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
