What role does the canon play in uniting the Old and New Testaments in biblical interpretation?

The canon plays a crucial role in uniting the Old and New Testaments in biblical interpretation by providing the framework for understanding Scripture as a unified whole. This approach, often described as canonical interpretation, insists that the Bible must be read in its entirety if God’s revelation is to be properly understood. Rather than treating the Old Testament as an independent book or the New Testament as a replacement, the canon shows how the two testaments form a single witness to God’s redemptive plan in Christ.

This article will explore the role of the canon in biblical interpretation, examining its theological function, its narrative unity, and its role in pointing both backward and forward to Christ.

1. The Canon as a Framework for Unity

The Bible is not simply a collection of unrelated writings but a canon—a set of authoritative texts recognized by the people of God. The canon provides a framework for interpreting each part in light of the whole. By gathering the Old and New Testaments into one book, the church affirms that the same God speaks through both.

Jesus himself emphasized this unity when he said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). The canon allows interpreters to hear this fulfillment, connecting the promises of the Old Testament to their realization in the New.

2. The Narrative Shape of the Canon

The canonical structure highlights the Bible’s overarching narrative. From Genesis to Revelation, the canon presents a story of creation, fall, redemption, and new creation. The Old Testament narrates the covenant with Abraham, the exodus from Egypt, the kingdom of David, and the exile—all events that set the stage for the coming of Christ.

The New Testament then presents Jesus as the fulfillment of this story. Paul summarizes the Gospel by saying that Christ died for our sins and was raised “in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). The canon thus creates continuity, showing how the New Testament is not a new story but the climactic chapter of God’s plan.

3. The Prophetic Role of the Old Testament

The canon places the Old Testament in its prophetic role. The prophets do not merely describe Israel’s past; they anticipate God’s future work. Isaiah’s vision of the suffering servant (Isaiah 53:4–6) finds its fulfillment in Jesus’ atoning death (1 Peter 2:24). Jeremiah’s promise of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34) is fulfilled in Christ’s words at the Last Supper: “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20).

By reading the Old Testament canonically, the church sees these writings not only as ancient history but as part of the living word of God pointing forward to Christ.

4. The Fulfillment Role of the New Testament

Just as the Old Testament points forward, the New Testament points back. The Gospel writers repeatedly explain events in Jesus’ life as fulfilling the Scriptures. Matthew alone uses the formula “this was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet” more than a dozen times (see Matthew 1:22, 2:15, 2:23).

The New Testament does not stand apart from the Old but assumes its authority. Without the Old Testament, Jesus’ identity as Messiah, priest, and king would lose its foundation. The canon ensures that Christ’s work is understood “in accordance with the Scriptures,” preserving the unity of God’s revelation.

5. The Distinct Voices of the Two Testaments

The canon affirms unity but does not erase distinction. The Old Testament speaks in the language of covenant, law, and promise; the New Testament speaks in the language of fulfillment, Gospel, and kingdom. Each has its own voice, but both are indispensable.

The Psalms teach believers how to pray, lament, and hope. The Epistles teach the church how to live in light of Christ’s resurrection. Both belong to the same canon, reminding the church that God reveals himself in diverse yet harmonious ways. As Hebrews 1:1–2 declares, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”

6. The Canon as Witness to Christ

At the heart of the canon is its witness to Christ. Jesus himself explained to the disciples on the Emmaus road that “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). The canon unites the two testaments by showing that both testify to the same Lord.

The Old Testament provides the categories—sacrifice, priesthood, kingship, covenant—that the New Testament shows fulfilled in Jesus. The New Testament provides the fulfillment that makes sense of the Old. Together, they bear unified testimony to the Gospel.

7. The Canon as Instrument of Divine Address

The canon not only unites past and present but functions as the means by which God addresses his people today. It is not merely a historical record but a living word. Paul affirms that “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction” (Romans 15:4).

This divine address requires a faithful and repentant reading. The canon calls believers to respond not only with understanding but with obedience. The Scriptures shape the community of faith by pointing to Christ and calling for trust in his lordship.

8. The Canon and the Unity of God’s People

Finally, the canon unites not only the Old and New Testaments but also the people of God across time. Israel’s Scriptures become the church’s Scriptures. Gentile believers are grafted into Israel’s story (Romans 11:17–18), making the Old Testament their inheritance as well.

The canon creates one people under one Lord. As Paul declares, “There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:4–6). The canon thus preserves both the unity of Scripture and the unity of the church.

Conclusion

The canon plays an indispensable role in uniting the Old and New Testaments in biblical interpretation. It provides the framework for understanding Scripture as a unified whole, reveals the Bible’s narrative shape, situates the Old Testament as prophetic, and shows the New Testament as fulfillment. Both testaments maintain distinct voices, yet together they bear witness to Christ as Lord.

To read the Bible canonically is to hear God’s unified word of redemption in Jesus Christ. The canon ensures that the church reads Scripture faithfully, responding to God’s revelation with repentance, faith, and hope in the kingdom to come.