The new and the old

[rickylittleton]

Can any one help me with a little point that has come into my mind! As we all know, the only scriptures that the people of God had was the old testament up until about 300 or so years after Jesus walked the earth, and to the Hebrew people, these were the scriptures. When and at what point were the scriptures deemed the old, and not relevent to the new testament scriptures. What came  into my mind was when Jesus said in Matthew 5:18: For verily I say unto you, until the heaven and the earth shall pass away, one jot or tittle may in nowise pass away from the law till all be accomplished. I guess this is one of the many stampers I run across from time to time. Any help or comment would be helpful. Your brother, Timothy

[Dave in Tenn]

I don't have a complete answer for you, but the way I see it is this way:  This happens in the life of an individual, not at any particular historical point in time.    There are plenty of people still living the Old Covenant (or at least potions of it), and could be that most of them are christians.

Just to add, just because the New Testament as we know it had not been completely compiled does not mean that what was being written in the first century was not "scripture".  The Gospels, Acts and the epistles were all complete and in circulation before John received and wrote down the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

For a more "bible-scholar" set of answers, see Ray's article How We Got the Bible.

http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,5815.0.html

[santgem]

Hi rickylittleton,
Greetings!

Maybe this would help a little...


                                         Part XI

                       The Depth of Satan -- Who is Antipas?

                         http://bible-truths.com/lake11.html
                         http://bible-truths.com/lake11.html

1. The depth of Satan and the church of God
2. The greatest depth of evil is found only in the church
3. Where should I go to church?
4. My last day of church
5. Christ and the synagogues
6. Stephen and the synagogue
7. Paul and the synagogues
8. Christ prophesies regarding the synagogues
9. The function of the synagogue
10. The church of God in private houses
11. The milk but not the meat
12. Does Jesus reside and dwell in the church?
13. Christians did not gather to worship God in the synagogues
14. A few definitions
15. To which church do I belong?
16. Christ after the flesh versus Christ after the Spirit
17. The Old Covenant versus the New Covenant
18. A tale of two Jerusalem's
19. Mount Sinai and the 10 Commandments are bondage
20. What is the purpose for the Mosaic Law?
21. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together
22. The seat - throne and dwelling place of Satan located
23. Who is Antipas?
24. In the midst of the seven golden candlesticks

[Ireland]

The way I am coming to see this scripture is this. Heaven and earth did pass away when the Temple, priesthood, carnal ordinances, Jerusalem etc. were all destroyed in 70 AD. Now the Kingdom is inside a person and Jesus did fulfill what He came to accomplish. If I am off base please forgive me and feel free to correct this statement. May Christ bless us as He resurrects in us individually! and corporately!

[Dave in Tenn]

Ireland, I wasn't around in 70 AD.  I-Bob MAY have been...not sure...I'm terrible with dates.  The Lord said EVEN in the OT scriptures that He did not desire sacrifice.  The Law has ALWAYS been spiritual, but the way wasn't given to keep it that way yet.

[indianabob]

Dear friend Dave,

Thanks for the honor of granting me advanced age.
70 a.d. indeed. 

I do think that this question, concerning timing of God's plan for mankind
bears a little more examination. I do not think that the 70 a.d. date
has much meaning for present day Christians. More as an end of the Jewish temple worship era, until the restoration of the Jews. I note that no one of that era, not even Paul, expected their Messiah to delay his return for 2000 years. They assumed it would be within their lifetime.

Regards, I-Bob