The OT in Paul's Writings

I want to look at the use of the Old Testament in the writings of the Apostle Paul. Last week we turned to his words in 2 Tim 3:17 & 17 to see the important truth that the scriptures have been breathed out by the Holy Spirit. Those Scriptures are primarily those of the Old Testament.

First an explanation, then some important statistics, then finally the content. I want to convince you that the Apostle Paul saw the Law of God as revealed in the first five books of the Bible and summarized in the Ten Commandments and the other summaries we saw last week was and is entirely relevant for the churches of this age and as a guide for Christian living.

There are two basic ways in which OT references are found in the NT. They are allusions and citations. An allusion is found when a writer simply used the language or idea of an OT reference or narrative. For instance, Rev 3:7 mentions a ‘key of David.’ It alludes to Isa 22:22 and its clearly messianic analogy. The other use is to actually cite an OT reference. Matt 1:23 cites Isa 7:14. Sometimes citations have a phrase so the reader knows it is something God said; sometimes they do not. So, when reading the NT, one might not identify all of the allusions and citations that are there. And, some are more apparent than others.

If you tabulate the allusions and citation in the twelve Epistles commonly believed to be from the hand of Paul, there are about 190 of them in all. These come from approximately 22 of the 39 OT Books. 79 of them come from the first five books of the Bible, called the Torah in Hebrew or the Pentateuch from the Greek for five books. That is roughly 40% of Paul’s use of the OT that comes from the first five books of the Bible—the Law.

23 from Genesis

19 from Exodus

5 from Leviticus

8 from Numbers

24 from Deuteronomy

That should add up to 79.

The next two largest sources of Paul’s allusions and citations are the book of Isaiah (37) & the book of the Psalms (28). That’s another 34%. That’s about 74% of Paul’s use of the OT in his writings.  That’s about 3/4ths. Paul’s command of the OT is demonstrated by his knowledge and use of these Scriptures to teach doctrine, to instruct in righteousness, to correct & to reproof. All but two of the more personal books have some OT reference as the basis of authority.  

The writer of the NT Book of Hebrews has stirred a lot of debate for many years. Many men believe it came from the Pen of Paul. One of the reasons given is that the source of authority for its teaching is the OT reflecting an overlap with the Pauline Epistles.

If you count up the times the OT is used in Hebrews, you come up with about 102 from 15 of the OT Books. 56 of them are from Gen-Deut or roughly 55%. 

56 from Genesis

19 Exodus

4 Leviticus

5 Numbers

6 Deuteronomy

There are 21 references to the Psalms or roughly 21%. Strangely, there are only two times when Isaiah is used or 2%.

Put together, these doctrinal books have 292 OT allusions or citations with 135 from the Law (almost half @46%).

That demonstrates something of the relevancy of the Law of God as a guide for the churches to whom Paul wrote, the individuals who received his letters and therefrom, relevance for the Christians addressed in those works. 

Consider with me another line of evidence for a high view of the OT to instruct the believers in this age. How many times does the Apostle Paul use the words of Jesus?

There are narratives of Paul’s conversion three times in Acts: Chapters 9 describing it for the first time. The second is before the tribunal in Acts 22—21:40 tells us he spoke in Hebrew, yet the content is inscripturated in Greek. The third is in Paul’s defense before Agrippa in Chapter 26.  In all three we have Paul using the words of Jesus spoken on the road to Damascus. Words not found in the gospels.

There are two other times in Acts where we find Paul using the words of Jesus. In 20:35 we read: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” When did Jesus speak these words? We don’t know. Again, they are not words inscripturated in the Gospels, but by the Holy Spirit in Acts.

In 23:11 we read: “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’” You guessed it. These words are not in the gospels but from Paul’s own experience.

The third and last time Paul uses the words of Jesus in in 2 Cor 12:8 where he writes about the ‘thorn in the flesh’ Jesus said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

It does not appear at first glance that Paul used Jesus as a source of his beliefs. There have been many throughout the history of the church who noted this and wrongly concluded that Jesus and Paul do not therefore agree. The answer is found in their common source of authoritative scripture.

In the gospels, there are at least 249 allusions and citations to the OT. Most of them are the words of Jesus or the writers pointing the readers to the scripture that was fulfilled. 101 in Matthew, 39 in Mark, 63 in Luke & 46 in John.

In Matthew, there are 64 taken from the Law, Isaiah or the Psalms. The breakdown is 34 from the Torah, 15 from each Isaiah and the Psalms.

In Mark, there are 25 total: 12 from the Law, 4 from the Psalms and 9 from Isaiah.

In Luke, there are 42 in all: 26 Law, 7 Psalms & 10 Isaiah.

In John, 38: 11 Law, 17 Psalms & 8 Isaiah.

That’s 83 allusions or citations to the Scriptures Jesus called Law and the rest from the prophets, including the Psalms. That is 1/3.

Jesus and Paul agreed because they had the same source of authority from which they taught. Jesus taught to the multitudes, the leaders of the Jews and to the disciples. Paul preached the gospel in its fullness to sinner and saint. They both based what they said on the Scriptures of the Old Testament. Jesus was also the Word of God incarnate. Even as the incarnate Word of God, he taught the scriptures, and submitted to them. Paul was an enemy of Jesus until he was subdued and conquered by the grace of the Lord Jesus. It is Paul’s background in the scriptures that made him to be a mighty warrior for the kingdom of God.

Jesus and Paul used the scriptures of the OT as the central authority in accord with God’s agenda. It is significant that they used the Law as binding on all according to the first or evangelical use of it and the third use to guide a believer living the Christian life.

But, it is significant that they both use the Psalms and Isaiah as much as they do. So many of the Psalms are prophetic as they foretell what Messiah would be and do. There is an entire class of Psalms called Messianic Psalms. But, the Psalms also instruct as they call God’s ancient people back to covenantal faithfulness. How is that regularly defined in the ministry of the prophets? By Israel’s keeping of the Law from the heart as they express their love for the God who loved them and delivered them. They were so unfaithful to a merciful and gracious God.

Time does not allow a study on the use of the Law by the prophets. But suffice to say, it is to a right understanding and use of the Law that defined the message of the prophets’ calls to repentance. The message of both is interwoven in Old Covenant history—the Law and the Prophets go together. What was Moses through whom the Law was given—a prophet.

They are so closely linked that Paul can call the one by the other’s name. In 1 Cor 14:21, Paul wrote, “In the Law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and for all that they will not hear me.” This is a citation from Isaiah 28:11-12. “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, this is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest; and this would be a refreshing, yet they would not hear.

There are many today who don’t want to hear about the proper use of the Moral Law of God as a guide given lovingly and graciously for believers in this lawless age.