The Old Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Mentor's Guide, MG09

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T H E O L D T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

3. What is the protoevangelium , and where is it located in Scripture? What specifically does God lay out concerning his salvation promise–for the serpent, for the woman, and for the seed of the woman? 4. How is the protoevangelium “shorthand” for the entire message of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments? How does the NT reveal Jesus of Nazareth to be this divine seed commissioned to destroy the devil’s work and to redeem humankind to God? Cite specific Scripture to support your answer. 5. How is the covenant God made with Abraham a progressive revelation , that is, a continuation of God’s divine promise for a Savior first cited in the protoevangelium ? 6. Lay out the specific promises God made to Abraham in his covenant as recorded in Genesis 12.1-3. What specifically is promised regarding the seed of Abraham and the blessings of all the families of the earth? What does Galatians 3 suggest about this promise? (Cf. Galatians 3.7-9 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. [8] And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” [9] So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.) 7. How does the NT describe Jesus of Nazareth to be the seed of Abraham, the one through whomAbraham, his descendants, and the all the families of the earth would be blessed? How does this affirm the promise-fulfillment motif as perhaps the most valid way to understand the relationship of the OT to the New? Explain.

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This lesson focuses upon the various motifs and approaches that will allow us to see the Old and New Testaments as fundamentally and intimately connected—through progressive revelation , the promise-fulfillment motif , and the complimentary relationships that the testaments have as they both come to fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth. Carefully review the concepts below as a mastery of these themes is essential if you are to adopt exegetical strategies that will enable you to see the unity as well as the diversity of the Old and New Testament literature.

Summary of Key Concepts

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