We find the Bible assuming itself to be the Word of God in the special terms that it uses to describe itself. In this blog series’ third installment, we consider a couple more of these terms: “the Law”, “the Law and the Prophets”, and “the Law and the Prophets and the Psalms.”
7. The Law
A term used in the New Testament for the Old Testament Scripture is, “the Law.” The expression often refers to the entire Old Testament while at other times it is speaking the Law of Moses—the first five books of the Bible. In John 12:34, for example, we find it referring to the entire Old Testament.
The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” (John 12:34).
There is nothing in the Law of Moses, the first five books of Scripture, that says the Christ will live forever. In this context “the Law” is used of the entire Old Testament. The following verses teach that Christ will live forever.
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, you are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4).
Isaiah predicted
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:7).
The Lord predicted that the Messiah, David’s greater Son, would live forever.
They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever (Ezekiel 37:25).
Therefore the term “Law” can refer have a narrow meaning, the Law of Moses, or a much wider meaning, the entire Old Testament.
8. The Law And The Prophets
Another New Testament expression used for the entire Old Testament is the Law and the Prophets. It looks at the Old Testament from the standpoint of how it is divided. The Apostle Paul wrote.
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify (Romans 3:21).
9. The Law And The Prophets And The Psalms
Jesus spoke of a threefold division of the Old Testament – the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms.
In Luke’s gospel we read.
Then he [Jesus] said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you — that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44).