Musing - Is the NT the focus of the Gospel, or is it an Epilogue to the OT?

Hebraic Musing - Is the NT the focus of the Gospel, or is it an Epilogue to the OT?

I’ve heard churches proclaim proudly that “We are a New Testament church.”  The New Testament (NT) is studied and frequently quoted as if it were a stand-alone document.  It’s often said to be a covenant of grace whereas the Old Testament (OT) was about law and too often thought to no longer be important.  The OT is associated with Moses, the NT with Jesus.  But yet, the church grew explosively in the first century based solely on teachings derived from the OT that were used to explain the recent events. 

Just recently someone said that the NT is like an appendix or epilogue to the OT.  That comment caused me to think and to do a word search. What is the definition of an “Epilogue” or “Appendix”? 

Wikipedia:   An epilogue or epilog is a piece of writing at the end of a work of literature, usually used to bring closure to the work. [1] It is presented from the perspective of within the story.     

Webster: Epilogue -  
Summary:  a final section or speech after the main part of a book, play, or musical composition 
Complete definition:
  1 :  a concluding section that rounds out the design of a literary work
  2 a :  a speech often in verse addressed to the audience by an actor at the end of a play;
            also :  the actor speaking such an epilogue
     b :  the final scene of a play that comments on or summarizes the main action

Webster: Appendix - : a section of extra information added at the end of a book
Full Definition of APPENDIX
  1  a :  APPENDAGE :  an adjunct to something larger or more important
      b :  supplementary material usually attached at the end of a piece of writing

I am still processing questions –

·         Is the NT the focus of the Gospel, or is it an Epilogue to the OT?

·         Or could you call the NT the ‘unpacking’ or the ‘commentary’ on the OT?

·         What do you think?

·         Could you lead someone to the Lord using the OT only?  Early apostles and saints did!

Points to ponder

Can you fully appreciate an epilogue if you’ve not read the book?

or

Can you really understand the NT unless you’ve studied the OT?

Shalom

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                                    August 5, 2014

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”
And weekly “Hebraic Musings” e-mails
Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com