FACULTY:EDUCATION

COURSE NAME:OLD TESTAMENT 11

COURSE CODE:ARE 213

YEAR 11 SEMESTER 1

NAME OF THE LECTURER: DR.CHRISPINE AGUNJA

GROUP 12

DATE OF SUBMISSION:25/11/2024

TASK: Explain how the new testament is the fulfilment of the old testament

NAMES ADMISSION NUMBER SIGNATURE

1 LINDI ASHINA SED/AR/00857/023

2 JERRY BRIGHTON SED/AR/00861/023

3 OSUMBA REHEMA SED/AR/00874/023

4 OKELLO MICHAEL OUMA SED/AR/00880/023

5 GEORGE OTIENO SED/AR/00892/023

6 JASINTER ATIENO SED/AR/00895/023

7 ODHIAMBO JOSEPH OMONDI SED/AR/00923/023

8 DARIUS OSORO SED/AR/00934/023

9 NANCY KWAMBOKA SED/AR/00954/023

10 TREVER OCHIENG SED/AR/00924/023

INTRODUCTION

The New Testament is often seen as the fulfillment of the promises and prophecies found in the Old
Testament. While the Old Testament focuses on God's covenant with the people of Israel, the New
Testament shows how Jesus Christ is the key to fulfilling these promises. The Old Testament speaks of a
coming Messiah, someone who would save God's people. In the New Testament, Jesus is revealed as
that Messiah, fulfilling prophecies about his birth, life, death, and resurrection.

The Old Testament law and sacrifices pointed toward the need for a perfect Savior. Jesus' life and
sacrifice on the cross fulfilled these requirements, offering forgiveness and a new way to relate to God.
The New Testament also explains how God's plan extends beyond Israel to include all nations, as Jesus'
message of salvation is for everyone.

In short, the New Testament completes the story of the Old Testament by showing how Jesus is the
fulfillment of God’s promises, making the way for all people to experience God's love and salvation.

1.FULFILMENT OF PROPHECIES
The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the life of Jesus Christ is a cornerstone of Christian faith.
Christians believe that many predictions made by ancient prophets pointed to the coming of a Messiah,
and that Jesus fulfilled these prophecies. These prophecies spoke about His birth, life, death, and
resurrection, all of which are seen as proof that He was the promised Savior. Let's look at a few of these
key prophecies in simplified terms.

One of the earliest prophecies about the Messiah is found in Isaiah 9:6-7, which speaks of a child who
will be born and will be a ruler bringing peace. This prophecy says the child will be called “Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.” Christians believe this refers to Jesus, who is seen as the Prince
of Peace, bringing reconciliation between God and humanity through His life and teachings.

This prophecy is directly connected to the birth of Jesus in Matthew 1:22-23, where Matthew quotes the
Old Testament saying, "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,"
which means “God with us.” This is seen as a direct fulfillment, as Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary,
marking the arrival of the Messiah in human form.

Another important prophecy is the one about the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53:3-5, which describes a
man who suffers for the sins of others, even though He Himself is innocent. Christians interpret this
passage as predicting Jesus' suffering on the cross, where He bore the punishment for humanity’s sins.
This passage highlights the idea that the Messiah would not come as a powerful ruler but as someone
who would sacrifice Himself for others.

In the New Testament, 1 Peter 2:24 connects this prophecy to Jesus, saying that He "bore our sins in His
body on the cross." Jesus' crucifixion is seen as the fulfillment of the suffering servant's role, where He
took on the punishment for sins so that humanity could be healed spiritually.

A specific prophecy about where the Messiah would be born is found in Micah 5:2, which says the
Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, a small town in Judah. This is important because it shows that the
Messiah's birth was to happen in a specific place. Matthew 2:1-6 confirms this when it tells of Jesus'
birth in Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy from Micah. This fulfills God's plan, as Jesus, the Messiah, was
born exactly where the Old Testament had foretold.

Another key prophecy is found in Zechariah 9:9, which speaks of the Messiah coming to Jerusalem, not
as a warrior king but as a humble leader riding on a donkey. This is seen as a sign of peace. In Matthew
21:4-5, Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey, which Christians believe fulfills Zechariah’s prophecy.
This humble arrival is part of the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Messiah’s peaceful reign.

Finally, the resurrection of the Messiah is hinted at in Psalm 16:10, which says, "You will not abandon
me to the grave, nor let your Holy One see decay." While the Old Testament doesn’t explicitly say the
Messiah will rise from the dead, this verse is interpreted as pointing to Jesus’ resurrection, where He
conquered death. In Acts 2:25-32, Peter quotes this psalm and explains that it was about Jesus, who was
raised from the dead, just as the prophecy foretold.

2.FULFILMENT OF KINGDOM OF GOD

The concept of the Kingdom of God is one of the ways the New Testament fulfills the Old Testament. In
the Old Testament, the Kingdom of God is anticipated through promises, covenants, and prophecies that
point to God's ultimate plan to restore His rule over creation and His relationship with humanity. This
theme finds its fulfillment in the New Testament, particularly through the life, ministry, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Perspective on the Kingdom of God:

1. God as King: The Old Testament portrays God as the sovereign King over all creation (Psalm 47:7-8).
His rule is evident in the covenant with Israel, where He establishes His law and reign through His
chosen people.

2. Promises of a Future Kingdom: Prophecies speak of a coming time when God's reign would be fully
established. For example:

Davidic Covenant: God promises David that his lineage will produce a king who will establish an
everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

Messianic Prophecies: Passages like Isaiah 9:6-7 and Daniel 7:13-14 describe a future ruler (the Messiah)
who will bring peace and justice and whose reign will never end.

New Testament Fulfillment:

1. Jesus Proclaims the Kingdom: In the New Testament, Jesus announces, "The Kingdom of God is at
hand" (Mark 1:15). This declaration signifies the beginning of God's redemptive rule breaking into
history through Jesus.

2. Jesus as the Fulfillment: Jesus, a descendant of David, is identified as the promised Messiah. His life
and ministry fulfill the Old Testament prophecies about a king who would bring God's reign:

He demonstrates the presence of the Kingdom through miracles, teachings, and acts of compassion.

His death and resurrection defeat sin and death, paving the way for God's kingdom to transform the
world.

3. The Spiritual Nature of the Kingdom: While the Old Testament often envisioned a physical kingdom,
Jesus emphasizes its spiritual nature, stating that the Kingdom of God is within believers (Luke 17:20-
21). It is characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

4. The Already-But-Not-Yet Reality: The Kingdom is both present and future. Through Christ, God's reign
begins in the hearts of believers, but its full realization awaits Christ's second coming, when God's rule
will be fully established (Revelation 21:1-4).

3.COVENANTAL FULFILMENT

The New Testament fulfills the Old Testament by completing and expanding upon the covenants made
by God with humanity in the Old Testament. This fulfillment is seen as a continuation of God's
redemptive plan, where promises made in earlier covenants are brought to completion in Jesus Christ.
Here's a detailed explanation of how the New Testament fulfills the Old Testament through covenantal
fulfillment:

i. The Abrahamic Covenant

Old Testament Promise: God promised Abraham descendants, land, and that through his offspring, all
nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:4-6).

New Testament Fulfillment: Jesus, a descendant of Abraham (Matthew 1:1-17), is the ultimate
fulfillment of the promise to bless all nations. Through His life, death, and resurrection, salvation is
extended to both Jews and Gentiles (Galatians 3:8-9, 14, 29). The Church, as the body of Christ, becomes
the global family of faith, fulfilling the promise of blessing all nations.

ii. The Mosaic Covenant

Old Testament Law: God gave the Law through Moses as a guide for Israel's relationship with Him and
with others (Exodus 19-24). This covenant emphasized obedience to God's laws as a means of
maintaining fellowship with Him.

New Testament Fulfillment: Jesus fulfills the Law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17). He perfectly obeyed
the Law and became the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, providing atonement for sin (Romans 8:3-4; Hebrews
10:1-10). The New Covenant brings the Law into the hearts of believers through the Holy Spirit
(Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10), allowing them to live in a restored relationship with God.

iii. The Davidic Covenant

Old Testament Promise: God promised King David that his throne would endure forever and that one of
his descendants would establish an everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

New Testament Fulfillment: Jesus is identified as the "Son of David" (Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:32-33) and
fulfills this covenant by establishing the eternal Kingdom of God. His reign is not limited to a physical
throne but is spiritual and universal, bringing the hope of eternal life to all believers (Revelation 11:15).

iv. The New Covenant

Old Testament Prophecy: The prophet Jeremiah foretold a New Covenant in which God would write His
laws on people's hearts, forgive their sins, and establish an intimate relationship with them (Jeremiah
31:31-34).

New Testament Fulfillment: Jesus explicitly inaugurates this New Covenant at the Last Supper, declaring
that His blood is the covenant that brings forgiveness of sins (Luke 22:20; Matthew 26:28). This covenant
is characterized by grace, not law, and is mediated by the Holy Spirit, who transforms believers from
within (2 Corinthians 3:6).

4.Typology Fulfillment
Many Old Testament events, institutions, and prophecies foreshadow Christ and His redemptive work.
For example:

The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) is fulfilled in Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7).

The temple system and sacrificial rituals point to Jesus as the ultimate High Priest and perfect sacrifice
(Hebrews 9:11-14).

Prophecies such as Isaiah 53 about the Suffering Servant find their realization in Jesus' passion and
crucifixion.

5.FULFILMENT OF THE LAW

The New Testament is often viewed as a fulfillment of the Old Testament in various ways, particularly
regarding the themes of prophecy, law, and covenant. Here’s an elaboration on how the New Testament
fulfills the Old Testament, focusing specifically on the fulfillment of the law:

i.Jesus as the Perfect Fulfillment

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus states that He came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. This indicates that
Jesus embodies the ultimate purpose and intention of the Mosaic Law through His life and teachings.

ii.Moral and Ethical Teachings

The New Testament expands upon the moral imperatives found in the Old Testament. For example,
while the Old Testament emphasizes adherence to commandments, Jesus deepens these teachings in
the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), focusing on internal attitudes, such as love and forgiveness,
rather than mere external compliance.

iii.Sacrificial System

The Old Testament law included a sacrificial system for atonement. In the New Testament, Jesus is
portrayed as the ultimate sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1-10), fulfilling the need for sacrifices by offering Himself
once for all. This not only fulfills the law’s requirements but also transforms the understanding of
atonement.

iv.Righteousness Through Faith

The New Testament emphasizes that righteousness comes through faith in Christ rather than through
the works of the law (Romans 3:28). This reflects the prophetic vision in the Old Testament, particularly
in Habakkuk 2:4, where the righteous live by faith.

v.The New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31-34 prophesies a new covenant that God would establish. This is fulfilled in the New
Testament through Christ's establishment of the New Covenant during the Last Supper (Luke 22:20),
which emphasizes internal transformation and the writing of God's laws on hearts rather than on tablets
of stone.

vi.Fulfillment of Prophecy

Numerous prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the coming Messiah and the establishment of
God’s kingdom are fulfilled in the New Testament. Examples include the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14) and the
suffering servant (Isaiah 53), all of which find their realization in Jesus.

vii.Inclusivity of the Law

The New Testament expands the reach of God’s law beyond the Jewish people to include Gentiles (Acts
10; Romans 1:16). This fulfills the Old Testament vision of being a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6).

viii.Transformation of the Law

The New Testament introduces the principle of love as the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10). Jesus
summarizes the law with two commandments: love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40),
indicating a shift from a legalistic to a relational understanding of the law.

ix.Empowerment by the Spirit

In the New Testament, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out the law in a way that was
not possible under the Old Covenant (Romans 8:3-4). This reflects a deeper internalization of the law
where obedience stems from a transformed heart rather than external obligation.

x.Finality of Christ’s Work

The New Testament presents Christ’s work as the culmination of God’s redemptive plan, where the law
serves as a guide leading to Christ (Galatians 3:24). With Christ's coming, the law's role is seen in the
light of His finished work, representing the fulfillment of God's promises.

CONCLUSION

The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament in many ways. The Old Testament foretold
the coming of a Messiah who would save humanity, and the New Testament shows how Jesus Christ
fulfills these prophecies. For example, in the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah speaks of a suffering
servant (Isaiah 53), and this prophecy is fulfilled in the life and death of Jesus (Matthew 27). The Old
Testament also promises a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31), which is realized through Jesus' sacrifice and
the establishment of the new covenant in the Gospels (Luke 22:20). Jesus himself confirms that he came
to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, not to abolish them (Matthew 5:17). Thus, the New Testament
completes what was started in the Old Testament.
REFERENCES

1. The Bible

-New International Version (NIV)

English Standard Version (ESV)

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

2. Books

Wright, N.T. Jesus and the Victory of God. Fortress Press, 1996.

Beale, G.K. The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God.
InterVarsity Press, 2004.

Kaiser, Walter C. The Promise-Plan of God: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments.
Zondervan, 2008.

3. Articles

Wright, N.T. "The New Testament and the People of God." In The New Testament and the People of
God. Fortress Press, 1992.

McGrath, Alister E. "The Relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament."
Themelios*, vol. 30, no. 1, 2005, pp. 5-18.

4. Online Resources

The Bible Project: [BibleProject.com](https://bibleproject.com)

Blue Letter Bible: [BlueLetterBible.org](https://www.blueletterbible.org