Page 44 - Bible Writers Theology Original

28 ♦ fiSUe IHHters'Theofogy Chapter Hum
The Old Testament was written by the prophets, as the books themselves suggest (n Samuel 23:1-2; I Kings 4:29-32; Acts 2:29-30) and the New Testeiment by apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20; 3:5), with God con firming their words (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4; 12:18-21; Acts 6:8; 5:12; Romans 15:18-19).
A The Old Testament Canon
Of all the sources, the New Testament is certainly the highest authority availableforvalidatingtheOldTestamentcanon,which includes the thirty- nine books fromGenesis to Malachi. Malachi points, in its final statement, to John the Baptist (Malachi 4:5-6, Luke 1:13-17), And since the New Testament era starts with the ministry of this prophet, this fact could be used as proof ofthe absence ofany divinely inspired and authoritative literature during the inter-testamental period.
Speaking of the fulfillment of scripture, Jesus mentioned the three-fold Jewish classification of the Old Testament: "the Law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms...." (Luke 24:44). It seems that Christ was both nukingallusiontothefirstandlastbooksoftheOld Testament, when He recalled the martyrs from Abel to Zechariah thus endorsing the Jewish
Canon (Luke 11:51; II Chronicles 24:20-22), There are numerous prophecies intheOldTestament aboutJesus Christ. TheNew Testament quotes numer ous references word for word from the Old Testament, and refers to inci dents mentioned therein (Luke 24:27).
The apostles also made extensive use of the Old Testament to explain to the Jews and Gentiles the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies and the New Covenant (See Acts 1:16; 2:16-21; 25-28; 4:11; 7:2-53; 8:30-35; 10:43;
13:16-23,33-41,47; 17:2-3; 28:25-27.)
B The New Testament Canon
The New Testament Canon includes twenty-seven books bearing apos tolic authority ofPeter, John, Matthew, Paul and James (Acts 10:39-42; Acts 1:1-9, 21-22; John 15:27; I Corinthians 15:8-9; Galatians 1:11-12; 2:7-9; Galatians 1:19; Acts 15:13; 21:17-18; I Corinthians 15:7), and their close co- workers, Mark, Luke, Jude and the writer of Hebrews, which many believe tobePaul. Allwereundisputedlyqualifiedauthors. (SeeIPeter5:13;Mark 14:51-52; Acts 1:1-2; Philemon 24; Acts 16:11; II Timothy 4:11; Mark 13:35;
Jude 1; Hebrews 13:23; I Timothy 1:2.)
The eyewitness apostles were personally called and commissioned by