Lectures by Professor V. Phillips Long
Covenant Theological Seminary
Old Testament narratives comprise about 40% of the OT. II Timothy 3:16 reminds us that all Scripture is useful for doctrine, reproving, correcting and instructing us in righteousness.
This is God's Word to us, not just those in the past. Romans 15:4 & 1 Corinthians 10:11. We are to learn from the OT narratives while not simplifying the account in a way where it is only provided for exemplary modeling.
FOUR REASONS WHY OT NARRATIVES ARE IMPORTANT
1. They Capture the Imagination - Experience is the way we truly come to know something. OT accounts provide vicarious experience. Scripture doesn't always give detailed descriptions but when it does (like Goliath's physique and armor) it calls us to pay attention with our imagination. The text is inviting us to consider God within the situation. God is more powerful than human strength. God doesn't just give us propositions. He gives us narrative to teach propositions.
2. They Show Us Redemptive History - Christianity is a historical religion. The OT is a history of God breaking into human history to save us. Historicity is important. Truths of redemption are not established by fictional stories. Truths of redemption are shown in real history. Since the enlightenment, it has been argued that history only has natural or human causation. God has been removed. Scripture shows that God is involved in history.
3. They Reveals Who Christ Is - The OT historical narratives provide us essential information for understanding the salvific work of Jesus. This was Jesus' Bible from which He learned. We are not process theologians believing that God changes through process. In His divinity, He is immutable, yet in His humanity, Jesus experienced the world as we have. He grew in wisdom and in stature, in favor with God and men.
4. They Are Important for Apologetics - Archaeology should match the historical truth claims of Scripture. We should be concerned if they don't.
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