The Old Testament: Value and Necessity for Christians
The Old Testament is necessary and useful for Christians, not merely proper to the Jews; its rejection is heretical, and its study yields rich fruit in faith, morals, history, and typology. The same truth and authority must be attributed to Moses as to Paul, for whoever mutilates Scripture mutilates theology.
Preface and Praise of Sacred Scripture
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Section Two: On the Use and Fruit of the Pentateuch and the Old Testament
— Some hold the Old Testament is proper to Jews and not necessary for Christians; this is a practical error that, if speculative, would be heresy.
"There are some who hold that the Old Testament is, as it were, proper to the Jews and not equally useful or necessary for Christians... This persuasion, because it is practical, is a practical error; for if it were speculative, it would be heresy"
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Arguments for the Old Testament
— Paul praises Timothy for learning the Sacred Letters from infancy: "All Scripture divinely inspired is profitable for teaching, reproving, correcting, instructing in justice."
"All Scripture divinely inspired is profitable for teaching, for reproving, for correcting, for instructing in justice, that the man of God may be perfect, equipped for every good work"
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Arguments for the Old Testament
— The Holy Trinity preserved the Old Testament for four thousand years through storms of wars because He willed it to be read by us.
"to what end did the Holy Trinity preserve the Old Testament for four thousand years, so sound and intact, through so many storms of wars and kingdoms — unless because He willed it to be read by us"
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Sacred Writers as Pens of the Holy Spirit
— The same truth, authority, reverence, and diligence must be attributed to Moses as to Paul; whoever mutilates Scripture mutilates theology.
"the same truth, authority, reverence, zeal, and diligence must be attributed to Moses as to Paul, or rather to the Holy Spirit speaking through Moses and through Paul"