Personal Views on the Scriptures and Other Things: Time between the Testaments

Time between the Testaments April 25, 2015

When did the Old Testament end?

When did the New Testament start?

Which is the last book of the Old Testament?

Any Scripture between last book and first book of the New Testament?

Who decide what books go into the new and Old Testament?

Time line between books.

When Did The Old Testament End?

The Old Testament did not end until John the Baptist. There were writings between Malachi and Matthew, but they were not included into the inspired word since they are not considered part of the Holy Scriptures and inspired by God.

That’s about 485 years. Were there other prophets during that time? Would Jesus be the first prophet since the Old Testament, or would John the Baptist be the first?

Jesus said that John was not part of the Church. Then He said the Law and Prophets (Old Testament) prophesied until John. In effect this made John the last of the Old Testament prophets. John called himself a friend of the Bridegroom, implying he was not part of the Bride

Luke 16:15-17 NKJV And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. (16) "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. (17) And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

John 3:27-29 NKJV John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. (28) You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.' (29) He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

Mat 11:7-13 NKJV As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (8) But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. (9) But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. (10) For this is he of whom it is written: 'BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER BEFORE YOUR FACE, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.' (11) "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (12) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. (13) For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Are there any inspired Scriptures between the last book and first book of the New Testament

Yes there were writings between Malachi and Matthew, but they were not included into the inspired word since they are not considered part of the Holy Scriptures. We have writings called the Apocrypha.

The vast majority of Hebrew scholars considered the Apocrypha to be good historical and religious documents, but not on the same level as the Hebrew Scriptures.

The term “canon” is used to describe the books that are divinely inspired and therefore belong in the Bible. The canon of Scripture refers to the books that are considered the authority of the Word of God. The problem is that the Bible does not give us a list of which books belong in the Bible. God inspires individuals by the Spirit.

Cannon of the Old Testament

We know that Jesus our Lord directed Jewish Rabbis which books belong in the Bible.

The final collection was established in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah; from Genesis to Ezra time, closed with the book of Malachi, over 3500 years.

Book of Chronicles is the last book of the Hebrew Old Testament. Not in the same order, like our Bible.

Jesus defined the Hebrew Scriptures as comprising three major sections

Luke 24:44 NKJV Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

The first book of the writings, is Psalms. (see chart)

The first time the Old Testament was canonized was when Moses Canonized the Law, the Torah.

Deut 31:9 NKJV So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.

It would be over 400 years later before another canonization took place. King David and King Solomon reign. The only reason for adding certain literature to the already existing documents of the Law was the establishment of the permanent Temple, with its elaborate services, and the expanded type of religious society that accompanied it.

King Hezekiah canonize additional books.

2 Chron 32:32 NKJV Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, indeed they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

Daniel was of the king’s seed and of royal stock, and was given a very high position in Babylon. God had to preserve the various books during the period of captivity.

Dan 1:3 NKJV Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king's descendants and some of the nobles,

The Prophet Daniel was a very important link to the story of biblical canonization because he was the responsible person through whom the divine documents of the Temple were preserved at Babylon. This enabled those official documents to be returned to Jerusalem by Ezra in later years.

Look at

Dan 1:4 NKJV young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

Possessing knowledge refers to the young men's previous education.

Part of what Daniel was chosen to do was to be involved with the library and later became chief librarian in the court of Nebuchadnezzar at Babylon. The nature of Daniel’s work brought him into contact with all types of literature that existed at the time. This included works that had been rescued or taken from the Temple at Jerusalem. He was familiar with:

Dan 1:17 NKJV As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Dan 2:48 NKJV Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel had access to these books.

The Law of Moses

Dan 9:11 NKJV Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him.

The prophecies of “Jeremiah the Prophet”

The prophetic “books” of Israel

Dan 9:2 NKJV in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

There was also a work called “The Scripture of Truth”

Dan 10:21 NKJV But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.

The final canonization was done by Ezra and those one hundred and twenty priests who comprised the Great Assembly. This is where we have the Old Testament before us.

Paul called the Old Testament, Holy Scriptures.

2 Tim 3:15 NKJV and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

There was some discussion over the canon of the Old Testament. Hebrew believers recognized God’s messengers and accepted their writings as inspired of God. While there was undeniably some debate in regards to the Old Testament canon, by A.D. 250 there was nearly universal agreement on the canon of Hebrew Scripture.

No additional material was ever included in the canonical twenty-two books during the centuries from 425 B.C. to 90 A.D. since from the time of Ezra.

Jesus spoke of Scriptures as being complete. He said to the religious rulers

Luke 24:44 NKJV Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

Cannon of the New Testament

Peter recognized Paul’s writings as Scripture

2 Peter 3:15-16 NKJV and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, (16) as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

Some of the books of the New Testament were being circulated among the churches

Col 4:16 NKJV Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

1Th 5:27 NKJV I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

Clement of Rome mentioned at least eight New Testament books (A.D. 95).

Ignatius of Antioch acknowledged about seven books (A.D. 115) on his way to be thrown to the lions..

Polycarp, a disciple of John the apostle, acknowledged 15 books (A.D. 108).

Irenaeus mentioned 21 books (A.D. 185).

Hippolytus recognized 22 books (A.D. 170-235).

The books of Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 John, and 3 John were the New Testament books that were receiving the most concern.

In A.D. 363, the Council of Laodicea stated that only the Old Testament (along with the Apocrypha) and the 27 books of the New Testament were to be read in the churches.

The Council of Hippo (A.D. 393) and the Council of Carthage (A.D. 397) also affirmed the same 27 books as authoritative.

Within 150 years of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the core writings that were later included in the New Testament were already deemed authoritative by early Christians.

How did the various councils determine whether a New Testament book was truly inspired by the Holy Spirit:

1) Was the author an apostle or have a close connection with an apostle?

2) Is the book being accepted by the body of Christ at large?

3) Did the book contain consistency of doctrine and orthodox teaching?

4) Did the book bear evidence of high moral and spiritual values that would reflect a work of the Holy Spirit?

The final test is the acceptance of the people of God. Jesus told His disciples:

John 14:26 NKJV But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Do Jews and Christians use the same Old Testament?

The Old Testament consists of thirty-nine books according to the Protestant reckoning but only twenty-four according to the Jewish reckoning.

The books are the same; the difference is in the way they are divided.

The Hebrew Bible combines books and the books are identical, the only difference is in the way they are divided. (see Chart)

My personal view on why they are different:

One of the reason the Western and Eastern Christians did not want anything to do the Jews, is why they changed the layout of the Bible, because of other things.

The 400 years plus timeline between the Old and New Testaments

As we covered somewhat before, as the Old Testament book writings came to a close by the canonization of the Scriptures, Ezra set the nation of Judah again on the right course in the land that God gave them after the Babylonian captivity. Judah was under the domination of Persia and in Jerusalem, the temple had been restored, along with the wall around the city.

The temple is still the center of Jewish worship, but now small synagogues was started in every Jewish city and become the center of Jewish life. This is when the Pharisees and Sadducees and the smaller group, the Essenes came into being.

This time period is known as the silent years.

Gal 4:4 NKJV But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

God appointed the hour and time of our Lord’s birth, meaning fullness of the time had come.

We really have to look at historic events during this time to understand what happen.

We know from other studies, the Book of Daniel covers what happens during this time, about the major nations involved. Babylon, Persian, Alexander the Great, four generals divided Alexander Empire between them. Now Egypt rule over Jerusalem.

This is when the Pharisees, which means “to separate” and they wanted to preserve traditions and they became legalistic and rigid in their requirements. We know what Jesus said about them, some very strong words.

The Sadducees, the liberals, turned away from the strict interpretations of the law. They did not believe in the supernatural, ex. resurrection.

Interesting, the Scriptures shows many Pharisees becoming Christians, but there is no record of a Sadducee became a Christian.

Around 284 B.C., when Jerusalem was under Egypt control, the Hebrew Scriptures were translated for the first time into Greek from Hebrew. A group of 70 scholars was called together by the Egyptian king to make a translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. Book by book they translated the Old Testament into Greek. When they had finished, it was given the name of the Septuagint, which means 70, because of the number of translators. This became the Greek version of the Hebrew Bible.

From it many of the quotations in the New Testament are derived. That is why New Testament quotations of Old Testament verses are sometimes in different words -- because they come from the Greek translation. The Septuagint is still in existence today. The Eastern Church uses the Septuagint as the textual basis for the entire Old Testament.

Protestants and Catholics use the Masoretic Text as the textual basis for their translations. The Masoretic Text was primarily copied, edited and distributed by a group of Jews between the 7th and 10th centuries.

Around 203 - 167 B.C., Syria captured Jerusalem from the Egyptians. Syria replaced the high priest and sold high priest position to individuals.

Interesting, Jerusalem has been taken over more than 27 times in history.

Around 171 B.C. the Jews overthrew the false priest. Syria came back and killed over 40,000 people and sacrifices a pig in the Holy of Holies.

Matt 24:15 NKJV “Therefore when you see the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),

167 B.C. this is where the Book of Maccabees comes in. They overthrew the Syrian, capture Jerusalem and cleansed or rededicated the Temple. This is why the Jews today celebrate the Feast of Dedication, and happen of Dec 25.

John 10:22 NKJV Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.

Jerusalem signed a treaty with Rome in case they were attacked by Syria.

Around 63 B.C. Rome entered Jerusalem with a terrible slaughter, overthrew the city and captures it for Rome. There were brothers appointed kings, one in Galilee and one in Judea. The one in Judea was, as we know him, was Herod the Great. Now we have the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

Matt 2:1 NKJV Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,

We know that our Lord Creator works out His purpose in history of around Jerusalem. We know God has already said all that needs to be said, through the Old and New Testaments until Jesus returns to the earth. Some books are not complete, example, the Book of Acts.

Act 28:30-31 NKJV Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, (31) preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

No final greetings or ending to the book, more to be added later.

Charts

When we look at the total time line, the 400 years is not very much.

I hope I do not come across as dogmatic, I am presenting what I believe and ask each of us to study it and form our own conclusion. I was told when I was young, not to believe in what I was told, but to challenge it and prove it from the Scriptures.

Act 17:11 NKJV These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

The Hebrew Bible books layout

The Five Books of Moses