Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope and overflow with confidence in His promises. |
Bible Question: How do I put into eloquent words the relevance of the Old Testament to my relative, who sees only death and vulgarity in it? They cannot reconcile the God of the Old Testament with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. |
Bible Answer: When the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans he said in Rom 15:4 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." The only scriptures available to the Romans at the time of Paul's writting were the Old testament writtings. Paul states that these Old Testament scriptures were written for our learning or education. The Old testament prophecies of a coming Messiah and is filled with hope for the Isrealites and us to look forward to and appreciate Christ's coming. Today the Old Testament scriptures are like a large road sign posted on our highway of life directing us to Christ. Christ came, suffered, bled, died and raised from the dead and absolutely fulfilled all Old Testament prophecies of the then coming Messiah. That same Paul who knew the Old Testament scriptures well (Act 22:3) said in Colossians 2:8-14 that Christ took the Old Testament law out of the way and nailed that Old Law to his cross. In Ephesians 2:14-15 Paul said Christ abolished "even the law of commandments contained in ordinances (Old Law) for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace. In our current dispensation of time, we find our route to salvation in the New Testament scriptures. We learn from the Old Testament scriptures and gain strength and hope when we understand and realize that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled every single prophecy written therein. May God bless our hope and understanding. |