The One Testament Bible

Today, I invite you on a journey that could reshape the way we approach and perceive the Holy Scriptures. Imagine, if you will, cradling your cherished Bible in your hands. Feel the gentle rustle of the pages as you thumb through them, their texture familiar and comforting. As you reach the beginning of the Old Testament, you pause. And then, with a deep breath, you make a courageous decision.

With a firm yet respectful hand, you remove the page that marks the beginning of the Old Testament, that arbitrary boundary we've always known. As it falls away, you continue, through Genesis and Daniel to Malachi. There you find the page that marks the beginning of the New Testament, another artificial boundary, and you remove it also and let it float to the floor. Now, in your hands, your Bible doesn't lose anything of its essence, but it has been transformed.

Instead of two collections of books, you now hold a singular, vast, and continuous narrative. Not divided, not disjointed, but unified in its rhythm and purpose.

Imagine turning the pages from the tales of the Exodus, with Moses guiding the Israelites through the wilderness. Then, as you turn the page, you land centuries later into the reign of King David. These leaps in time and context happen within our cherished Book, yet we scarcely blink an eye. It is not another testament, but a continuation of the same testament.

But consider the similar jump of roughly 400 years from the book of Malachi to the opening of Matthew. You have, perhaps unjustly, always accepted this as the end of one story and the beginning of another. The Old versus the New. Yet, it is all one testament, that of our God. That blip of 400 years may be huge for you, but it is as nothing to Him.

Our familiar Old and New Testaments are now morphed into a seamless and uninterrupted flow. Imagine this narrative like a grand river, made up of many streams, each contributing their narratives, prophecies, wisdom literature, and apostolic writings. This majestic river, with its diverse tributaries, is now a single narrative.

And what does this narrative reveal? An extraordinary, unbroken picture of God's interaction with humankind from the dawn of creation to the eventual redemption and the final victory. It's the same story, the same truth, but we're simply changing our lens, shifting our focus to see the grandeur of God's testament in its full, uninterrupted glory.

We call this concept “The Testament of God”. The Bible becomes one testament, one chronicle of God's story. This unity isn't a newly discovered invention but a reflection of the inherent oneness that has always existed. There's no concrete division, no impermeable wall separating Old from New, just a continuation of the divine narrative.

The story begins with Divine Beginnings, where the universe takes its first breath and mankind steps onto the stage. Then we voyage through the Israelite Chronicles, a saga of a chosen nation's trials, triumphs, and testimonies. We hear the thundering voices in the Prophetic Oracles, the divine messengers echoing God's promises, warnings, and hope.

The narrative then shifts into the First Advent, a shining beacon in history marking the arrival, ministry, and ultimate sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Apostolic Writings follow, illuminating the path of early Christians with the wisdom and guidance of Christ's closest followers. Finally, we find ourselves at the precipice of the Visionary Apocalypse, a stunning prophetic vista of God's final triumph over evil.

This section commences with the Genesis account, a poetic and profound narrative painting the grandeur of creation. It unfolds the creation of the heavens and the earth, humanity and all living creatures, punctuated by God's declaration that it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31) ¹⁾. But the serenity doesn't last long. We witness the fall of man, the tragic choice of disobedience that resulted in separation from God (Genesis 3:6-7). Yet, even amidst the consequence of sin, we see glimmers of hope - the foundation of God's redemptive plan, the promise of a Savior who would crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15).

The Israelite Chronicles incorporates historical books like Exodus, Judges, Kings, and Chronicles, documenting the dramatic journey of the Israelites, God's chosen people. It recounts their miraculous liberation from Egyptian bondage, led by the steadfast Moses (Exodus 14:21-22). It captures their cycles of sin and deliverance during the tumultuous time of the Judges (Judges 2:11-16). The Chronicles paint vivid pictures of the reigns of kings, from the righteous David (2 Samuel 5:3) to the wise Solomon, and even the notoriously wicked Ahab (1 Kings 16:30). It's a saga of trials, triumphs, and the unfolding of God's covenant with His people.

The Prophetic Oracles present the writings of prophets, chosen instruments of God's divine messages. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, among others, were tasked with delivering messages that ranged from stern warnings about Israel's disobedience (Isaiah 1:4), promises of hope and restoration (Jeremiah 29:11), and even glimpses of the Messiah's coming (Isaiah 9:6). Their words continue to resonate, echoing the timeless truth of God's sovereignty and faithfulness.

The First Advent spotlights the fulfillment of the prophetic promises - the long-awaited arrival of the Messiah. The birth of Jesus in the humble surroundings of a manger (Luke 2:7), His ministry of healing and teaching (Matthew 9:35), the ultimate sacrifice on the cross (Matthew 27:50), and the glorious resurrection (Matthew 28:5-6) are key events in this pivotal chapter. This is the heart of the Testament of God, where redemption and love intertwine.

The Apostolic Writings are the teachings of Christ's apostles. They interpret and apply the life and teachings of Jesus in the context of the burgeoning early church. From the powerful sermon on Pentecost by Peter (Acts 2:14-39) to Paul's insightful letters addressing various Christian communities' challenges (e.g., Romans 8:38-39), these writings have been providing invaluable guidance for Christians of all generations.

Finally, we reach the Visionary Apocalypse, traditionally known as the book of Revelation. Penned by John, this apocalyptic vision transcends time and space, offering a stunning glimpse into the future and the ultimate triumph of God over evil (Revelation 21:4). It provides hope, reminding believers of the glorious promise of God's eternal kingdom.

By envisioning the whole Bible as “The Testament of God,” we are invited to view Scripture as a seamless whole rather than two separate parts. The threads of this grand tapestry are woven together through the ages, creating a picture of divine unity and purpose.

Take, for example, God's promise to Abraham about his descendants being as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5). That promise is reaffirmed in the New Testament, where those who have faith are called Abraham's spiritual descendants (Galatians 3:7).

Consider the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 of a virgin conceiving and bearing a son. This prophecy finds its fulfillment in the New Testament account of Jesus's miraculous birth (Matthew 1:22-23).

Look at the commandment in Leviticus 19:18 to love one's neighbor as oneself. This command is reiterated by Jesus in the Gospels, as He declares it one of the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:39).

Or reflect on the Psalms, where the cry of the psalmist in Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” is echoed on the cross by Jesus during His crucifixion (Matthew 27:46).

These are just a few of the countless examples that illustrate how the so-called Old and New Testaments support and fulfill each other, affirming the oneness of God's Word.

The Bible, as the unified Testament of God, continues to serve as our reliable guide for faith and practice. Regardless of how we categorize its sections, the Word remains constant: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

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