Why is the Old Testament Significant?

Last Wednesday we surveyed the roles that women played among God's people in the Old Testament. It was pretty obvious that the the Old Testament reflects a patriarchal culture. By and large, men were the leaders of families. The priesthood was exclusively male, as were most kings, military leaders and prophets. That word, most, however is highly significant. In the midst of a patriarchal culture, God raised up some women to lead his people. Miriam led the Israelites along with Moses and Aaron. Deborah led God's people as a prophet, and as a judge-the highest office in the land. Huldah was a prophet who taught men and women with God's approval. In the Old Testament, women led in worship, served in government, taught Gods word and prayed aloud in the temple.

"But that's the Old Covenant!" we are often heard to say. "We are under the New Covenant of Christ, so the Old has been done away with." For the most part, I agree with that statement. We do serve in the "new and living way" ushered in through the cross. The requirements of the Law have been fulfilled in Christ! However, the Old Testament is still God's word and is preserved for us "for our learning." What we learn about the unchanging GOD in the Old Testament is still true today. We need to know what the Old Testament teaches about the roles of women in order to properly interpret the New Testament scriptures.

Let me give you an example: In 1 Corinthians 14:34 (which we will explore in depth in a couple of weeks, so we won't do that here), Paul told the Corinthian women that they "should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says." (ESV, emphasis mine). Paul, in teaching the Corinthian believers, referenced the Law (Old Testament) as support for this command to the Corinthian church. This passage has been ripped from its context throughout history to prove a point that it did not make--that it could not make unless the Bible contradicts itself, which is does not. Deborah was not silent. Huldah was not silent. Miriam was not silent. Even Sarah, whom Peter uses as an example of a wife's submission to her husband, was not silent. There is no indication that anyone in the Old Testament disputed the leadership of any of the above mentioned because they were women. There is no mention by anyone that somehow Deborah and Huldah (both married women) were being unsubmissive to their husbands by obeying the call of God to serve. On the other hand, none of these women (or any others recorded in the Old Testament) indicated that they resented not being able to join the priesthood. None of them refused to serve as a prophet, judge, or servant because they couldn't serve the Lord as a priest. Remember, there were many men unqualified for the priesthood as well as many many who were not chosen to serve as prophets, kings or judges.

Without understanding God's concept of "submission" as taught in the Old Testament, we are forced to mishandle and misapply scripture to say what it never said. Paul was not commanding total silence upon all women when the church was assembled (read 1 Corinthians 11). His appeal to the Old Testament concept of submission is completely consistent with actual Old Testament practice. Misapplying scripture is always condemned in the Bible. The Old Testament begins with a perfect example of the origin of this manipulation of scripture, which we talked about on the second week of class. When the serpent was tempting Eve, he asked her "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1) The insertion of that small word any was classic manipulation. I'm certainly not suggesting that people who misinterpret scripture always do so out of impure motives. Many times we make honest mistakes as we read and grow. However, when we take the time to study scripture in context, we are not so prone to rash statements and the formulations of commandments which God did not issue. Paul told Timothy to be "a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15)." Paul says that mishandling scripture is "shameful." "Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every one's conscience in the sight of God (2 Corinthians 4:2)." The Old Testament is vital to our understanding of and ability to correctly interpret and apply the New Testament teachings.

This Wednesday we survey the roles of women in the Gospels and in the early churches. I look forward to studying with you!