INTRODUCTION

The outlook, content, and language of the New Testament (NT) are largely determined by the Old Testament Scriptures (OT). It is therefore pertinent to ask in what ways these Scriptures are utilized in the NT. The topic is so vast, however, that only a few aspects can be included in this essay.

The overall picture is that the Scriptures are used in various forms of expression, such as explicit quotations, allusions, and retelling of stories. Many of the explicit quotations are introduced by a formula phrase, such as ‘as it is written …’. Romans 1.17 may serve as an example: …‘ as it is written, “He who through faith is righteous shall live” [Hab. 2.4]’. Corresponding formulae occur in Jewish writings. In the Gospels of Matthew and John some of the introductory formulae state that a scriptural passage has been fulfilled, such as for example in Matt. 2.15: ‘This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son” [Hos 11.1]’.A similar understanding of the Scriptures existed in the Qumran community (Stendahl 1954, p. 35). They thought that the present was the eschatological time and saw the history of their community to be the fulfilment of prophecy.