March 3

As was stated in class, there are two different interpretations of fulfillment in the Bible. There is one interpretation stating that the Old Testament announces what will come in the future, but this is only the minority of what fulfillment is in the Bible. The majority of fulfillment in the Bible is that scripture discerns in history the pattern of God’s actions and the shape of things to come. As stated in the readings, “fulfillment does not seek after an almost photographic correspondence to the words of the past. Rather, the Scriptures present the abiding form of God’s providence, and if Jesus is their fulfillment, he is so because he realizes in himself the whole of God’s work in Israel” (Scribes of the Kingdom 1). This reiterates that fulfillment is not predicted in the Old Testament, but rather, that things come together in God’s plan and is ultimately fulfilled. Matthew incorporates Hosea as well stating that Jesus is the real fulfillment that the people need and that Jesus is the ultimate goal for the people to be fulfilled.

We see in Matthew 1 that the Bible is following the genealogy of Abraham. This goes back to the Old Testament showing that his covenant will offer him numerous descendants and a blessed line of people. Also Joseph is about to make a decision altering God’s plan and God sends a messenger to help guide Joseph to stay on God’s path. This happens many times in the Old Testament. The Israelites would start to drift away from the plan and God would send an angel or a burning bush to remind them of their duty.

In Luke 1, it starts with God granting Zechariah a son. This is similar to Abraham and Sarah because they tried to have a son but could not so they prayed to God. In both instances, by the people’s faith and trust in God they are able to have a son.