[Negative conclusions.]
[Negative conclusions.]
§ 121. From these [passages] we draw the following negative conclusions. (1) The term “old testament” must not be understood concerning the books of the Old Testament in the same way and sense as the term is used in 2 Cor. 3:14, that is, to refer to the books of Moses, of the Psalms, and of the prophets, which the Savior establishes as the classes of books of the Old Testament (Luke 24:44). The reason is obvious, since the old testament has grown old and has been abrogated, but the books of the Old Testament are still read in the church.
(2) The nature of the old testament is not to be sought in the doctrine that was taught in the Israelite church before Christ. The reason is that at the time of the Old Testament not only the Law but also the Gospel about the grace of God, the forgiveness of sins, and the eternal life that was going to be given to those who believed in Christ the Mediator sounded forth.
(3) The old testament is not to be defined from the doctrine of the Law considered in and of itself. The reason is that the old testament was established at the time of Moses and today has become antiquated. But the teaching of the Law is God’s eternal and immutable will, engraved at creation itself into the hearts of the first people and liable to no abrogation or growing old. Let the same thing be understood from the contrary sense, that is, about the new testament: because this is not to be understood in regard to the books of the New Testament—that is, the evangelical and apostolic writings; nor the teaching that sounds in the Christian church now that Christ has been revealed; nor the very teaching of the Gospel considered in and of itself.
(4) The substance of both testaments is not one and the same. For besides the fact that two different and diametrically opposed testaments are enumerated (Jer. 31:31; Gal. 4:24), it also must be noted that the old was hallowed by the blood of sacrifices, but the new by the blood of Christ Himself, a type of whom had gone before in the old testament.