Sixth, from a comparison of the Old and New Testaments.
Sixth, from a comparison of the Old and New Testaments.
§ 420. (VI) From a comparison of the Old and New Testaments. Whatever is compared to an open book cannot be sealed shut and obscure. Yet the New Testament is compared to an open book in Rev. 5:5. Therefore it cannot be sealed shut and obscure. If the prophetic speech of the Old Testament is compared to a lamp because of its perspicuity in handing down the things one must know for salvation, much more will the apostolic speech of the New Testament be clear. The first is true (2 Pet. 1:19), therefore so also is the latter. We prove the logical connection. Those things that were set forth more obscurely in the Old Testament were revealed more clearly in the New Testament after a brighter light came near. Augustine, q. 73 on Exodus: “The New Testament lies hidden in the Old; the Old is revealed in the New.” De catechiz. rudib., c. 5: “The Old Testament is the concealment of the New.” Contra Faustum, bk. 15, c. 4: “The Old Testament is the prophecy of the New.” Therefore after that manifestation and explanation of the Old Testament came near, Scripture will no longer be able to be called obscure.
Bellarmine makes this exception: “The difference between the Old and New Testaments consists in this: At that time people did not understand both the statements of Scripture and the mysteries of Christ because all things were covered with figures (Isaiah 29); but in the New Testament, Christ has fulfilled the figures and prophecies, and now, though many do not understand the statements of Scripture, they nevertheless understand the mysteries of redemption.” He also adds: “We must still pray that the Lamb will open the book because of the difficulty of Scripture.”
We respond. (1) Although among the people of the Old Testament there was not as great a light of comprehension of the mysteries of Christ as there is among the people of the New Testament, yet one must not barely and simply claim that they did not know the mysteries of Christ (which had, in addition to their obscure figures, the clear prophecies of the prophets from which even the figures received some light). If the devout of the Old Testament had been completely ignorant of the mysteries of Christ, from what source could they have obtained salvation? (See Acts 4:12; 15:11; Heb. 13:8.) (2) If the Scripture of the New Testament is like an open book concerning the mysteries of Christ, it certainly explains clearly those matters that all people must know for their salvation. After all, it is impossible for one who knows the mysteries of Christ to be lacking anything that he must know for his salvation. (3) Prayers for a salutary understanding of Scripture do not prove an obscurity of Scripture in handing down the dogmas of faith, but rather they prove the darkness and blindness of our minds in spiritual matters.