Promise and Fulfillment: The Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments, Vol. 8 (Letter and Spirit)

I have purchased other volumes in this series, which were very high quality. This volume contains ten essays that give detailed explanations of various biblical themes that span the Old and New Testaments. The first paper by Dr. Scott Hahn details how the death of Jesus was required because the Sinai covenant had been broken. His death was required by the terms of that covenant. Jesus also establishes a new covenant by his death. Another essay explores how the NT establishes a new temple, a new priesthood, and a new cult of worship, that were foretold by the OT.Overall, the essays demonstrate that there is a lot of literary structure in the New Testament that is a fulfillment (as the subtitle says) of Old Testament "types." This book is much deeper analysis than the 2005 Pontifical Biblical Commission document entitled The Jewish People and their Scriptures in the Christian Bible -- giving much greater attention to key, critical themes connecting the Old and New Testaments.244 pages. My slow reading time was two days in all my spare moments. Couldn't put this book down for very long.

Letter & Spirit Vol.8. Promise and Fulfillment, Is one of the best selection of biblical scholars (Hahn, Sri, Barber,Eubank, Holmes, Innerst, and the like) to present in very clear terms the unity of purpose that exists throughout each of the sacred books, of the Holy Scriptures, beginning with with Moses and all the prophets, and including all of the Scriptures. No more doubts on the Old Testament regarding Jesus - the Old Testament lead us to Jesus.

It seems that everything Scott Hahn is involved with has blessings by God, for others through Dr. Hahn and his associates. This is no exception.Blessings

Scott Hahn and his brilliant group of professional theologians are continually opening up faithful avenues of understanding about sacred Scripture. Read everything you can get from him!

Just what was wanted.. A clear and comprehensive link helping you see how it all comes together in a simple way

pending reading

Promise and Fulfillment is the 8th Volume in the Letter and Spirit series. For those of you unfamiliar with the Letter and Spirit series, it is an annual journal series of Catholic Biblical Theology with Dr. Scott Hahn as the editor. I am proud to say that I own all released volumes, and the first thing I do when I receive the volume is flip it over and read the list of contributors on the back cover. Like the volumes before it, Promise and Fulfillment contains articles by Dr. Hahn, Dr. Edward Sri, Dr. Sean Innerst, and Dr. Brant Pitre to name a few. I knew from those names alone that this Volume was not going to disappoint.The whole of this volume addresses the Old Testament and New Testament, how they relate to each other, and how the New Testament fulfills the Old Testament. For example, Dr. Pitre talks about Jesus' Messianic Wedding Banquet and compares it to a banquet thrown by King Hezekiah in 2nd Chronicles. Dr. Sri discusses the Marian typology of Mary as Daughter Zion and Queen Mother. Both of these can be found in numerous Old Testament passages. Particularly of interest to me in this article was the idea of Queen Mother. I have recently learned that in ancient times, because the king had numerous wives, but only one mother, the mother was in fact the queen, not a wife. For that reason, Jesus' queen would be His own mother, Mary. Explaining this to Protestants might open their minds and hearts more to Mary and hopefully erase some of their prejudices.It's hard to pick a favorite article in this volume as each was well-written and full of high theology. However, I did enjoy reading Dr. Leroy Huizenga's article, "The Tradition of Christian Allegory Yesterday and Today." I learned about the School of Alexandria and their use of Christian allegory several years ago and have been fascinated by it every since. Unfortunately, most Christian scholars look down on allegory, so it was refreshing to read a modern-day defense of it. Dr. Huizenga wasn't saying that we should abandon all other forms of interpretation, nor was he saying to use only the the historical-critical method. Instead, he advocates use of the four senses method described in the Catechism paragraphs 115-119 and shows the use of allegorical interpretation in the West from Sts. Irenaeus, Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas. He also spends some time highlighting allegorical passages in the New Testament, particularly Luke 24:13-35, which deals with Jesus on the road to Emmaus.Promise and Fulfillment may only be 245 pages, but it packs a punch. You can tell that each article was carefully researched and written to provide the reader a detailed link between the Old and New Testament. Like the previous volumes in this journal series, it is worthy of a 5-star rating. However, it is not for the beginning Catholic to pick up and read. This food is spiritual meat for the advanced Catholic looking to grow deeper and more fully in his understanding of the Catholic faith. Therefore, if you pick up this journal, I recommend a slow and careful chewing so that you may fully digest every word.