Do We Still Need the Old Testament? | If So, Why and What Does It Mean?

Some today think that the Old Testament has nothing left to contribute to the church in these modern times. Paul argues the opposite. He says that those things ‘happened’ to Israel and ‘were written down’ FOR US because we are living in the most important age - the last one. In the ancient Christian Church, the question of whether it is permissible to eat meat that has been used in pagan sacrifices was a serious one. Christians today tend to think this was a minor problem because of the secular nature of modern society. Commentator Charles Hodge helps us with contextualization: “The idolatry of the Greeks and Romans pervaded their whole life. Their social intercourse, their feasts, the administration of justice, the public amusement, the offices and honors of the government, were all more or less connected with religious services. Christians, therefore, were constantly exposed to the danger of being involved in some idolatrous homage without even knowing it.” p.137, Geneva Series Commentary. Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapters 8-10, is responding to this question. We quickly see that the issue is many-faceted and has modern implications.