What did the Saints have to say about how the Old and New Testaments are Linked through Christ



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Absolutely! Here's an expanded look at the quotes, their likely meaning, and supporting scriptural references:

  1. St. Augustine of Hippo: "The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New."

    • Meaning: Augustine suggests that the Old Testament contains prefigurements and prophecies of Christ, which are fully revealed and understood in the New Testament.
    • Scripture: Luke 24:27 (Jesus explains the Scriptures concerning himself)

  2. St. Irenaeus of Lyons: "The Scriptures are perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit."

    • Meaning: Irenaeus affirms the divine inspiration and authority of both the Old and New Testaments as the unified word of God.
    • Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16 (All Scripture is God-breathed)

  3. St. Jerome: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."

    • Meaning: Jerome emphasizes that a deep understanding of both Testaments is crucial for knowing Christ, as the Old Testament points to him, and the New Testament reveals him.
    • Scripture: John 5:39 (The Scriptures testify about Jesus)

  4. St. Thomas Aquinas: "The Old Testament is a prophecy of the New, and the New Testament is a key to the Old."

    • Meaning: Aquinas articulates the complementary relationship between the two Testaments: the Old foretells Christ's coming, while the New interprets and fulfills the Old.
    • Scripture: Hebrews 10:1 (The law is only a shadow of the good things to come)

  5. St. John Chrysostom: "The Old Testament is a concealed revelation of the New, and the New Testament is a revealed unveiling of the Old."

    • Meaning: Chrysostom highlights the gradual unfolding of God's plan. The Old Testament hints at the coming of Christ, while the New Testament reveals him clearly.
    • Scripture: Colossians 1:26 (The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations)

  6. St. Gregory the Great: "The Old Testament is the promise, the New Testament is the fulfillment."

    • Meaning: Gregory identifies the Old Testament as God's promise of salvation, which is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
    • Scripture: Acts 13:23 (God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus)

  7. St. Ephrem the Syrian: "The Old Testament is the root, the New Testament is the flower."

    • Meaning: Ephrem uses a botanical metaphor to describe the organic connection between the Testaments. The Old Testament provides the foundation, while the New Testament blossoms from it.
    • Scripture: Romans 11:17-18 (Gentiles are grafted into the same olive tree as Israel)

  8. St. Bernard of Clairvaux: "The Old Testament is the shadow, the New Testament is the reality."

    • Meaning: Bernard draws a contrast between the Old Testament as a foreshadowing and the New Testament as the full revelation of God's truth in Christ.
    • Scripture: Colossians 2:17 (These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.)

  9. St. Bonaventure: "The Old Testament is the preparation, the New Testament is the consummation."

    • Meaning: Bonaventure views the Old Testament as laying the groundwork for the New Testament, which completes and perfects God's plan of salvation.
    • Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-15 (Christ is the mediator of a new covenant)

  10. St. Hildegard of Bingen: "The Old Testament is the letter, the New Testament is the spirit."

  • Meaning: Hildegard distinguishes between the literal words of the Old Testament and the spiritual meaning revealed through Christ in the New Testament.
  • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:6 (The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life)
  1. St. Teresa of Avila: "The Old Testament is the foundation, the New Testament is the edifice."
  • Meaning: Teresa sees the Old Testament as the groundwork upon which the New Testament's teachings and the Christian life are built.
  • Scripture: Ephesians 2:20 (Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone)  
  1. St. John of the Cross: "The Old Testament is the night, the New Testament is the day."
  • Meaning: John uses the metaphor of light and darkness to illustrate the contrast between the partial revelation of the Old Testament and the full revelation of God in Christ in the New Testament.
  • Scripture: John 8:12 (I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness)

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