Journal: Journal for Baptist Theology & Ministry
Volume: JBTM 20:2 (Fall 2023)
Article: Preaching The Old Testament In The New Testament: An Intertextual Method
Author: Charlie Ray III

Preaching The Old Testament In The New Testament: An Intertextual Method

Charlie Ray III

Charlie Ray III is Assistant Professor of New Testament and Greek at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Pastor at Immanuel Community Church in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Introduction

“I feel the need, the need for speed.” “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” “I see dead people.” Quotes have a powerful ability to evoke emotions and to call to mind larger stories with just a few words, but the intended force of a quotation is not always apparent to every reader. Interpreters must consider at least two factors when discerning the force of a quotation. First, the use of a quotation requires shared knowledge. The force of the first quote above will be felt most by those who watched Top Gun while dreaming of flying F-14s. Any dread inspired by the phrase “I see dead people” is dependent on the reader having been spooked by the movie The Sixth Sense. Second, quotes can be used for the sake of humor, satire, irony, or a host of other rhetorical effects. The proper interpretation of a quote depends both on knowing the source of the quote and discerning the author’s intention in using the quote.

These principles apply to quotations from and allusions to the Old Testament in the New Testament. The exegete and preacher should want to know not only if and when a New Testament author referred to the Old Testament, but he should also want to know why. The argument presented in this article is that discerning the force behind an Old Testament quotation or allusion can help the preacher both to understand and apply the New Testament text. When the New Testament authors referred to the Old Testament, they were doing so for a reason. Often, there was a story behind the Old Testament quotation or allusion, and the author was referring to that whole story by briefly alluding to part of it. For readers without an understanding of this backstory, the reference often won’t make sense or the force of the reference will be lost. To properly interpret a New Testament full of quotations, allusions, echoes, and imagery from the Old Testament, faithful preaching of the New

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Testament requires some method for interpreting these intertextual references. Using the concepts of speech act theory, narrative dynamics, and metalepsis, this paper will present a method for interpreting Old Testament references in the New Testament that will help both the exegete and the preacher more faithfully interpret and proclaim God’s Word.

Speech Act Theory, Metalepsis, And Narrative Dynamics

In their third edition of Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, Klein, Blomberg, and Hubbard argued that human communic...