Scripture

All these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

1 Corinthians 10:11

It’s easy for Christians to focus solely on reading the New Testament, thinking the Old Testament was only for Israel. But the apostle Paul discounts that notion when he writes that “all Scripture . . . is profitable” (2 Timothy 3:16). And remember: he is referring to the Old Testament since the New Testament was only coming into existence in his day.

A good example of Paul practicing what he preached is in 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, which contains warnings for Christians in Corinth from Israel’s history. When we are seeking guidance from God, we can find principles to inform our decisions from all parts of Scripture. Paul warns the Corinthians about idolatry, sexual immorality, testing the Lord, and grumbling by citing instances of the same in Israel’s history. By seeing how swiftly God dealt with Israel in these areas of life, we are warned—and guided—to err on the side of safety. Even the “appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22, KJV) should serve as a warning: flee!

If all Scripture is profitable, we will profit from guidance gleaned from all sixty-six books.

Never mind the scribes—what saith the Scripture?

MARTIN LUTHER