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Don’t Tear the Bible in Half: One Bible, One Authority!

Don’t Tear the Bible in Half: One Bible, One Authority!

Answering Objection 1: “Adventists rely too heavily on the Old Testament. Christians should follow the New.”

Many critics argue that Adventists draw too much from the Old Testament—especially regarding doctrines like the Sabbath and the Law. They claim that true Christian teaching comes from the New Testament alone.

But this objection misunderstands both Scripture and history.

No Divide Between the Testaments

We quote from both the Old and the New Testament because we believe all Scripture is inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16). There is no difference in authority between them—they speak with one voice.

Many try to pit the Old against the New, as though they contradict each other. This artificial contrast is the root of much confusion—especially around the Law and Sabbath.

But let’s remember: the Bible of Jesus and the apostles was the Old Testament. The New Testament writings didn’t appear until decades after Christ's resurrection and were not widely circulated until much later.

What Jesus and the Apostles Taught

Jesus told the Jews:

“Search the Scriptures… they are they which testify of Me.” (John 5:39)

Which Scriptures? The Old Testament.
He also said:

“If you believed Moses, you would believe Me.” (John 5:46)

The apostles followed His lead:

• Jesus quoted the Old Testament to rebuke Satan (Matt. 4:4–10).
• Paul used it to prove sin, teach righteousness, and exhort obedience (Rom. 3, 7, 13; Eph. 6).
• James and Peter upheld the Old Testament as authoritative (James 2:8–12; 1 Peter 1:16).

They didn’t set aside the Old—they confirmed it.

One Seamless Revelation

The Bible is not two disconnected volumes. The Old and New are a single inspired testimony to God’s plan of salvation:

• The New Testament is concealed in the Old.
• The Old Testament is revealed in the New.

Even the division “Old vs. New Testament” is a man-made label. Scripture presents one unified narrative: the fall of man, the promise of redemption, the coming of Christ, and the hope of a new earth.

Satan’s Strategy: Undermine the Foundation

The devil’s attacks on Scripture often begin with the Old Testament—its history, its authority, its moral law. Why? Because without the Old, the New loses its foundation.

It's troubling when even professed Bible believers adopt the same view—dismissing the Old unless it’s repeated in the New.

But the apostles didn’t work that way. They quoted the Old Testament to affirm that their teaching came from the same Spirit of God (2 Peter 1:21).

Yes, ceremonial laws ended at the cross—but moral principles and divine truth did not.

Final Thought

The Law of God is not a relic of the past. It is a living standard for a people redeemed by grace. As Bible instructors, let’s teach the full counsel of God—Old and New alike—for the salvation and sanctification of all who believe.