Lesson 7: Christ as the Key
Christ and Interpreting the NT
Do we really need a step on interpreting the NT with Christ as the key?
Yes.
Early in my first pastorate, I served at a church where Christ was almost completely absent. The first worship gathering we attended never mentioned Christ: not in the singing nor in the praying nor in the preaching. Small groups read the Bible but rarely mentioned Jesus. Even when the church preached through the Gospel of Matthew, the former pastor chose to skip the passages on the cross and the resurrection.
So, yes, we do need a step on interpreting the NT with Christ as the key because we too can make such tragic errors.
The NT reveals Christ and his gospel. Therefore, we ought to read every part, from its simplest greeting at the beginning of an epistle to its most complex symbolism in an apocalyptic vision, with Christ as the key because every NT text grows out of the gospel. Sometimes a text reveals Christ by speaking directly to who he is, what he has done, or what he is doing. At other times, a NT text develops from the gospel and reveals Christ indirectly. In those cases, we aim to understand how the gospel produces such a statement or command. Interpreting the NT with Christ as the key allows us to do so.
Revealing Christ Directly
Many NT texts clearly and directly reveal Christ by speaking about his person and work.
- John 3:16 reveals Christ by explaining who he is, why he came, and how we should respond: He is the Father’s life-giving gift to a God-hating world for anyone who would believe in him.
- 1 Timothy 1:15 reveals Christ by directly stating what he did: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
- Matthew 1:1 reveals Christ by identifying him as the saving Son promised by the OT.
- Mark 4:35–41 reveals Christ through a miraculous sign. Jesus does what only Yahweh can do: silencing the storm. When his disciples ask, “So then, who is this man that even the wind and the sea obey him?” we must inevitably conclude that he is “the Son of God.” (Mk 15:39)
- Revelation 1:9–20 reveals Christ with apocalyptic symbols that signify who he is. As the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to John, he does so with symbols like golden lampstands and stars. These symbols signify that Jesus is the true covenant Lord who rules and reigns over his churches (Rev 1:20).
How does Colossians 1:15–20 reveal Christ?
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
How does John 19:28–37 reveal Christ?
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
As we read such NT texts, we must read them with Christ as the key, especially with him as the “answer” and “house” keys.
The NT reveals Christ as the “answer” to the patterns, promises, and problems of the OT. For example, Paul summarizes the gospel in 1 Timothy 1:15 as “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” We might assume that we can simply read and restate this sentence. It certainly reveals Christ directly. Yet, we will misinterpret this sentence if we read apart from its OT context. What do words like “save” and “sinners” mean? Who is “Christ Jesus” and how exactly did he “come into the world”? The patterns, problems, and promises revealed by the OT and fulfilled in the gospel provide the context we need for answering these questions faithfully.
As you interpret a NT text that reveals Christ directly, ask:
- What does this text reveal about Christ’s person and work?
- What OT patterns, problems, or promises provide context for how this NT text reveals Christ?
Revealing Christ Indirectly
Some NT texts reveal Christ indirectly by casting a vision for life that is rooted in Christ and grows out of his gospel. As we read these texts with Christ as the key, we must trace how the gospel grounds and produces a particular command, statement, identity, or example.
- Philippians 1:1 reveals Christ indirectly by introducing Paul and Timothy as “servants of Christ Jesus.” Most clearly, the greeting reveals Christ as the One to whom Paul and Timothy belong. Because of who Jesus is and what he has done, they are his. But as we continue reading in Philippians, we realize that their identity as “servants of Christ Jesus” grows out of the gospel and reflects Christ’s own story (Phil 2:5–11). Therefore, even this simple greeting reveals Christ because it is rooted in his identity and grows out of his work.
- Colossians 3:18–19 reveals Christ indirectly by ordering marriage in Christ. Marriage mirrors the gospel (Eph 5:32) and was created through him and for him (Col 1:16). Further, Christian marriage is possible only because of Christ’s work (Col 2:9–15). Therefore, this call for Christian marriage reveals Christ indirectly by growing out of his identity and work as Creator and Redeemer.
- 1 Timothy 3:1–7 reveals Christ indirectly by prescribing who qualifies to serve as elders in Christ’s church. Elders represent Jesus to his flock. Their character and calling are rooted in him (1 Pet 5:1–4). Further, their character and calling are possible only because of Jesus. Therefore, these standards for elders reveal Christ indirectly because they are rooted and grow out of his character and work.
How does 2 Timothy 4:16–18 reveal Christ?
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
As we read such NT texts, we must read them with Christ as the key, especially with him as the “ignition” key and “keystone.”
The NT requires Christ as the “ignition” key. He is the only way that we can ever be who the NT declares we are and live as the NT demands. Therefore, we will not rightly interpret any NT command unless we understand how Christ redeems us and empowers us to obey.
Similarly, the NT reveals Christ as the “keystone,” who unites and makes sense of the whole Bible and all creation (Col 1:15–23). The biblical life is not merely a list of disconnected identities, rules, and commands. No! Christ is the “keystone” who unites our lives with and into his own. Every command leads us to represent him faithfully. Therefore, we will not interpret any statements about our identity and purpose rightly apart from understanding how Christ and his gospel make sense of all of life in his light.
For example, consider how Colossians 3:5–11 reveals Christ indirectly in at least two ways:
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
- As we read these verses with Christ as the “ignition” key, they reveal his gospel indirectly. These verses assume that darkness no longer divides us and that sin no longer dominates us. On the other hand, they assume that the church is now the new humanity in Christ and that we can live out that new identity. All of this grows out of the apostolic gospel, which reveals who Jesus is (Col 1:15–20), what Jesus has done (2:9–15), and what he will do (3:6). We can only interpret Colossians 3:5–11 rightly if we read this call with Christ as the “ignition” key.
- As we read these verses with Christ as the “keystone,” Colossians 3:5–11 reveals Christ‘s identity indirectly. Our calling as a new humanity grows out of his identity as the “Firstborn” over the old (Col 1:15) and new creations (Col 1:18), as the “image of the invisible God” (Col 1:15 NIV), and as the “head of the body, the church” (Col 1:18 NIV; see also Col 2:19). Thus, Colossians 3:5–11 calls us to see life not according to the old loyalties and identities that divided us but according to Christ,¹ who “is all, and is in all” (Col 3:11 NIV). We can only interpret Colossians 3:5–11 rightly if we read this call with Christ as the “keystone.”
As you interpret a NT text that reveals Christ indirectly, ask:
- How is this text rooted in Christ’s person and work?
- How do Christ’s person and work make this identity real and this calling possible?
- What does this text reveal about Christ’s person and work?