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<title>Does the New Testament Quote the Old Testament as Authoritative Scripture?</title>
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<div class="head">Does the New Testament Quote the Old Testament as Authoritative Scripture?</div>
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<p>Yes. As we examine the evidence, we find the New Testament quoting the Old Testament writings as authoritative. There are over 250 quotations from Old Testament books that are found in the New Testament. Most of the books of the Old Testament are directly cited as Scripture in the New Testament. The evidence is as follows.</p>
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<p><b>Genesis</b></p>
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<p>Jesus cites the creation account of humanity in Genesis (<a id="nbi387-si1" onClick="return mV('Gen',1,27);">Gen 1:27</a>) as authoritative Scripture.</p>
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<blockquote><p>And he answered and said, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'" (<a id="nbi387-si2" onClick="return mV('Mat',19,'4-5');">Mat 19:4-5</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Exodus</b></p>
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<p>Paul quoted the Book of Exodus (<a id="nbi387-si3" onClick="return mV('Exo',20,12);">Exo 20:12</a>).</p>
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<blockquote><p>Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise) (<a id="nbi387-si4" onClick="return mV('Eph',6,2);">Eph 6:2</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Leviticus</b></p>
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<p>Jesus cited the Mosaic law for the cleansing of a leper (<a id="nbi387-si5" onClick="return mV('Lev',14,'2-32');">Lev 14:2-32</a>).</p>
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<blockquote><p>And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them (<a id="nbi387-si6" onClick="return mV('Mat',8,4);">Mat 8:4</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Numbers</b></p>
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<p>The faithfulness of Moses (<a id="nbi387-si7" onClick="return mV('Num',12,7);">Num 12:7</a>) is cited in the Book of Hebrews.</p>
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<blockquote><p>Now Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken late (<a id="nbi387-si8" onClick="return mV('Hbr',3,5);">Hbr 3:5</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Deuteronomy</b></p>
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<p>Deuteronomy is quoted a number of times. Jesus quoted <a id="nbi387-si9" onClick="return mV('Deu',6,13);">Deu 6:13</a> when He was tempted by the Devil.</p>
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<blockquote><p>Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only'" (<a id="nbi387-si10" onClick="return mV('Mat',4,10);">Mat 4:10</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Joshua</b></p>
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<p>The writer to the Hebrews quotes the Book of Joshua (<a id="nbi387-si11" onClick="return mV('Jos',1,5);">Jos 1:5</a>) as Scripture.</p>
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<blockquote><p>Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for he himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you (<a id="nbi387-si12" onClick="return mV('Hbr',13,5);">Hbr 13:5</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Judges</b></p>
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<p>While Judges is not directly quoted as authoritative Scripture, events that are recorded in the Book of Judges are cited in the Book of Hebrews.</p>
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<blockquote><p>And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets (<a id="nbi387-si13" onClick="return mV('Hbr',11,32);">Hbr 11:32</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p>Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah are all featured in stories in the Book of Judges.</p>
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<p><b>Samuel</b></p>
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<p>Jesus cited the account of David and those with him eating bread on the Sabbath (<a id="nbi387-si14" onClick="return mV('1Sa',21,'1-6');">1Sa 21:1-6</a>).</p>
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<blockquote><p>He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests" (<a id="nbi387-si15" onClick="return mV('Mat',12,3,4);">Mat 12:3-4</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p>Citing the book of First Samuel would also include Second Samuel since they were one book in the Hebrew arrangement.</p>
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<p><b>Kings</b></p>
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<p>Paul cited God's reply to Elijah (<a id="nbi387-si16" onClick="return mV('1Ki',19,18);">1Ki 19:18</a>).</p>
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<blockquote><p>And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal" (<a id="nbi387-si17" onClick="return mV('Rom',11,4);">Rom 11:4</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p>First and Second Kings were one book in Hebrew. Therefore a citation from First Kings means the entire book was cited.</p>
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<p><b>Chronicles</b></p>
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<p>First and Second Chronicles is one book in Hebrew. While Chronicles is not directly cited in the New Testament Jesus attests to its authority. The death of the prophet Zechariah is listed in Chronicles.</p>
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<blockquote><p>So that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar (<a id="nbi387-si18" onClick="return mV('Mat',23,35);">Mat 23:35</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p>This event was recorded in <a id="nbi387-si19" onClick="return mV('2Ch',24,20,21);">2Ch 24:20-21</a>.</p>
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<p><b>Job</b></p>
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<p>Paul quotes <a id="nbi387-si20" onClick="return mV('Job',5,13);">Job 5:13</a>.</p>
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<blockquote><p>For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness" (<a id="nbi387-si21" onClick="return mV('1Cr',3,19);">1Cr 3:19</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Psalms</b></p>
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<p>The Psalms is one of the most often quoted Old Testament books. For example, Jesus quoted the <a id="nbi387-si22" onClick="return mV('Psa',82,6);">Psa 82:6</a>.</p>
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<blockquote><p>If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken) (<a id="nbi387-si23" onClick="return mV('Jhn',10,35);">Jhn 10:35</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Proverbs</b></p>
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<p>James cites <a id="nbi387-si24" onClick="return mV('Pro',3,34);">Pro 3:34</a>.</p>
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<blockquote><p>But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (<a id="nbi387-si25" onClick="return mV('Jam',4,6);">Jam 4:6</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Isaiah</b></p>
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<p>The Book of Isaiah is quoted often in the New Testament. Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah (<a id="nbi387-si26" onClick="return mV('Isa',61,1,2);">Isa 61:1-2</a>) at a synagogue in Nazareth.</p>
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<blockquote><p>The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (<a id="nbi387-si27" onClick="return mV('Luk',4,'17-19');">Luk 4:17-19</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Jeremiah</b></p>
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<p>Matthew cites a passage from Jeremiah the prophet (<a id="nbi387-si28" onClick="return mV('Jer',31,15);">Jer 31:15</a>).</p>
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<blockquote><p>Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more" (<a id="nbi387-si29" onClick="return mV('Mat',2,17,18);">Mat 2:17-18</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Lamentations</b></p>
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<p>Matthew records an allusion to the Book of Lamentations (<a id="nbi387-si30" onClick="return mV('Lam',3,30);">Lam 3:30</a>).</p>
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<blockquote><p>They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again (<a id="nbi387-si31" onClick="return mV('Mat',27,30);">Mat 27:30</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Ezekiel</b></p>
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<p>Ezekiel is alluded to on several occasions in the New Testament. Paul alluded to <a id="nbi387-si32" onClick="return mV('Eze',37,27);">Eze 37:27</a>.</p>
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<blockquote><p>What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people" (<a id="nbi387-si33" onClick="return mV('2Cr',6,16);">2Cr 6:16</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Daniel</b><p>Jesus identifies Daniel as one of the prophets and quotes him authoritatively (<a id="nbi387-si34" onClick="return mV('Dan',9,27);">Dan 9:27</a>; <a id="nbi387-si35" onClick="return mV('Dan',11,31);">Dan 11:31</a>; <a id="nbi387-si36" onClick="return mV('Dan',12,11);">Dan 12:11</a>).</p>
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<blockquote><p>So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand (<a id="nbi387-si37" onClick="return mV('Mat',24,15);">Mat 24:15</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>The Twelve</b></p>
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<p>The Twelve Minor Prophets were considered to be one book. The fact that one of them is cited authoritative testifies to the divine authority of all of them. However, nine out of the twelve are specifically cited as Scripture in the New Testament.</p>
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<p><b>Hosea</b></p>
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<p>Matthew quotes the prophet <a id="nbi387-si38" onClick="return mV('Hsa',11,1);">Hsa 11:1</a>.</p>
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<blockquote><p>Where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son" (<a id="nbi387-si39" onClick="return mV('Mat',2,15);">Mat 2:15</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Joel</b></p>
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<p>On the Day of Pentecost Peter cited a passage from <a id="nbi387-si40" onClick="return mV('Joe',2,'28-32');">Joe 2:28-32</a>.</p>
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<blockquote><p>This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel (<a id="nbi387-si41" onClick="return mV('Act',2,16);">Act 2:16</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Amos</b></p>
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<p>In Acts the Book of Amos is quoted (<a id="nbi387-si42" onClick="return mV('Amo',9,11,12);">Amo 9:11-12</a>).</p>
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<blockquote><p>After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things (<a id="nbi387-si43" onClick="return mV('Act',15,16,17);">Act 15:16-17</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Jonah</b></p>
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<p>Jesus referred to the incident of Jonah being swallowed by the large sea creature (<a id="nbi387-si44" onClick="return mV('Jon',1,'1-');">Jon 1</a>).</p>
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<blockquote><p>He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (<a id="nbi387-si45" onClick="return mV('Mat',12,39,40);">Mat 12:39-40</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Micah</b></p>
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<p>Matthew cites Micah in the place where the Christ is to be born (<a id="nbi387-si46" onClick="return mV('Mic',5,2);">Mic 5:2</a>).</p>
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<blockquote><p>And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd my people Israel (<a id="nbi387-si47" onClick="return mV('Mat',2,6);">Mat 2:6</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Habakkuk</b></p>
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<p>Paul quotes <a id="nbi387-si48" onClick="return mV('Hab',2,4);">Hab 2:4</a>.</p>
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<blockquote><p>Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." (<a id="nbi387-si49" onClick="return mV('Gal',3,11);">Gal 3:11</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Haggai</b></p>
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<p>The writer to the Hebrews quotes Haggai (<a id="nbi387-si50" onClick="return mV('Hag',2,6);">Hag 2:6</a> in the Septuagint)</p>
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<blockquote><p>And his voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven" (<a id="nbi387-si51" onClick="return mV('Hbr',12,26);">Hbr 12:26</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>Zechariah</b></p>
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<p>The Book of Zechariah is quoted on Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (<a id="nbi387-si52" onClick="return mV('Zec',9,9);">Zec 9:9</a>).<blockquote>Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden" (<a id="nbi387-si53" onClick="return mV('Mat',21,5);">Mat 21:5</a>).</blockquote>
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<p><b>Malachi</b></p>
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<p>Jesus cited the necessity of the coming of Elijah (<a id="nbi387-si54" onClick="return mV('Mal',4,5);">Mal 4:5</a>).</p>
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<blockquote><p>The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things" (<a id="nbi387-si55" onClick="return mV('Mat',17,'10-11');">Mat 17:10-11</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>The New Testament Cites All the Old Testament Books (With Four Exceptions)</b></p>
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<p>All Old Testament books are quoted as authoritative works by the New Testament writers with four exceptions: Ezra/Nehemiah, Esther, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. The absence of any quotations of these books does not speak against their canonicity.</p>
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<p>While Ezra/Nehemiah, Esther, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes are not directly cited in the New Testament this does not mean that they were not part of Scripture. The number of books had been long-fixed before the time of Christ. This list included these four works.</p>
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<p><b>Summary</b></p>
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<p>We find that most the books of the Old Testament are directly cited as Holy Scripture. The fact that these books were cited demonstrates the belief of the New Testament writers that they were quoting from God's Word. There are only four books that were not cited—Ezra/Nehemiah, Ecclesiastes, Esther, and Song of Solomon. While these other books are not directly cited in the New Testament, their inclusion in the Hebrew canon is testified to by other means.</p>
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