Did Jesus Make Any Reference to the Holy Bible?

For many believers, Jesus' relationship with the Holy Bible is a fundamental aspect of Christian theology. However, for those seeking historical and critical perspectives, the question arises: Did Jesus actually reference the Holy Bible, considering the chronological gap between his lifetime and the composition of the texts?

The Chronological Context

The issue of whether Jesus referenced the Holy Bible becomes complex when one considers the timeline. Even if we disregard the New Testament texts, the Old Testament, which forms the Canon, was not fully codified until centuries after the crucifixion. The books of the Old Testament began to be written and compiled after the Babylonian exile, with the final versions being selected and recognized around the 2nd century BCE. Consequently, Jesus could not have referenced the full canon of the Holy Bible as it exists today.

Jesus' References to Scriptural Sources

Despite the chronological discrepancy, Jesus did frequently refer to various Jewish scriptures, often through phrases like "it is written." These references point to the Torah, the Prophets, and Psalms, rather than the full canonical Bible. For example, in Mark 12:36, he says, "You are the Son of God," in response to a complex question about the historical David and his relation to God as predicted by Psalm 110.

The Role of the Old Testament

Jesus often quoted and alluded to the Old Testament, also known as the Tanakh (the Hebrew scriptures). He frequently cited the Five Books of Moses, the Prophets, and the Writings. For instance, in Matthew 4:4, when tempted by the devil, Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 6:16: "Get behind me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" This demonstrates his familiarity with and reliance on the Torah and the Prophets.

Fulfillment of Prophecy

A recurring theme in the New Testament is the fulfillment of the prophecies. The Gospels often reference how Jesus' actions, words, and the events surrounding his life align with the prophecies in the Old Testament. An example of this can be seen in Matthew 2:15, where it is stated: "He went and lived in a town called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: 'He shall be called a Nazarene.'"

Prophetic Fulfillment in Action

A prime example of this concept comes from the Sermon in the Synagogue in Luke 4:14-30. Christ himself cites from the Book of Isaiah, saying, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’” (Isaiah 61:1). After reading and commenting on this passage, Jesus uses Scripture to support his authority, quoting from Psalm 110:1 and referencing Elijah and Elisha.

More specifically, in Matthew 26:53-56, Jesus foresees his arrest, saying, ‘Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?’ After his arrest, he further uses the fulfillment of prophecy to justify his actions, stating, “All this has taken place so that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. …" (Mt. 26:56).

Conclusion

While Jesus did not reference the full canon of the Holy Bible as it exists today, he did make frequent references to the scriptures that would eventually become the Old Testament. His use of scriptural texts, prefigured events, and prophetic fulfillment provide a rich source of theological and historical discourse for both believers and scholars alike.