Lesson 1: The Unity of the Bible: Old Testament Promises and New Testament Fulfilment Phunziro 1: Mgwirizano wa Baibulo: Malonjezo a Chipangano Chakale ndi Kukwaniritsidwa mu Chipangano Chatsopano
Duration: 32 minutes
The Christian Bible is made up of two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Although they were written over many centuries by different authors, Christians believe the whole Bible tells one continuous story of God's love and salvation. The Old Testament prepares the way; the New Testament fulfils what the Old Testament promised. This unity is a central teaching of the Christian faith in Malawi and around the world.
What is the Old Testament?
The Old Testament contains 39 books, beginning with Genesis and ending with Malachi. It tells the story of creation, the call of Abraham, the Exodus of Israel from Egypt under Moses, the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, the settlement in Canaan under Joshua, the time of the Judges, the kings of Israel (Saul, David and Solomon), the prophets, and the exile in Babylon. It is written mostly in Hebrew, with small sections in Aramaic.
What is the New Testament?
The New Testament contains 27 books, beginning with the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and ending with the book of Revelation. It tells the story of Jesus Christ — His birth, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension — and the growth of the early Church led by the Apostles. It was written in Greek in the first century AD.
How the Two Testaments are Linked
Christians teach that the Old Testament is the promise and the New Testament is the fulfilment. Jesus Himself said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them" (Matthew 5:17). Many New Testament writers quote the Old Testament to show that Jesus is the promised Messiah. For example, Micah 5:2 foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, and Matthew 2:6 shows this was fulfilled in Jesus. Isaiah 61:1-2 described the work of the Messiah, and in Luke 4:18-21 Jesus reads this very passage in the synagogue and declares, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
One God, One Plan of Salvation
Both Testaments reveal the same God — holy, loving, just and faithful. In the Old Testament, God works through Abraham, Moses, David and the prophets. In the New Testament, God sends His own Son Jesus Christ to complete the work of salvation for all people. The covenant made at Sinai (Exodus 19–20) is renewed and perfected in the new covenant sealed by Jesus' blood at the Last Supper (Mark 14:22-26; Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Why the Unity of the Bible Matters
Understanding that the Bible is one story helps Christians read both Testaments with confidence. In CCAP, Catholic, Anglican, Baptist and Pentecostal churches in Malawi, both Old and New Testament readings are usually included in Sunday worship. Knowing the link helps believers see Jesus as the centre of Scripture and strengthens faith that God keeps His promises from generation to generation.
Nthawi: Mphindi 32
Baibulo la Chikhristu lili ndi magawo awiri akuluakulu: Chipangano Chakale ndi Chipangano Chatsopano. Ngakhale analembedwa pa zaka zambiri ndi anthu osiyanasiyana, Akhristu amakhulupirira kuti Baibulo lonse likufotokoza nkhani imodzi ya chikondi cha Mulungu ndi chipulumutso. Chipangano Chakale chikukonza njira; Chipangano Chatsopano chikukwaniritsa zomwe Chipangano Chakale chinalonjeza. Mgwirizano umenewu ndi chiphunzitso chapakati cha chikhulupiriro cha Chikhristu mu Malawi ndi padziko lonse lapansi.
Kodi Chipangano Chakale ndi Chiyani?
Chipangano Chakale chiri ndi mabuku 39, kuyambira Genesis mpaka Malaki. Chimafotokoza nkhani ya chilengedwe, kuyitanidwa kwa Abrahamu, Kutuluka kwa Israyeli mu Iguputo motsogoleredwa ndi Mose, kupereka Lamulo ku Phiri la Sinai, kukhazikika mu Kanani motsogoleredwa ndi Yoswa, nthawi ya Oweruza, mafumu a Israyeli (Sauli, Davide ndi Solomoni), aneneri, ndi ukapolo mu Babulo. Chinalembedwa kwambiri m'Chihebri, ndi zigawo zazing'ono m'Chiaramu.
Kodi Chipangano Chatsopano ndi Chiyani?
Chipangano Chatsopano chiri ndi mabuku 27, kuyambira ndi Mauthenga Abwino anayi (Mateyu, Maliko, Luka ndi Yohane) ndipo chimathera ndi buku la Chivumbulutso. Chimafotokoza nkhani ya Yesu Khristu — kubadwa kwake, utumiki wake, imfa, kuuka kwa akufa ndi kukwera kumwamba — ndi kukula kwa Mpingo wokonzedwa ndi Atumwi. Chinalembedwa m'Chigiriki mu zaka za m'ma 100 AD.
Mmene Zipangano Ziwiri Zikugwirizanirana
Akhristu amaphunzitsa kuti Chipangano Chakale ndi lonjezo, ndipo Chipangano Chatsopano ndi kukwaniritsidwa. Yesu mwiniyo anati, "Musaganize kuti ndabwera kuti ndiphwanye Chilamulo kapena Aneneri; sindinabwere kuti ndiphwanye koma kukwaniritsa" (Mateyu 5:17). Olemba ambiri a Chipangano Chatsopano amatchula Chipangano Chakale kusonyeza kuti Yesu ndiye Mesiya wolonjezedwa. Mwachitsanzo, Mika 5:2 analosera kuti Mesiya adzabadwira ku Betelehemu, ndipo Mateyu 2:6 akusonyeza kuti izi zinakwaniritsidwa mwa Yesu. Yesaya 61:1-2 inafotokoza ntchito ya Mesiya, ndipo mu Luka 4:18-21 Yesu akuwerenga mawu amenewa m'sunagoge ndipo akunena kuti, "Lero mawu awa akwaniritsidwa m'makutu anu."
Mulungu Mmodzi, Pulani Imodzi ya Chipulumutso
Zipangano zonse ziwiri zimasonyeza Mulungu yemweyo — woyera, wachikondi, wolungama ndi wokhulupirika. Mu Chipangano Chakale, Mulungu amagwira ntchito kudzera mwa Abrahamu, Mose, Davide ndi aneneri. Mu Chipangano Chatsopano, Mulungu amatumiza Mwana wake Yesu Khristu kuti akwaniritse ntchito ya chipulumutso kwa anthu onse. Pangano lopangidwa ku Sinai (Eksodo 19–20) likukonzedwanso ndi kukwaniritsidwa mu pangano latsopano losindikizidwa ndi magazi a Yesu pa Mgonero Wotsiriza (Maliko 14:22-26; Yeremiya 31:31-34).
Chifukwa Chomwe Mgwirizano wa Baibulo Ndi Wofunika
Kuzindikira kuti Baibulo ndi nkhani imodzi kumathandiza Akhristu kuwerenga zipangano zonse ziwiri molimba mtima. Mu mipingo ya CCAP, Akatolika, Anglican, Baptist ndi Pentekoste mu Malawi, mawu onse a Chipangano Chakale ndi Chatsopano nthawi zambiri amaphatikizidwa pa kulambira kwa Lamlungu. Kudziwa mgwirizanowu kumathandiza okhulupira kuona Yesu ngati pakati pa Malemba ndipo kumalimbikitsa chikhulupiriro chakuti Mulungu amakwaniritsa malonjezo ake kuchokera m'badwo wina kupita wina.
Exercise RequiredMasewera Ofunikira
You must pass this exercise to complete the lesson. Questions are randomly selected each attempt. Muyenera kupambana masewera awa kuti mumaliza phunziro. Mafunso amasankhidwa mwachisawawa nthawi iliyonse.