Biblical Theological Seminary

1988 Summer Theological Institute

Dr. Robert C. Newman

THE PSALMSIN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Some Statistics

About25% of OT quotations in NT from Psalms, though book makes up only about 10% ofOT in length

Accto UBS Greek New Testament(3rd ed):

79quotations of Pss in NT

335allusions or verbal parallels to Pss in NT

Quotationsfrom 39 different Pss:

118and 110 most frequent (12x and 11x),

thenPs 69 (5x), Pss 2, 22, 95 (4x each)

Quotationsin 11 NT books, most Heb (17), Rom (14), Acts (11)

Allusionsfrom 96 different Pss,

Ps22 most frequent (20x),

thenPss 2, 69, 110 (14x each)

Allusionsin 23 NT books, most in Rev (98), Lk (39), Mt (28), Acts (26), Heb (23)

Types of Quotations

Fulfillment(c30x) ‑ predicts events future to psalmist

Confirmation(c25x) ‑ to validate theological point

Exhortation(c4x) ‑ to motivate proper action

Exegesis(c3x) ‑ extended discussion explaining

        BiblicalLanguage (1‑2x?) ‑ language used differently

Puzzling(c3x) ‑ not obvious why passage used as it is

Some Details on Quotations

Fulfillment

Fulfilledby time NT writer uses passage

Ps16:8‑11 (not abandoned to decay) in Ac 2:25‑31

                          Peterat Pentecost re/ Jesus

16:10(ditto) in Ac 13:35

                          Paulat Pisidian Antioch re/ Jesus

22:1(My God, my God...) in Mt 27:46 = Mk 14:24

                          Jesus'words from cross

22:18(divide garments, cast lots) in Jn 19:24

                          occurredat Jesus' crucifixion

40:6‑8(sacrifice not desired) in Hb 10:5‑7

                          Christas replacement for animal offerings

110:1(sit at right hand) in Ac 2:34‑35

                          appliedto Jesus by Peter at Pentecost

118:22‑3(stone builders rejected) in Ac 4:11, 1P 2:7

                          appliedto Jesus by Peter

118:25‑26(blessed is He who comes) in Mt 21:9

            =Mk11:9‑10 = Lk 19:38 = Jn 12:13

                          crowdsre/ Jesus at triumphal entry

Generic:predicting a class of events

Ps2:1‑2 (why do nations rage?) in Ac 4:25‑26

                          appliedto trial & death of Jesus

8:2(perfect praise from infants) in Mt 21:16

                          Jesusre/ his triumphal entry

22:22(declare your name to brothers) in Hb 2:12

                          Jesusnot ashamed to call believers "brothers"

31:5(into hands commit spirit) in Lk 23;46

                          Jesuson cross

35:19(hated me w/o cause) in Jn 15:25

                          Jesusapplies to self

41:9(even my close friend) in Jn 13:18

                          Jesusapplies to Judas

44:22(considered sheep for slaughter) in Rm 8:36

                          persecutionof God's people

69:4(hated me w/o cause) in Jn 15:25 (cp Ps 35:19)

                          Jesusapplies to self

69:9(zeal for house consumes me) in Jn 2:17

                          disciplesapply to Jesus

69:9(insults to You fall on me) in Rm 15:3

                          Paulapplies to Jesus

69:22‑3(table become snare) in Rm 11:9‑10

                          Paulapplies to Jews

69:25(place to be deserted) in Ac 1:20

                          Peterapplies to Judas

78:2(open mouth in parables) in Mt 13:35

                          Matthewapplies to Jesus

109:8(days be few, another take office) in Ac 1:20

                          Peterapplies to Judas

112:9(scattered gifts to poor) in 2C 9:9

                          believershave gifts to give to others

Interpretive:additional revelation re/ application

Ps2:7 (you are My Son) in Ac 13:33

                          Paulsays fulf by raising Jesus

2:7(ditto) in Hb 1:5

                          Godspoke to Jesus, time unspecified

2:7(ditto) in Hb 5:5

                          Godappointing Jesus to high priesthood

132:11(LORD swore oath to David) Ac 2:30

                          Petersays David knew this in predicting resurrection of Messiah

Future:still to be fulfilled when spoken/written

8:4‑6(what is man?) in Hb 2:6‑8

                          appliedto Jesus as accomplishing this for us

8:6(ditto) in 1C 15:27

                          appliedto Jesus eschatologically

110:1(sit at right hand) in Mt 26:64 = Mk 14:62 = Lk 22:69

                          Jesus'claim before Sanhedrin

118:22‑3(stone builders rejected) in Mt 21:42 = Mk 12:10‑1 = Lk 20:17

                          Jesusapplies to self at end Parable of Tenants

118:25‑6(blessed He who comes) in Mt 23:39 & Lk 13:35

                          Jesuscalling on Jews to repent

Confirmation

Ps 19:4 (voice to all earth) in Rm 10:18

              Didthey not hear? Yes!

22:22 (declare your name) in Hb 2:12

              Jesusnot ashamed to call believers "brothers"

24:1 (earth is Lord's & all in it) in 1C 10:26

              OKto eat food sold in marketplace

32:1‑2 (blessed whose sins forgiven) in Rm4:7‑8

              Paularguing on grace vs works

44:22 (considered sheep for slaughter) in Rm 8:36

              Persecutionwill be frequent

45:6‑7 (Your throne, O God) in Hb 1:8‑9

              Appliedto Jesus showing deity

51:4 (God proved right when judging) in Rm 3:4

              LetGod be true

78:24 (rained down manna) in Jn 6:31

              Jewsquoting re/ work of Moses

82:6 (you are gods) in Jn 10:34

              Jesusin response to charge of blasphemy

91:11‑12 (angels bear up) in Mt 4:6 = Lk4:10‑1

              Satanin tempting Jesus to jump

95:7‑11 (today if you will hear ... neverenter rest)

              inHeb 3:7‑4:7 ‑ exegesis as part of exhortation

104:4 (winds his messengers) in Hb 1:7

              inferiortyof angels to Son

110:1 (LORD says to my Lord) in Mt 22:44 = Mk12:36 =

              Lk20:42‑43 ‑ Jesus re/ dignity of Messiah

110:4(priest forever like Melch) in Hb 5:6

              appliedto Jesus

110:4 (ditto) in Hb 7:7

              priestforever

110:4 (ditto) in Hb 7:21

              priestby God's oath

Catenas: (special case) string ofquotations

Rm3:10‑15 using Pss 5:9; 10:7; 14:1‑3; 36:1; 53:1‑3; 140:3,plus Eccl & Isa re/ universal sin of mankind

Rm 15:9‑12 using Pss 18:49; 117:1, plus 2Sam, Deut, Isa re/ Gentiles praising God

1C 3:19‑20 using Ps 94:11 and Jb 5:13 re/ God'swisdom vs man's

Exhortation

Ps 4:4 (in anger do not sin) in Ep 4:25

              Paulre/ handling one's anger

34:12‑6 (whoever loves life) in 1P 3:10‑2

              Peteron holy living

95:7‑11 (today if hear His voice) in Hb 3:7‑4:7

              Authorof Heb re/ danger of apostasy

118:6 (LORD w/ me, not afraid) in Hb 13;6

              Authorof Heb re/ Lord's presence

Exegesis

Ps 40:6‑8 (sacr & offering not desired)in Hb 10:5‑7

              Christas real sacrifice that animal offerings foreshadowed

95:7‑11 (today if hear His voice) in Hb 3:7‑4:7

              exegeticalexhortation on danger of apostasy

110:1‑4 (priest like Melchizedek) in Hb, espchap 7

              Jesusas king‑priest forever

Biblical Language

89:20 (I have found David) in Ac 13:22

              Paulin sermon (homiletical language?)

            [thisseems to be more common in allusions]

Puzzling Cases

68:18 (ascended, received gifts from men) in Ep 4:8

              appliedto Christ giving gifts to men [Hebrew b looks more like "by" or "with" men than"from" men]

102:25‑27 (heavens will perish, You remain)in Hb 1:10‑2

              onwhat basis applied to Jesus? [assumes readers accept Deity and Creatorhood of Jesus?]

116:10 (I believed, so I said, I am greatlyafflicted) in 2C 4:13

Paulapp uses differently [Biblical language?]