Yes — the Old Testament writings are relevant for Christians today, because they were written for our learning.
Les Feldick teaches that when Paul says 'what things were written aforetime,' he is pointing to the Old Testament, which was written for believers' learning, not for their doctrine. It provides the background and understanding for New Testament truth, and every Scripture remains profitable for instruction. Believers should not disregard the Old Testament, even though it is not the source of Church doctrine.
Romans 15:4 — This is the key verse Les repeats: past writings (the Old Testament) were written for our learning, so believers can have hope.
2 Timothy 3:16 — Shows that all Scripture, including the Old Testament, is inspired and profitable for instruction.
1 Corinthians 10:11 — Declares that earlier events were written for the admonition of believers.
The apostle Paul explicitly teaches in Romans 15:4 (KJV), "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." The word "aforetime" points back to the writings that existed before Paul wrote — the Old Testament. The verse gives a continuing purpose for those writings: they were written for the instruction of believers. Paul writes again in 1 Corinthians 10:11 (KJV), "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." In 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV), he states, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." These verses affirm that earlier Scripture remains profitable and instructive for believers.
Les Feldick teaches that the Old Testament is still relevant for believers, but not as the source of Church doctrine. He emphasizes that when Paul speaks of 'what things were written aforetime,' he means the Old Testament — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus — even though it was written to the Jew under the Law. The Old Testament was written 'for our learning,' not 'for our doctrine.' Doctrine is what believers need straight for their eternal destiny and for living the Christian life; learning is the background that explains why the doctrine is true. Les also teaches that the Old Testament is a bedrock for the New. You cannot understand the New unless you understand the Old. He says the Gospels and the Old Testament should not be torn out and thrown away; there are many applications in them that are just as true for believers today as they were for Israel. The key is to remember to whom a portion of Scripture was written. God has not changed — what He hated in Israel He still hates — but believers today deal with Him on resurrection ground.
Les distinguishes between doctrine and learning. Doctrine concerns what we believe for eternal destiny and how to live the Christian life. Learning concerns understanding why the doctrine is true. The Old Testament gives that background and shows how everything fell into place. He says you will not find the plan of salvation in Exodus, but you will find a picture of it. The Old Testament is for our learning so that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Les says he does not tell anyone to tear the Gospels or the Old Testament out of their Bible. Many applications in both are true for us today. However, some verses are not appropriate today because the Jewish program has slipped off the scene and something new has come in. He gives the example of picking up poisonous snakes — a practice that was appropriate in Christ's earthly ministry to Israel but is not appropriate today. The solution is not to ignore those passages but to properly analyze them, remembering to whom they were written.
Les uses the Old Testament separation between Israel and Egypt as a pattern for the believer's separation from the world. Just as Israel was told to have nothing to do with pagan Gentiles, Paul gives the same direction in 2 Corinthians 6 — there is a line of demarcation between the believer and the world, and we cannot serve two masters. Les also applies Romans 15 by saying that strong believers ought to bear the infirmities or 'hang-ups' of younger believers, not causing them to stumble.
Les notes that Paul himself writes that all Scripture is inspired of God and is profitable for reproof and for instruction in righteousness. Although the Pauline letters contain the fundamental truths for the Church Age, that never implies the rest of the Bible is inappropriate. God has not changed from Genesis to today; what He hated in the land of Israel He still hates, but believers relate to Him in far different circumstances — on resurrection ground.
Practical Application — Romans 15:1
Les shows that mature believers ought to bear with the infirmities and 'hang-ups' of younger believers — an example of how Scripture gives practical direction for daily life.
The Old Testament is For Our Learning
Les says the Old Testament is the bedrock for the New — even though it was written to Israel under the Law, it was written for our learning, not for our doctrine.
Written Aforetime Means the Old Testament
Les explains that Paul's phrase 'what things were written aforetime' is a direct reference to the Old Testament, which provides background and gives us hope.
OT Background for Pauline Doctrine
Les says the Old Testament supplies the background for the doctrines that come from Paul's pen, building confidence that Scripture is the supernatural, miraculously written Word of God.
Applications, Not Tossed Out
Les says we should not tear the Gospels or the Old Testament out of our Bibles; many applications are true for us, though some passages belong to the Jewish program and are not appropriate today.
Remember To Whom It Was Written
Les gives the essential rule: always remember to whom a passage was written or spoken. God has not changed, but believers today deal with Him on resurrection ground.
All Scripture Is Profitable
Les stresses that while Pauline letters contain the fundamental truths for the Church Age, that never implies the rest of the Bible is inappropriate — Paul says all Scripture is profitable.
Separation: A Lesson from the OT
Les uses Israel's separation from Egypt as a pattern for the believer's separation from the world, pointing to 2 Corinthians 6 and the principle that we cannot serve two masters.
Romans 15:4: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
This verse is the foundational text for the teaching that Old Testament writings were written for the learning of believers.
1 Corinthians 10:11: Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Paul explicitly says events recorded earlier were written for the admonition of believers.
2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
This verse affirms that the whole of Scripture, including the Old Testament, is profitable for believers.
Yes. The Old Testament was written for our learning. Les Feldick teaches that Paul's phrase 'what things were written aforetime' refers to the Old Testament and that believers today can learn from it and find hope through it.
No. The Old Testament was written for our learning, not for our doctrine. You will not find the gospel or the plan of salvation in Exodus; you find a picture of it. The Old Testament provides background and understanding, but Church doctrine comes from the Pauline epistles.
Always remember to whom a particular portion was written or speaking. God has not changed — what He hated in the Old Testament He still hates — but believers today deal with Him on resurrection ground, and not every Old Testament command is appropriate for today.
Yes. Les says there are many applications in the Old Testament and the Gospels that are just as true for us as they were for Israel. For example, Israel's separation from Egypt teaches the believer's separation from the world, and mature believers should bear with weaker believers.
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