Scripture's Use of Scripture in the Old Testament: Three Instincts for Identifying Allusions

Readers of the Old Testament often notice similarities between two texts, but are they intentional or imagined connections? Because the Old Testament does not usually signal its use of Scripture as explicitly as the New Testament (e.g., “It is written”), the task calls for unique instincts. After explaining why and how the Old Testament uses other Old Testament texts, this book equips readers with a three-part method to move beyond hunches to interpreting the Old Testament’s beautiful interconnections. Rather than offering rigid steps, the proposed method trains readers with the instincts needed to identify, verify, and enjoy Old Testament allusions. 

Matthew Swale (PhD, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is assistant professor of Bible and Church Ministry at Warner University in Lake Wales, FL