Scripture Reading:    Acts 3:21

                                         Romans 16:25  

Bible teachers have long operated under the faulty assumption that the main division of Scripture is "Old Testament and New Testament." We have frequently heard or read the statement, "the Old Testament is for the Jews and the New Testament is for us." Furthermore, there is a common but incorrect notion that the Old Testament begins with Genesis 1:1 and the New Testament begins with Matthew 1:1. This misconception comes from the title pages added by man, not from the pages of Scripture itself.

The Fact is, that the "Old Testament (or the Law) doesn't begin until Exodus 20:1 when God revealed it to Moses, and the New Testament doesn't begin until the death of Christ (see Matthew 26:28). And even then, this is the New Testament (or covenant) made "with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah" (Jeremiah 31:31).

The true division of Scripture is prophecy and mystery. When the Apostle Peter spoke to the Israelites of his day he offered them the return of Christ and the restitution of all things, telling them that all this was "spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began" (see Acts 3:19-21) On the other hand, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Gentiles about "the revelation of the Mystery, which was kept secret since the world began" (Romans 16:25). It is clear that Peter and Paul were referring to two different messages, for something cannot be "spoken" and "kept secret" at the same time. As we "rightly divide the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15), we much recognize the Mystery revealed to Paul as our private "mail" for today!