What is the difference between the New Testament and Old Testament in concept of the messiah?

Answer 1

According to the Messiah Himself, Jesus Christ the LOGOS [WORD of God] and I AM [YHVH] from the beginning [John 1:1-3], "the Old Testament is all about Him! "

"...He [Jesus] said [to His disciples after He was raised from the dead], 'When I was with you before, I told you that EVERYTHING WRITTEN ABOUT ME by Mosesand the Prophets and in the Psalms [the heart of the Old Testament] must all come true.'" (Luke 24:44 NLT New Living Translation)

That's how the Old Testament "understands" the Messiah. It's man who doesn't understand the Old Testament [and subsequently, the New]. It's man who has to have his mind and heart [spirit] opened for him to understand the Scriptures:

"Then He OPENED THEIR MINDS to UNDERSTAND these many Scriptures." (verse 45)

The fact is: Old Testament scriptures [the Holy Spirit-inspired, Divinely-revealed Words of Jesus Christ] have always been about Him, the Messiah. And it's not God's revealed Word that requires "Understanding"... but the hearts and minds of those who read those Sacred Words.

It's an Understanding that cannot come through the "carnal minded" human reasoning process that is dependent upon our five, easily-deceived, physical senses. God's Understanding is achieved only through His personally opening [or awakening] a slumbering human spirit.

And it's the "attitude" [spirit] of the reader that depends on whether or not that Understanding happens.

"...'I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at My Word.'" (Isa.66:2 NLT)

"Fear of the LORD [with a humble and contrite heart] is the beginning of [Godly] Wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One [through Faithful study of and conformity {obedience} to His Word - John 8:31-32] results in [Godly] Understanding." (Prov.9:10 NLT)

Yet, God's Word doesn't provide His "Understanding." It provides the "Knowledge" of Him to the heart of a humble, Faithful, Fearful, Trembling reader. It's God Himself who then "opens" His "Understanding" to that innocent, child-like, Trusting heart.

"Get Wisdom, get Understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the Words of My mouth... Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get Wisdom: and with all thy getting get Understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee Honour, when thou dost embrace her." (Prov.4:5-8 KJV)

Same verses; [NLT]: "Learn to be Wise, and develop Good Judgment. Don't forget or turn away from My Words. Don't turn your back on Wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her and she will guard you. Getting Wisdom [Obtaining the Knowledge contained in The Bible through one's reading and study of it with a Humble and Fearful heart] is the most important thing you can do! And whatever else you do, get Good Judgment. If you prize Wisdom, she will exalt you. Embrace her and she will Honor you."

So, the Words of the Old Testament [and the New] don't "Understand" anything. They are simply God's straight forward, matter-of-fact Truth of which man has but two options: to BELIEVE it... or REJECT it. The Words of the Old Testament [and the New] only provide God's special "Knowledge" about Him. From that point it's up to God to open the heart of whomever He will, to "Understand" [exercise Good Judgment]... to believe and obey what is written there.

Answer 2

In the concept of the Messiah, the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the Messiah made through prophesies. In the New Testament, Jesus is considered the Messiah because all the prophesies were fulfilled in him.

In the concept of the Messiah, the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the Messiah made through prophesies. In the New Testament, Jesus is considered the Messiah because all the prophesies were fulfilled in him.

In the concept of the Messiah, the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the Messiah made through prophesies. In the New Testament, Jesus is considered the Messiah because all the prophesies were fulfilled in him.

In the concept of the Messiah, the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the Messiah made through prophesies. In the New Testament, Jesus is considered the Messiah because all the prophesies were fulfilled in him.

In the concept of the Messiah, the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the Messiah made through prophesies. In the New Testament, Jesus is considered the Messiah because all the prophesies were fulfilled in him.

In the concept of the Messiah, the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the Messiah made through prophesies. In the New Testament, Jesus is considered the Messiah because all the prophesies were fulfilled in him.

In the concept of the Messiah, the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the Messiah made through prophesies. In the New Testament, Jesus is considered the Messiah because all the prophesies were fulfilled in him.

In the concept of the Messiah, the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the Messiah made through prophesies. In the New Testament, Jesus is considered the Messiah because all the prophesies were fulfilled in him.

In the concept of the Messiah, the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the Messiah made through prophesies. In the New Testament, Jesus is considered the Messiah because all the prophesies were fulfilled in him.

Answer 3

The Old Testament more or less confirms the Jewish view of what a Messiah should be. Firstly, at no point does the Old Testament make the claim that the Messiah will be divine, but actually a man.

Regardless there are several relevant prophecies such as:

• The Messiah will reign over Earth as an actual Righteous King on Earth (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
  
• The Messiah or God will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem and make the services operate properly (Ezekiel 37:26-28) (Obviously, if the Temple in Jerusalem was already built, only the latter part would apply.)
  
• All Jews, living or dead, will be gathered back to the Land of Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6)
• The Messiah's ascendance to power will usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred, oppression, suffering and disease. As it says: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall man learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)
• Because of the righteousness of the Messiah universal knowledge of the God of Israel will spread across the world, which will unite humanity as one. As it says: "God will be King over all the world -- on that day, God will be One and His Name will be One" (Zechariah 14:9)
• The Messiah must have direct paternal lineage from King David via Solomon and Rehoboam (Genesis 49:10 and Isaiah 11:1)
• Foreigners will help rebuild Israel and help serve it (Isaiah 60:10)
• The Natural Order will be abrogated, with a cessation of all predation and violence within the animal kingdom (Isaiah 11:6-8) and with the sun never setting (Isaiah 60:19-20)
  
• The Messiah will lead the Jewish people to full Torah observance. Any person who comes in an effort to abrogate laws, alter laws, or add new laws is clearly not the Messiah, but a false prophet. (Deut. 13:1-4)
• The Dead will rise from their graves and resume life among the living (Isaiah 26:19)
• Death shall be abolished for eternal life (Daniel 12:2)

It is quite clear that whoever this person is, he has not come yet. There is also no Old Testament scriptural reference for a number of concepts Christians associate with their Messiah. While some of them may appear to have Old Testament sources, they are read out of context or are based on mistranslations, so the concepts in the Old Testament do not support the argument given. They include the following concepts without proper reference:

• The Messiah is to be a blood sacrifice
• The Messiah is to be born of a virgin
• The Messiah is to face bodily torture of any sort
• The Messiah is to die
  
• The Messiah is to have a second coming
• The Messiah is supposed be a form of expiation
• The Messiah is supposed to be a demi-god or divine in some way
• The Messiah is supposed to oppose the Temple structure
• The Messiah is supposed to vague or speak in riddles/parables

The Jews, as of yet, recognize no historical figure (past or present) who qualifies as a Messiah, even though there has been a Messianic Candidate that has shown up roughly every 150 years starting in 530 B.C.E. The most famous of these include Zerrubabel, Jesus of Nazareth, Bar Kochba, Shabbetai Tzvi, and Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

Answer 4

In the concept of the Messiah, the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the Messiah made through prophesies. In the New Testament, Jesus is considered the Messiah because all the prophesies were fulfilled in him.