i8 7 4] THE FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY 255 



(Matt. xxii. 31, 32, 42 sqq.), was accustomed to vindicate 

 His spiritual understanding of the older revelation, not by 

 mere citation of texts, but by a process of dialectic. The 

 same way of handling the Scriptures is yet more apparent 

 in the apostolic writings. 1 Manifestly, the application of 

 such a method implies that it does not everywhere lie 

 on the surface that the New Testament gives the fulfil 

 ment of the former dispensation, but that it is only when 

 encumbrances are cleared away, the earthly shell rubbed 

 off, a more comprehensive view gained by the occupation 

 of a higher standpoint, that the necessary harmony of the 

 two dispensations is fully vindicated. 



These considerations with regard to the fulfilment of 

 prophecies so central as those that point to the person and 

 work of Christ, may serve to suggest to us caution in 

 considering other portions of the prophetic conception of 

 the future of Israel. If even the figure of the Messiah as 

 delineated in the Old Testament bears traces of the 

 limitation of the dispensation, if while its essential 

 features are manifestly fulfilled in Christ the whole setting 

 of these features must be conceived, in conformity with 

 the New Testament, as very different from that which 

 was suggested to the Old Testament saints from the forms 

 under which they had been brought to realise God s 

 kingdom, if, I say, all this is manifestly true with regard 

 to a matter so central, we shall do well to be prepared to 

 find the same characters even more markedly impressed 

 on other parts of prophecy. We must be prepared to 

 distinguish throughout the Old Testament between the 

 spiritual truth that can, and must, find its fulfilment in a 



1 Cf. Gass, s.v. &quot; Erfiilling &quot; in Schenkel s Bibel-Lexicon : The proof of 

 fulfilment could be given either (i) by direct citation of the original 

 passages from the Old Testament, or (2) rather in a historical way by 

 delineation of the new gospel principle of faith as a providential 

 development out of the preceding religious dispensation with which it is 

 so closely and inwardly connected; (i) prevails in Gospels, but even 

 there citation stands, not for its own sake, but as proof of an inner 

 harmony of plan, while (2) prevails in the Epistles in the notions of 

 TOV 7r\77/x6yuaTos ruv Kaipwv, /u,i&amp;gt;(TT7?/HOJ , 7rp&amp;lt;50ecr(s, etc. 



