What does the Bible say about continuity and discontinuity?

Definition and Scope

Continuity and discontinuity in Scripture refer to the ongoing threads and the unfolding changes that occur in biblical revelation, both in God’s relationship with humanity and humanity’s responsibilities before God. Continuity highlights the unbroken strands of divine truth across the Old and New Testaments—such as God’s unchanging character (Malachi 3:6: “I, the LORD, do not change”)—while discontinuity underscores the transitions or “newness” revealed at various junctures, most significantly in Christ’s fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17) and the establishment of the New Covenant.

Continuity in God’s Nature and Character

God’s unchanging nature consistently appears across Scripture. From creation (Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”) through the covenant promises made to Abraham (Genesis 15:5–6) and culminating in Christ’s eternal reign (Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”), we see that God’s righteousness, love, and sovereignty remain constant. This continuity provides believers assurance that the divine promises and character set forth in the Old Testament find realization in the New Testament without contradiction.

The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the mid-20th century, attest to accurate preservation of these Old Testament texts, showcasing the consistent message about God’s attributes and His plans. Archeological corroboration affirms that the words penned centuries before Christ match the truths Christ Himself proclaimed about the Father’s holiness and mercy (John 5:39–40).

Continuity in Divine Purpose and Plan

Scripture unfolds a consistent objective: God’s desire to dwell among His people and redeem them. In the Old Testament, the sacrificial system and the tabernacle foreshadowed a greater fulfillment (Hebrews 9:9–10). In the New Testament, Christ’s atoning death and resurrection are presented as the pinnacle of this saving plan (Acts 2:23–24). There is an unceasing thread showing how God’s grace forms the basis of redemption, initially symbolized through animal sacrifices (Leviticus 17:11) and ultimately completed in the once-for-all sacrifice of the Messiah (Hebrews 10:10–12).

The continuity of this redemptive intention is observed historically in Israel’s repeated cycles of turning to God and straying from Him, culminating in the prophets’ promises of a Messiah (e.g., Isaiah 53). Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection confirmed these ancient hopes (Luke 4:17–21). Their alignment with centuries of prophetic Scripture underscores continuity in divine purpose.

Continuity in Moral Instruction

Biblical ethics, such as the call to love God wholeheartedly (Deuteronomy 6:5) and to love one’s neighbor (Leviticus 19:18), remain central from the Old Covenant into the New Covenant. Jesus reaffirmed these truths (Matthew 22:36–40), summing up the Law in love toward God and others. Moral continuity extends to many biblical commandments, illustrating that certain core moral truths transcend covenantal boundaries.

Archaeological evidence and historical records show that ancient Israel’s moral codes were distinct from surrounding cultures, corroborating the biblical emphasis that God set His people apart (Deuteronomy 7:6). This enduring moral thread reveals a consistent portrayal of God’s holiness and ethical demands.

Discontinuity in Covenant Practices

While God’s nature remains unchanged, Scripture does show discontinuity in the ceremonial and covenantal expressions. For example, the Old Testament sacrificial system involved elaborate temple worship. Under the New Covenant, Christ serves as the High Priest and final sacrifice, thereby discontinuing the necessity of animal sacrifices (Hebrews 7:26–27). Similarly, certain food laws and ceremonial rituals (Leviticus 11; Acts 10:9–16) find new interpretation after Christ, revealing that these old forms were shadows pointing to the Messiah (Colossians 2:16–17).

This shift does not negate God’s consistency but rather highlights the progressive revelation of His redemptive plan. The historical resurrection of Christ, supported by eyewitness testimony (1 Corinthians 15:3–8) and documented in sources like the first-century writings collected in the New Testament manuscripts, demonstrates how a radical change took place—the old was fulfilled and superseded by the new.

Discontinuity in Old and New Testament Communities

Israel was established as a theocratic nation set apart by dietary laws, ritual observances, and a priesthood (Deuteronomy 14:2). With the birth of the Church, one sees a diverse community of Jews and Gentiles unified by faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:14–16). This represents a discontinuity in how believers live out their covenant identity. Although many moral principles remain, the cultural markers that once separated Israel now give way to a universal community of faith, exemplified by a shared commitment to Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:28–29).

Reconciling Continuity and Discontinuity

Scripture ties these themes together by highlighting that God’s unchanging character and plan run beneath covenantal shifts. The continuity is embedded in divine truths—God’s holiness, love, and redemption—while discontinuity underscores His progressive revelation and the inauguration of new covenantal realities. By understanding that certain aspects of former covenants symbolized deeper eternal truths about Christ and His kingdom, readers perceive that Scripture’s message essentially moves from promise in the Old Testament to fulfillment in the New Testament (Luke 24:44).

Outside historical studies—such as analyses of first-century burial practices and Roman crucifixion procedures, which confirm the plausibility of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection—complement the biblical record that showcases the greatest moment of change in the biblical narrative: the resurrection event. This pinnacle of discontinuity (the new covenant in Christ’s blood) arises from the greatest continuity (the God who always saves).

Practical Implications

1. Worship: The continuity of worship centers on reverence and faith in the one true God, while the form of worship experiences discontinuity in transitioning from temple sacrifices to Christ-centered gatherings (Hebrews 13:15).

2. Ethics: Believers today still uphold the moral continuous thread, such as loving God and neighbor, while recognizing that certain ceremonial dictates (e.g., sacrificial rites) were specifically for the older covenant context.

3. Identity: Christians affirm the continuity of being God’s people, now forming a worldwide body of believers (1 Peter 2:9–10). This displays discontinuity from an ethnically defined community in the OT to a multiethnic faith family in the NT.

4. Hope: Just as prophetic promise gave Old Testament saints a future-focused faith, present-day believers look toward the consummation of Christ’s kingdom for the ultimate fulfillment. This future orientation echoes the consistent biblical teaching that God completes what He starts (Philippians 1:6).

Conclusion

Biblical teaching on continuity and discontinuity weaves together the unalterable nature of God, the abiding foundations of moral and redemptive truth, and the transformative effect of the New Covenant. Across both testaments, we see a unified message—God’s purpose stands, though the expressions of that purpose shift at appointed times. What remains unchanged is the central call to know and glorify the Creator, while what changes is the unfolding manner in which that call is lived out in covenant community.