In this chapter the discussion will revolve around the importance of the Old Testament in Van Ruler's theology. In no sense must it be thought that this discussion of the significance of the Old Testament is an afterthought that has been `added on' after our discussion of the messianic intermezzo. "The understanding and interpretation of the Old Testament are very closely correlated with the basic theological position."4.1 Our understanding of the Old Testament decides our interpretation of the salvation given us in Jesus Christ, and in that connection our estimate of earthly and temporal life and of the whole structure of Christian existence. Our whole understanding of the kingdom of God, and therefore also of the catholicity of the Christian faith, the Christian church, and Christianity, is determined by the way we handle the Old Testament.4.2
The previous chapters have been significantly influenced by our interpretation of the Old Testament4.3 and this chapter will not only give a basis to this Old Testament influence but will also provide more content and substance to the ideas (of salvation, sanctification and glorification) that have already been worked out.
We will begin by looking at the Old Testament as such. This will be followed by a discussion of Christ's fulfillment of the Old Testament. On the basis of this fulfillment we will assess Van Ruler's idea that the Torah `returns' completely in christian existence, not to the letter but really and genuinely as the material content of salvation in Christ.