The Vision Objectives

For many, the language of the Faith has historically divided the Hebrew Bible into two segments: the “Old” Tanakh  (Law, Prophets, and Writings) and the “New” Testament.  Unfortunately, this division has stimulated an erroneous perception that the “Old” Testament, while foundational to the faith concepts found within the New Testament, is a Text that simply prefigures what the New Testament ultimately consummated.  This view, which postulates that the New concludes the Old, often stimulates the idea that there is little need for a person of faith to fully engage with the Texts of the Tanakh.  However, it is the perspective of the vision of St. Petersburg Seminary and Yeshiva that the materials found within the entirety of the canonical Scriptures are to be understood as a united, single stream of divine revelation, which consistently demonstrate God’s grace and unmerited compassion to humanity.  In other words, the Bible does not contain a dichotomy between an old and a new covenant; the Old Testament has not been superceded by the New.

In addition, while this area is often overlooked, it is beneficial for a person of Faith to become educated and gain insight into the events and theological developments that occurred during the 400-year period between the lifetime of the prophet Malachi and the events recorded within the Gospels: the Intertestamental period. We believe that it is necessary for students to learn about the multifaceted religious concepts and perspectives that functioned during the Intertestamental period in order to gain a better understanding concerning the materials found within the New Testament.