As we are continuing through our look at the Twelve Days of Christmas, we are now taking a look at the second day. Our True Love is giving us Two Turtle Doves.
Previously, we discussed what the Partridge was that out True Love gave – Jesus Christ, and now we are discussing another type of fowl that we are being given: turtle doves.
What is a turtle doves? Well, besides the obvious of it being a bird of the dove variety, it also holds a specific place in medieval imagery. The turtle dove is a sign of faithfulness. It is also associated with sacrifice in scripture. It was to be a sacrifice that could be made in place of a more valued animal (a lamb) for those families that were poor. This is a provision that is made in Leviticus 14:30, and and we see the example of this provision being utilized in Luke 2:24 when Jesus is dedicated after his birth.
But when it comes to be a gift that we are given, what is it meant to symbolize?
Remember that the Twelve Days of Christmas are meant to be representative of pennants of the Chriatan faith during a time when the people of Europe were largely illiterate. What I’d a gift that has been given bus by God that pertains specifically to scripture?
The Old and New Testament.
The Old and New Testament
The OT and NT are a part of the Bible that together compromise 66 books. To be a part if the Bible they must meet a specific standard known as the Canon. The Canon, meaning measuring g rod, is the standard that is used to determine what constitutes as Holy Scripture. The Old Testament matches up with the Jewish holy writing, which in clues the Pentetauch (or Torah), books of history, poetry, wisdom, major and minor prophets. The Canon was primary applied to the NT as they were letters written to the Church, the Gospels, and history of the Church. The letters are written by the Apostles of Christ, or by those closely associated with the apostles, and meet the standard that is used. One of the most notable non-apostles would be Luke, who wrote both the Gospel that bears his name and the book of Acts – which is a historical account of the beginning of the Church, and specifically covers the missionary journeys of Paul.
There are some books that are known as inter-testamental books that are known as the Apocrypha. These are books that are not considereal to be Holy Scripture by the Jewish people, and does not meet the standard to be included in the New Testament. They are included in the Catholic Bible, but we’re added after the Catholic Church under went a reformation in the mid-sixteenth century. They are good books to read, but are not to be considered scripture.
The OT & NT are a beautiful gift that has been given to us by God, sharing his story of Creation towards end when Christ returns. Some think that we don’t need the OT because we have the NT, but both are gifts. The OT tells us what the problem is and the NT tells us what the answer is. They inform each other and if we don’t look to the whole of scripture, we short change ourselves of the gift that God has given.
Road Trippin With Rachael 
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