The
Old Testament
“Before the mountains were born
or you brought
forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting
to everlasting you are God.”
Ps 90:2 NIV
Is the Old Testament relevant to a modern
day Christian?
New Testament writers quote extensively from
the Old Testament. Every book in the New Testament refers to specific scriptures
from the Old Testament. For example, the Gospel of Matthew has 96 specific Old
Testament quotations. Revelation has the most with 249 specific quotations. Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, often quotes from the Old Testament. In Romans, Paul uses 74 Old Testament quotes.
The New Testament borrows from the old a total of 855 times. We will see
that the Old Testament writers anticipate, predict, and picture Christ through prophecy.
They provide the historical setting and roots of our faith. Biographical
studies, such as the life of Abraham, or perhaps Ruth, provide insight into the character God values. Proverbs provides wisdom in how to live a wise and good life. Psalms
teach us how to praise God.
The whole
Bible is really about Jesus. Jesus can be found in each and every book. So, when you read the Bible,
look for Jesus. In John 5:39-40, Jesus spoke about the scriptures that are now we call the call the Old Testament.
Jesus said these scriptures "testify about me." He is in the Old Testamen. So search for Him as you study.
"You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life.
These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." John 5:39-40 NIV
General: The Old Testament is composed of 39 books; 17 are historical, 5 are poetic, and 17 prophetic. This history portion of the Bible composes about 47%. The
poetic portions compose another 23%. The remaining 31% is devoted to prophecy.
The Pentateuch is the Greek name given to the first five books of the Bible written by Moses. Pentateuch means, in Greek, the first “five volumes.” The latter portions, about the death of Moses, may have been written by Ezra.. These books are also termed the “law,” or, in Hebrew, the
Torah. Jews write them out on a ‘single scroll.’ These books are separated, in the Christian Bible, into Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Genesis Chapter 1-11 are a history of the beginnings
of humanity. In Chapter 12, the Bible begins to report the history of one family and all the things God has done
through them. This is the history of the family of Abraham and his generations. For out of the family of Abraham
comes Jesus Christ. There is prophesy of Jesus throughout the so called Old Testament. We see the fullfillment
of His phophecy beginning in the Book of Matthew.
“Some think that the stories about Abraham were made
up. But archaeology makes it clear these stories contain authentic details. For instance, the raiding route that kings are said to have followed in Genesis 14
really was used two thousand years before Christ. Laws and marriage contracts
dating from Abraham’s time indicate Sarah’s offer of her slave Hagar to Abraham, so that Abraham could have a
son, was a common practice at that time. A person making up these stories hundreds
of years later would not have been able to include so many authentic details.” “The Bible: A smart guide,”
Richards, p. 17.)
The New Testament is the Christ revealed. The Old Testament is Christ concealed.
In the Old Testament Christ is:
In the New Testament Christ is:
Concealed
Revealed
Anticipated
Acknowledged
Contained
Explained
Promised
Proclaimed
Pictured
Present
Predicted
Fulfilled
Sections of the Old Testament
The Law--------------Foundation for Christ
History----------------Preparation for Christ
Poetry-----------------Aspiration for Christ
Prophecy------------Expectation of Christ
From: "The
Knowing Jesus Study Bible" (NIV), the Zondervan Corporation, 1999.
Genesis is a Greek word that means “origin” or “beginning.”
I spent about a year, in a men’s small
group bible study group, studying the book of Genesis. My oldest son had several
classes with a rabbi , at the University of Iowa, who said he had
studied the book of Genesis for 23 years. There is a lot there and it is an obvious
place to start in Bible study. In this simple study, we will mostly give an overview
of Genesis. But in some areas, we will go into bone crushing detail.
Pastor John Hagee, a well-known writer especially regarding
prophecy, states in “Knowing the secrets of God,” Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000) there are 30 revelations of
truth in Genesis (p. XV). Look for them as you read Genesis. I list some of them: 1. God is a Trinity; 2. Every individual must be tested; 3. satan is a real being;
4. Salvation always requires the shedding of blood; 5. Good works cannot hide your sin, 6. Believers will not go thru the
Judgment; 7. God will honor those who honor authority; 8, We are justified by
faith, 9. The promised Son will be delivered from death; 10. Prayer has real power; 11. The two trees represent the story
of man’s fall and God’s redemption; 12. God will discipline erring believers; 13, the life of Enoch vividly portrays
the Rapture, 14. The anti-Christ is satan’s seed. And 15, the story of
Joseph pictures Christ’s second coming. If you want to read his study of
them in detail, this book is widely available and a good read.
