WHY SHOULD CHRISTIANS READ THE OLD TESTAMENT?

Some may say, “Why read the Old Testament? It’s archaic and irrelevant? We should be spending all our time in the New Testament.”

 The Old Testament is not only what Jesus read and quoted when he lived on earth, but it helps us understand the spiritual history and development of Israel. We find the answers to many deep questions about the origin of humanity, the purpose of life, the beginning of wickedness, the reason for death, and the selection of Israel as God’s chosen nation. 

The Old Testament gives a foundation to more fully understand and appreciate the truths of the New Testament. The first five books of the Bible, especially, give us much of the revelation needed to study and comprehend the rest of the Bible.  

Within the first few chapters of Genesis, we see the corruption of man and the entrance of sin into the earth. But God in his mercy determined a plan of redemption and from the moment of the Adam and Eve’s disobedience He began to set in motion a way to restore us. From Adam, Abraham, David, and through all the prophets, God was weaving together a story of how he would bring a way for all to be saved through the sacrifice of the Messiah, Jesus! Even the laws and descriptions of the temple give us the context to understand more fully the significance and necessity of Jesus dying as the Sacrificial Lamb. The Old Testament gives us more appreciation for the complexity of God’s plan to mature the Bride of Christ.

As we read the Old Testament, we also see a glimpse into the character and emotion of God. God’s patience, wisdom, kindness, forgiveness, strength, glory, faithfulness, and justice are all represented throughout the OT. If we really want to discover more about who God is and more fully grasp the bigger picture of what God is doing, it is important that we read the Old Testament.