Introduction to the old testament

1. Introduction to the old testament Pre-Servants Meeting

2. The old & New testament • The old and new testaments don’t mean “an era” it is a covenant between God and Man • The covenant has been sealed by blood • The law of the old testament was established on the sacrifices – animals’ blood • The covenant of the new testament was established by His blood – Christ’s blood • There is no forgiveness of sin without bloodshed

3. The old & new testament • We cannot study the old testament with a critical eye. It should be studied by faith. • Without faith, we cannot understand its theme • Isaiah 6: 9-10 And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ “Make the heart of this people dull,
And their ears heavy,
And shut their eyes;
Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And return and be healed.”

4. The covenant between christ & Man • Non-believers and those who refuse to understand will never discover the beauty of the old testament • Prayers before reading is a must or a condition in order to understand it • The old testament was a verbal relationship (ex. Joseph) between God and man. The law was written inside the conscience of man. • From Adam to Moses • From Moses to Christ the relationship was written on tablets • In the new testament, it is the covenant of the grace of God which is written on the hearts of man.

5. Unity between the old testament and the new testament • The old testament overshadows the new testament • The new testament is hidden inside the old testament • The sacrifices of the old testament is a demonstration of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross

6. Matthew 5: 17-20 • 17“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

7. Unity between the old testament and the new testament • The Bible is the only book which reveals the secrets of the relationship between God and man in different ages through different characters • Although there’s a large gap in time and there are different people who never knew one another. We can still see the unity in its doctrine between each book and each testament. Regarding the dogma, theme,prophecies, symbols, history, and God’s love and care.

8. Classifications of the old testament [1] Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy

[2] History: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther

[3] Poetry: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon

[4] Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel

[5] Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi


9. Questions?