Lesson 1

Why Study the Old Testament?

A. Introduction

For many people the Old Testament of the Holy Bible is

cloaked in mystery.
When people become Christians, they are encouraged to
read the Bible, but they are often directed
exclusively to the New Testament and, perhaps, the Psalms of
the Old Testament.
 Lesson 1
Why Study the Old Testament?
A. Introduction

There are even versions of the Bible that only contain

the New Testament and the Psalms. Many Christians
spend their whole life reading primarily the New
Testament books. If they do start reading in the Old
Testament, they usually only make it through the first
few books of the Pentateuch before getting frustrated
and jumping back to the New Testament.
 Lesson 1
Why Study the Old Testament?
A. Introduction

Part of the difficulty is that very few people understand the

link between the Old and the New Testament and do not see
them as one book. In our normal course of life, no one sits
down to read a book by starting in the middle and reading to
the end. If this were done, so much would be lost in the
sense of the book. In fact, one would run the risk of missing
the whole point of the book.
 Lesson 1
Why Study the Old Testament?
A. Introduction
It is no different with the Bible, the most unique book
in the entire world. Even though it is comprised of 66
books, written by multiple human authors over a
period of nearly 2000 years, it is one book and can only
be truly understood and appreciated when seen
in that light.
B. Why Study the Old Testament?

1. Because it is part of the “All Scripture” that is given by inspiration of God that is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness

(II Tim. 3:14-17).

“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from
whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which
are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

a. The Scripture of the Old Testament provides a source of wisdom.

b. The Scripture of the Old Testament leads us to salvation.
c. The Scripture of the Old Testament guides our steps.
d. The Scripture of the Old Testament equips us to fulfill our destiny.
2. Because “whatever things were written before were written for our
learning, that we
through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope”
(Rom. 15:4; I Pet. 2:12-13).
“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied
of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the
Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the
sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but
to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have
preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” I
Peter 1:12-13

a. The Scripture of the Old Testament was written for our learning.
b. The Scripture of the Old Testament was written specifically for us in the Church Age not simply those who
lived in Old Testament times.
c. The Scripture of the Old Testament was written to bring comfort to us as we walk in faith in the New
Testament Age.
3. Because “all these things happened to them as examples, and they “were written for
our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come” (I Cor. 10:6, 11).

a. The Scripture of the Old Testament gives us examples of both the positive and the
negative to bring admonition to our lives.

b. The Scripture of the Old Testament is especially written for the last generation
before the return of Christ to inspire the faith needed to fulfill the unique
challenges of that era.
4. Because the whole Old Testament was a shadow of the real (Heb. 10:1). It is the
purpose of the shadow to point us to the real or the substance that has come to us in
Christ (Col. 2:16-17; Heb. 8:5).

So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or
sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17

a. The Scripture of the Old Testament gives us tangible or visible expressions of

invisible realities.
b. The Scripture of the Old Testament points us to and help us to visualize all that
we have been given in Christ.
c. The Scripture of the Old Testament presents the natural that precedes and paves
the way for the spiritual (I Cor. 15:44-47).

However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.
I Corinthians 15:46

• Natural birth precedes spiritual birth (Jn. 3:5).

• Natural Israel precedes spiritual Israel (Gal. 6:16).
• Natural Jerusalem precedes spiritual or heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 12:22).
• Natural temple precedes the spiritual temple (I Pet. 2:5).
• Natural priesthood precedes a spiritual priesthood (I Pet. 2:5).
• Natural sacrifices precede spiritual sacrifices (Heb. 13:16).
• Natural enemies and warfare precede spiritual enemies and warfare (Eph.6:12).
5. Because the entire Bible, including the Old Testament is the story of Jesus Christ our
Redeemer (Mt. 5:17; Lk. 24:27, 44; Jn. 1:45; 5:39, 46-47; Acts 10:43; Gal. 3:24; Heb.
10:7).
“
You study the Scriptures, because you think that in them you will find eternal life.
And these very Scriptures speak about me!” --Good News Translation

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the
prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter
into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them
in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24:25-27

a. The entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is His—Story (History). He is
the unifying theme of the whole Bible.

b. The entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is an unfolding of the plan of
redemption. The first two chapters of Genesis and the last two chapters of Revelation are
history before sin and after sin with everything in between covering the redemption of
man.
c. The entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, relates the unfolding
struggle between the two seeds—the seed of the serpent and the seed of
the woman (Gen.3:15).

d. The entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, could be labeled the Book of the
Revelation of Jesus Christ.
6. Because the Old Testament is the foundation on which the house of the New
Testament is built (Heb. 3:1-6; Eph. 2:20).

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with
the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief
cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy
temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place
of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22

a. God has only ever had one people—His chosen ones. The saints of the New
Testament are inseparably connected to the saints of the Old Testament (Heb.
11:40; Mt. 8:11).

b. The prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles of the New Testament were
all working on the same spiritual temple made of both Jew and Gentile (Eph.
2:19-22).
7. Because the first church was build upon the revealed Scriptures of the Old Testament
(Acts 6:2-7; 18:11; 28:23).

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they
received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to
see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11, NIV

a. The Scripture of the Old Testament is the only word that shaped the New
Testament church because it was the only Bible they had.

b. Rightly dividing the Scripture of the Old Testament was essential for the success
of the Early Church (II Tim. 2:15). Without adherence to the principles contained
in the Old Testament, the New Testament workman will end up being “ashamed.”

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does
not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (NIV)