Lesson 2

Introduction to the Old Testament

 A. Background of the Old Testament

The term “Old Testament” is most commonly

used to apply to what is known as the
Hebrew Bible consisting of 39 individual books,
covering the time from the creation of
the world to approximately 400 years prior to the
birth of Jesus Christ
1. Authorship
While there is some debate about the
authorship of some of the books, it is generally
accepted that over thirty writers over a period
of approximately 1200 years
contributed to the content of the Old
Testament as we know it today.
2. Language

Most of the Old Testament was written originally in

Hebrew. A few minor portions in books like Ezra,
Daniel and Jeremiah seem to have been written in
Aramaic, a near language to that of Hebrew and very
likely the language which Jesus spoke in the
New Testament era.
2. Language

The Old Testament was translated into Greek somewhere

in the middle of the third century B.C. The Greek
translation of the Hebrew Old Testament is known as the
Septuagint (in reference to some 70 Jewish elders who
worked on the translation). This version was in common
use during the time of Jesus especially among the Jews
of the dispersion.
3. Culture

The Old Testament comes to us out of a very different

culture to that of the modern western experience and,
therefore, can only be understood fully by understanding
certain elements of early eastern culture. The culture of the
Bible is a shepherding and agricultural culture. Most of the
marriage customs of the Bible times are very different to our
western understanding of things.
B. Division of the Books of the Old Testament
1. The Old Testament is categorized in the New Testament in various ways
including:
• The Law and the Prophets (Mt. 7:12; 11:13; 22:40; Lk. 16:16)
• Moses and the Prophets (Lk. 16:29-31)
• The Law, the Prophets and the Psalms (Lk. 24:44).

44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I
was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the
Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” Luke 24:44
2. The more common way of looking at them
for the purpose of study is to divide the
books into five sections including
The Pentateuch
Historical Books
Poetical Books
The Major Prophets
The Minor Prophets
(See Chart on page 10).
C. Approximate Chronology of the Old Testament

The books of the Old Testament are not arranged in chronological order. They
are arranged by category as listed above. When reading any of the books,
especially the prophets, it is important to tie them together with the
historical books of the same era.

The following timeline will serve as a guide for the student of the Old
Testament (See Chart on page 11).
E. Ways to Study the Old Testament

1.Chronologically

In this format of study the books of the Old Testament are

arranged in chronological order and studied in regards to
their historical settings and the local prophetic context.
2. Covenantally

In this format of study the Old Testament is

looked at in relation to God’s nine
covenants with man culminating in the New
Covenant laid out for us in the New
Testament.
3. Messianically

In this format of study the each book of the

Old Testament is seen as a unique
revelation of the Messiah who was to come.
Each book is highlighted with regard to
how Christ is seen in that book.
F. The Relationship of the Old Testament to the New Testament
Both the Old and New Testaments are parts of one book or one
divine revelation.
Genesis 1-2 gives us the creation of man apart from sin, Revelation 21-22 gives us the
state of things after sin and everything in between is the unfolding of God’s plan of
redemption for man. It has been stated this way:

The New is in the Old concealed;

The Old is in the New revealed.
The New is in the Old contained;
The Old is in the New explained.
The New is in the Old enfolded;
The Old is in the New unfolded.
G. Our Approach to the Old Testament

In this course we will survey of all the Old

Testament books, emphasizing their historic
setting and thematic content. Each book will
be highlighted for its relationship to Christ
and to its special contribution to the rest of
Scripture.
 MEMORY VERSE
2 Timothy 2:15

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto

God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.