Why should we study the Old Testament?
Here's the answer:
The Old Testament is a foundation for the teachings and events we read about in the New Testament.
Do you like to read? Have you ever skipped the first half of a book? It’s hard to understanding the characters, the plot, and the ending. The same is true with the Bible. If we skip the Old Testament, it’s hard to understand the events, characters, laws, and promises in the New Testament.
If our Bibles only contained the New Testament, we would not know why the Jews were looking for a Messiah. We would not know the many prophecies that were given about Jesus.
The Old Testament also has many lessons for us. We can find guidance for our lives. Daniel teaches us to trust God no matter what (Daniel 3). In 1 Samuel 15, we learn it is best to confess sin early and sincerely instead of blaming others for what we did. We also learn that our sin has consequences (Genesis 3). Through the Old Testament, we learn who God is. We also learn that all people are sinful and can’t live up to God’s standard.
If you have not yet read and studied the Old Testament, you are missing a lot of what God has available for you! Enjoy the adventure of studying both the Old and New Testaments!
Bible Truth
"God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right" (2 Timothy 3:16).
