Is the “Old Testament” worth studying?

Is the “Old Testament” worth studying?

Made you look!  :-)  Of course it is. Here are some of the reasons why.

The Bible is a progressive revelation. If you skip the first half of any good book and try to finish it; you will have a hard time understanding the characters, the plot, and the ending. . . The OT testament also contains vast quantities of wisdom that the New Testament does not share. Many of these are contained in the Psalms and Proverbs.

• Without the Old Testament, we would not understand the Jewish customs which were a big part of the life of Jesus and the early church.
• Without the Old Testament, we would not know the numerous detailed prophecies that could only have come true if the Bible is God’s word.
• The Old Testament contains numerous lessons for us through the lives of its many fallible characters.
• Without the Old Testament, we would not know about the promises God will yet fulfill.

In summary, the Old Testament is a mirror that allows us to see ourselves in the lives of OT characters and helps us learn vicariously from their lives. It sheds so much light on who God is and the wonders He has made and the salvation He has wrought. It shares so much comfort to those in persecution or trouble (see Psalms especially). It reveals through repeatedly fulfilled prophecy why the Bible is unique among holy books—it alone is able to demonstrate that it is what it claims to be: the inspired Word of God. It reveals volumes about Christ in page after page of its writings. It contains so much wisdom that goes beyond what is alluded to or quoted in the NT. In short, if you have not yet ventured in depth into its pages, you are missing much that God has available for you.

CYF staffer Cheryl called our attention to GotQuestions.org, the source for this material; we agreed that it was worth sharing here, and hope it may prove helpful to you, too.

Tags: Bible study