5 reasons why I study the old Testament

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I love to read the old Testament. Love not only because I like to enjoy his poetry or to draw knowledge from historical books, I’m sure that the study of the old Testament as necessary for Christians, as daily reading of the gospel. And for this I have five reasons.

1 To the study of the Scriptures called Jesus Christ Himself.

Responding to the people who doubt His Divinity, our Lord Jesus Christ said:

“Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39). What Scripture says here is the Christ? Of course, the Scriptures of the old Testament as a single book of the New Testament at that time was not yet written. Want to know more about Jesus — study the old Testament!

2 Knowledge of the old Testament helps to study the New Testament.

Many words and expressions found in the Gospels and the Epistles of the apostles, it is impossible to understand without knowing the old Testament. Quite differently perceive the act of Jesus on Calvary and His words, “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must be lifted up the Son of man” (John 3:14), when know the history of the elevation of the brazen serpent on the journey of the Jews through the desert. And the theme of God’s judgment it is impossible to fully understand without knowing what the Jewish ritual associated with the “scapegoat.”

3 the old Testament reveals the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The gospel describes how John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, he exclaimed: “Behold the lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). This phrase may be completely incomprehensible to modern man, but perfectly understandable to a Jew, brought up in the traditions of the old Testament. It was when studying the system of Jewish holidays and sacrifices, understand the role of Jesus as sacrifice (the lamb slain for our sins) and the Priest (our advocate, intercessor before the Heavenly Father). And in the predictions of the old Testament prophets centuries before the birth of Christ, describes the smallest details of His birth, his life and His sacrifice for us.

4 images of the old Testament is for Christians the last time.

Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, job, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon… the Story of every old Testament hero worthy of study, because it carries a rich moral lesson. Read the old Testament to learn from his heroes of loyalty and love. Read not to repeat their mistakes. That is the purpose of writing of the old Testament. He has written for us. Not for nothing that the Apostle Paul stated: “All these things happened to them [as] images; and written for our admonition, of the ages” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

5 Teachings of the old Testament wise and practical.

“What great people, had such righteous decrees and laws as all this law which I set before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:8), exclaimed one day, Moses. Indeed, the Ten Commandments is a masterpiece of superhuman wisdom, the expression of the character of God and the Foundation of the Heavenly Constitution. But also a lot of benefits can be derived from studying the civil laws of ancient Israel, scrupulously recorded in the five books of Moses, and from reading wisdom of Solomon, and the teachings of the ancient prophets.

Thus, the old Testament is a full and integral part of Scripture. A careful study of the old Testament will enrich every Christian, for as the Bible says, “all Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

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