.jpg)
Articles
Why Is It Important for Christians to Study the Old Testament?
Jesus Christ is “the mediator of a new covenant” (Hebrews 9:15). As Christians, we live under that new covenant found in the New Testament. We are not bound to follow the old covenant and the Law of Moses found in the Old Testament, as Jesus has made the old covenant “obsolete” (Hebrews 8:13). Since all that is true, why is it important for Christians to continue to study the Old Testament? Consider the following important reasons:
The Old Testament points to Jesus. In His time on Earth, Jesus Himself used Old Testament Scriptures to teach people about Himself (John 5:39; Luke 24:27). The Old Testament contains several prophecies (e.g. Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22) which provide important context for Jesus’ identity and His mission. The gospel is firmly rooted in the Old Testament (Romans 1:1-2).
The Old Testament illustrates God’s character. Qualities such as God’s holiness, patience, mercy, and love are on full display in the way God deals with individuals and nations in the Old Testament.
The Old Testament demonstrates God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises. Trust in God’s promises is vital to the hope we have in Christ (Galatians 3:16, 29). The Old Testament proves “it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18).
The Old Testament examples teach us valuable lessons. In Romans 15:4, Paul writes “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
The Old Testament provides context to understand the new covenant. The Scriptures are rich in imagery, types, and antitypes. Without having some knowledge of the old covenant, we can not appreciate why the new covenant is called the “better covenant” (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6).
The Old Testament provides the necessary foundation to correctly understand the New Testament. Christians are called to “accurately (handle) the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15). The Old Testament is part of “all Scripture” that “is inspired by God” (II Timothy 3:16). Understanding the Old Testament allows you to enjoy more of the “solid food” of God’s word (Hebrews 5:12-6:1), while also helping you guard against misinterpretations and false teachings of more complex passages (II Peter 3:14-18).
Did the Philippian jailor have an in-depth understanding of the Old Testament when he was baptized for salvation “that very hour of the night” in Acts 16:30-34? We don’t know, but probably not. However, that does not mean we should neglect giving the Old Testament its due diligence in our Bible study efforts. Study the Old Testament because it is important to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15).
