Difference between revisions of "Old Testament"

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{{quote | text=In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.    [[Genesis 1:1]]}}
 
{{quote | text=In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.    [[Genesis 1:1]]}}
  
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{{summary | text=The Old Testament constitutes the first major part of the [[Bible]]. It is often divided into the categories of law, history, poetry (or wisdom books) and prophecy. All of these books were written before the birth of [[Jesus Christ]].}}
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==Synopsis==
  
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The Old Testament constitutes the first major part of the [[Bible]]. It is often divided into the categories of law, history, poetry (or wisdom books) and prophecy. All of these books were written before the birth of [[Jesus Christ]].
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==Contents==
 
{{bible}}
 
{{bible}}
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{{overview}}
 
  
 
{{topics}}
 
{{topics}}
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{{quotes}}
 
{{quotes}}
  
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{{links}}
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==Main article==
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The Old Testament constitutes the first major part of the [[Bible]]. It is often divided into the categories of law, history, poetry (or wisdom books) and prophecy. All of these books were written before the birth of [[Jesus Christ]]. To Jewish people, the Old Testament is known as the "Tannakh", which is an acronym for the Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy), Nebiim (Books of the prophets) and  Kethubim (or Writings).
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===Books of the Old Testament===
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The [[Old Testament]] is divided into 40 books in English. These books are not all written in the same style, but are different types of genres. Loosely, the genres are sometimes categorized as
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* Law
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** [[Genesis]]
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** [[Exodus]]
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** [[Leviticus]]
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** [[Numbers]]
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** [[Deuteronomy]]
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* History
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** [[Book of Joshua|Joshua]]
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** [[Book of Judges|Judges]]
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** [[Book of Ruth|Ruth]]
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** [[1 Samuel]]
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** [[2 Samuel]]
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** [[1 Kings]]
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** [[2 Kings]]
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** [[1 Chronicles]]
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** [[2 Chronicles]]
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** [[Book of Ezra|Ezra]]
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** [[Book of Nehemiah|Nehemiah]]
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** Esther
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* Poetry and Wisdom
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** Job
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** Psalms
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** [[Proverbs]]
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** Ecclesiastes
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** Song of Solomons 
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* Major Prophets
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** [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]]
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** Jeremiah
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** Lamentations
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** Ezekiel
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** [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]]
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* Minor Prophets
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** Hosea
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** Joel
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** Amos
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** Obadiah
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** Obadiah
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** Jonah
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** Micah
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** [[Book of Nahum|Nahum]]
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** [[Book of Habakkuk|Habakkuk]]
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** [[Book of Zephaniah|Zephaniah]]
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** [[Book of Haggai|Haggai]]
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** [[Book of Zechariah|Zechariah]]
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** [[Book of Malachi|Malachi]]
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====Torah - [[Books of the Law]]====
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The Torah consists of the first five books of the Bible. The first book, [[Genesis]], tells about the creation of the universe and God choosing a person ([[Abraham]]) to be the father of his people. The next four books (Exodus to Deuteronomy) describe God saving his people from slavery in Egypt and giving them the law by which they were to live, including the [[Ten Commandments]].
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====[[Historical Books of the Old Testament]] and [[Poetical Books of the Old Testament]]====
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Writings range from the historical such as [[Book of Joshua|Joshua]], the Samuels, Chronicles, or Kings to poetry such as [[Song of Solomon]], or [[Psalms]] and wisdom such as [[Book of Job|Job]], [[Ecclesiastes]], and [[Proverbs]]. They describe the nature of God such as [[Psalm 23]], the wisdom of God and man's reaction such as in [[Job]], or the History of Israel and God's involvement such as establishing [[King David]] and his legacy which led to [[Jesus Christ]] his most famous descendant of all.
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====[[Prophetic Books of the Old Testament]]====
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The Prophets take up a large body of space. They range from the [[Book of Isaiah]] and the [[Book of Jeremiah]] who are classified as the major prophets to [[Book of Hosea|Hosea]], [[Book of Joel|Joel]], and [[Book of Jonah|Jonah]] who are minor prophets. Prophets were divinely appointed spokesman for God. The [[Hebrew]] word for prophet 'nabi' means spokesman. They preached about the corruption of Israel, God's judgement and His future restoration. One vital cornerstone that has bearing for us would be the coming of the [[Messiah]]. This is mentioned in [[Isaiah 53]] in the major prophets and last chapters of Zechariah in the minor.
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===Old Testament History===
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The Old Testament tells the story of [[God]] interacting with his people. It is history. It records stories about real people with real experiences and real emotions, living in a real society. However, it is not exhaustive - it doesn't record all that happened.
 +
 
 +
In the book [[How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth]], it was suggested that there are 3 levels to Old Testament history
 +
# God's overall plan for his creation
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# Israel's role in that plan
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# Individual people within that plan
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A brief timeline is below
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* [[Genesis (WEB)#Chapter 1|Genesis 1-11]] - Undated - Creation, Fall, Flood, Babel
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* [[Genesis (WEB)#Chapter 12|Genesis 12-50]] - Around 2000 BC - The [[Patriarchs]]
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* [[Exodus]] - Around 1400 BC - From [[Ancient Egypt]] to the [[Promised Land]]
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* [[Book of Joshua|Joshua]] and [[Book of Judges|Judges]] - Around 1400 BC to 1050 BC - Settling in the [[Promised Land]]
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* [[1 Samuel]], [[2 Samuel]] and [[1 Chronicles]] - 1100 BC to [[971 BC]] - Beginning of the Monarchy
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* [[1 Kings]], [[2 Kings]] and [[2 Chronicles]] - [[971 BC]] to [[539 BC]] - The Divided Kingdom and the Exile
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* [[Book of Ezra|Ezra]] and [[Book of Nehemiah|Nehemiah]] - [[539 BC]] to [[410 BC]] - The return from the Exile
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===Old Testament Themes and Theology===
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The Old Testament sets the stage for what happens in the [[New Testament]]. Its overall theme is about God reaching out his hand of love and mercy to his people. Some of the key themes in it include
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* [[Yahweh]]
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* [[Israel]]
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* [[Promised Land]]
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* [[Covenant]]
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* [[Sin]]
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* [[Salvation]]
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* Hope
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===Old Testament Geography===
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[[Image:Satellite image of Israel in January 2003.jpg|thumb|A satellite image of Israel]].
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An understanding of the geography of the region brings he sories of the Old Testament to life. There are 4 geographical north-south regions of Israel, in order of west to east:
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* Flat and fertile plains along the coast
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* Valleys and hills
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* The Jordan Rift Valley
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* Highland regions (now in modern day Jordan)
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====Old Testament Maps====
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<gallery>
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Image:Maps-near-east-abrahams-journey.gif|Abraham's journey from [[Ur]] to the promised land
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Image:Davids-kingdom.jpg|The kingdom of Israel, around the time of [[King David]], showing surrounding empires
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Image:Maps-divided-kingdom.gif|The divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah
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</gallery>
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===Literature from the ancient Near East===
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Apart from the [[Old Testament]], there is other literature from that time and region. Some of this literature includes creation stories and myths (such as the [[Enuma Elish]]), records from royal courts, conventants and laws, and poetry and wisdom literature from other ancient civilizations. These can be useful to help give more context (both in terms of type of literature and also in dating) to the Old Testament.
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==Links==
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testament Wikipedia - Old Testament]
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testament Wikipedia - Old Testament]
  
 
{{returnto}} [[Bible]]
 
{{returnto}} [[Bible]]

Revision as of 06:37, 23 June 2007

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

Synopsis

The Old Testament constitutes the first major part of the Bible. It is often divided into the categories of law, history, poetry (or wisdom books) and prophecy. All of these books were written before the birth of Jesus Christ.

Contents

List of Books of the Bible

Old Testament

New Testament


Related topics


Comments, Personal Articles, Studies and Sermons

Old Testament (discussion) (For short comments and opinions)


For related quotations see Old Testament (quotes)


Main article

The Old Testament constitutes the first major part of the Bible. It is often divided into the categories of law, history, poetry (or wisdom books) and prophecy. All of these books were written before the birth of Jesus Christ. To Jewish people, the Old Testament is known as the "Tannakh", which is an acronym for the Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy), Nebiim (Books of the prophets) and Kethubim (or Writings).

Books of the Old Testament

The Old Testament is divided into 40 books in English. These books are not all written in the same style, but are different types of genres. Loosely, the genres are sometimes categorized as

Torah - Books of the Law

The Torah consists of the first five books of the Bible. The first book, Genesis, tells about the creation of the universe and God choosing a person (Abraham) to be the father of his people. The next four books (Exodus to Deuteronomy) describe God saving his people from slavery in Egypt and giving them the law by which they were to live, including the Ten Commandments.

Historical Books of the Old Testament and Poetical Books of the Old Testament

Writings range from the historical such as Joshua, the Samuels, Chronicles, or Kings to poetry such as Song of Solomon, or Psalms and wisdom such as Job, Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs. They describe the nature of God such as Psalm 23, the wisdom of God and man's reaction such as in Job, or the History of Israel and God's involvement such as establishing King David and his legacy which led to Jesus Christ his most famous descendant of all.

Prophetic Books of the Old Testament

The Prophets take up a large body of space. They range from the Book of Isaiah and the Book of Jeremiah who are classified as the major prophets to Hosea, Joel, and Jonah who are minor prophets. Prophets were divinely appointed spokesman for God. The Hebrew word for prophet 'nabi' means spokesman. They preached about the corruption of Israel, God's judgement and His future restoration. One vital cornerstone that has bearing for us would be the coming of the Messiah. This is mentioned in Isaiah 53 in the major prophets and last chapters of Zechariah in the minor.

Old Testament History

The Old Testament tells the story of God interacting with his people. It is history. It records stories about real people with real experiences and real emotions, living in a real society. However, it is not exhaustive - it doesn't record all that happened.

In the book How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth, it was suggested that there are 3 levels to Old Testament history

  1. God's overall plan for his creation
  2. Israel's role in that plan
  3. Individual people within that plan

A brief timeline is below

Old Testament Themes and Theology

The Old Testament sets the stage for what happens in the New Testament. Its overall theme is about God reaching out his hand of love and mercy to his people. Some of the key themes in it include

Old Testament Geography

A satellite image of Israel

.

An understanding of the geography of the region brings he sories of the Old Testament to life. There are 4 geographical north-south regions of Israel, in order of west to east:

  • Flat and fertile plains along the coast
  • Valleys and hills
  • The Jordan Rift Valley
  • Highland regions (now in modern day Jordan)

Old Testament Maps

  • Abraham's journey from Ur to the promised land

  • The kingdom of Israel, around the time of King David, showing surrounding empires

  • The divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah

Literature from the ancient Near East

Apart from the Old Testament, there is other literature from that time and region. Some of this literature includes creation stories and myths (such as the Enuma Elish), records from royal courts, conventants and laws, and poetry and wisdom literature from other ancient civilizations. These can be useful to help give more context (both in terms of type of literature and also in dating) to the Old Testament.

Links


Return to Bible

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