Importance of the Old Testament Books
The Old Testament is an aggregation of books that cover the history of God's dealings with His children prior to the time of Jesus Christ. Protestants accept 39 books in their collection of Old Testament scriptures, whereas the Catholics accept 46 such books.
Both the Greek Bible and the Hebrew Bible identify five major sections of the Old Testament. The first five books are called the Torah by the Hebrews and the Pentateuch in most other Greek-language-based Bibles. These five books consist of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Genesis narrates how God dealt with his children from the days of Adam and Eve until the days of Moses. The stories of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, among others, are contained in Genesis.
Exodus describes how God chose Moses to lead the children of Israel out of their slavery in Egypt. They journeyed through the wilderness and entered into a covenant with God, who gave them laws and instructions, including those for the holy Tabernacle. Leviticus is about the rituals in and around the Tabernacle. Numbers talks about the wandering of the Jews in wilderness for around 40 years due to their disobedience. Deuteronomy contains the commentaries made by Moses on the law and how these laws are to be applied in daily lives.
In addition to these five beginning books, the Old Testament also contains books that are classified as Histories, Wisdom Literature, and the writings of the Prophets. Jesus made reference to some of these categories when he spoke of "the law" (Torah) and "the prophets" (writings of the prophets).
The books that fall under the history section of the Old Testament include Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. The prophets include the writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and many "minor prophets" (so-designated because their books are smaller, not because their teachings were less important).
Understanding the significance and teachings of these books which make up Old Testament is important. To do so, the reader must become familiar with a number of things that were unique to the people of those days:
Old Testament books have contributed significantly to the development of Christian theology and cosmology. Christian fundamentalists not only consider Jesus as a historical figure, but also claim that he was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies of a coming Messiah who would save His people and perform mighty works and miracles.
Both the Greek Bible and the Hebrew Bible identify five major sections of the Old Testament. The first five books are called the Torah by the Hebrews and the Pentateuch in most other Greek-language-based Bibles. These five books consist of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Genesis narrates how God dealt with his children from the days of Adam and Eve until the days of Moses. The stories of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, among others, are contained in Genesis.
Exodus describes how God chose Moses to lead the children of Israel out of their slavery in Egypt. They journeyed through the wilderness and entered into a covenant with God, who gave them laws and instructions, including those for the holy Tabernacle. Leviticus is about the rituals in and around the Tabernacle. Numbers talks about the wandering of the Jews in wilderness for around 40 years due to their disobedience. Deuteronomy contains the commentaries made by Moses on the law and how these laws are to be applied in daily lives.
In addition to these five beginning books, the Old Testament also contains books that are classified as Histories, Wisdom Literature, and the writings of the Prophets. Jesus made reference to some of these categories when he spoke of "the law" (Torah) and "the prophets" (writings of the prophets).
The books that fall under the history section of the Old Testament include Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. The prophets include the writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and many "minor prophets" (so-designated because their books are smaller, not because their teachings were less important).
Understanding the significance and teachings of these books which make up Old Testament is important. To do so, the reader must become familiar with a number of things that were unique to the people of those days:
- Language—the meaningof different words, names and phrases.
- Covenants—the agreements made between God and His people.
- Symbolism—the metaphors and symbols that teach the significance of symbolic practices (such as sacrifices), which in turn teach concerning man's relationship to God.
Old Testament books have contributed significantly to the development of Christian theology and cosmology. Christian fundamentalists not only consider Jesus as a historical figure, but also claim that he was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies of a coming Messiah who would save His people and perform mighty works and miracles.