The Old Testament
Dr. Henry D. Wells JR.
BibleTruthsYouDidNotSee@yahoo.com
11/23/2011
Welcome
QUOTE FROM THE GIDEON NEW TESTAMENT
"The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the
doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. It doctrines are holy, its
precepts are binding, its histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read
it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to
direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.
It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's
sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened,
and the gates of hell disclosed.
Christ is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.
It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly,
frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory and a
river of pleasure. It is given to you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and
be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the
greatest labor and condemn those who trifle with its sacred contents."
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Why Study the Old Testament?
To understand the importance
of the Old Testament one
needs to under stand its place
in our book, The Bible
1. The Old Testament is part
of our Bible.
Rom:15:4:
2Tim 2:15
When Paul wrote this many of the
New Testament epistles and gospel
where yet to be written.
The New Testament was still
centuries away from even being
canonized. What was Paul talking
about? He was talking about the
Hebrew scripture.
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2. The Bible is an incomplete document
without the Old Testament.
The Old and New Testament make
up the inspired word of God.
The Old Testament with out the
New Testament is and incomplete
document because it does not have
fulfilled promise.
The New Testament is incomplete
without the Old Testament because
without it the New Testament would
only inspire people to question why.
The New Testament was never
meant to replace the Old Testament.
It is meant to complement the Old
Testament to present a complete
story.
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Christ Jesus the Link Between
the Testaments
OLD TESTAMENT CHRIST NEW TESTAMENT
1. First Things 1. Last Things
2. Spiritual Darkness 2. Rising Sun
3. Sin’s Curse 3. Sin’s Remedy
4. Freedom from the Bondage in 4. Freedom from the Bondage
Egypt to Sin
5. Bondage 5. Liberty
6. Law 6. Grace
7. Types and Shadows 7. Substance
8. Outward Ceremonies 8. Inward Experience
9. The Letter 9. The Spirit
10. Prophecy 10. Fulfillment
11. Expected Messiah 11. Ever-present Savior
12. Paradise Lost The link 12. Paradise Regained
13. Longing Desire between the 13. Desires Realization
Testaments
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3. The Ministry of Christ would be an
enigma without the Old Testament.
The Person of Jesus the Christ is the
key to all history,
God's Grand self- revelation, and
humankind's only hope.
Who is Jesus, and what was he going to
do while he was on earth to make all
history revolve around him?
Is He the Messiah, the promised King?
Why did he die so horribly?
Are his cross and crown irreconcilable?
Without the Old Testament there would
be great struggles concerning these
issues.
The Old Testament addresses these
type questions with scriptures like Isaiah
53:10-12.
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4. The historical setting of Christianity is
furnished by the Old Testament
Christianity did not just come into being.
God had been moving among the people throughout the
centuries.
Israel had the oracles of God before Christ made his advent.
That is why Paul could write: "But when the fulness of the
time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
made under the law, to redeem them that were under the
law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Gal. 4:4-5"
So it does not matter that it's canon was completed four hundred
years before Christ's in Bethlehem.
It provides the religious, social, geographical, and political
setting in which Jesus and his disciples lived and ministered.
And think about this the Old Testament was not only the Bible of
the Apostles and the New Testament Writers, but it was also the
Bible of Jesus.
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5. Key foundation truths are found in the Old
Testament
The Old Testament is Truths that are given in the
sacred history that reveals Old Testament:
how God moves in and
through the lives of people 1. God is the sovereign Creator
and the course of nations. 2. Humanity is sinful and in need
of salvation.
If it is view by the Christian 3. God is holy, and God judges
through the eyes of the sin.
Redeemer then God is seen 4. God is love,and God offers
lovingly directing history salvation to sinful humanity
towards God's purpose of 5. A Savior would be born to die or
redeeming the Lost. the sins of the world.
6. We are saved by faith, not by
Crucial foundation truths works.
are presented to show that 7. All history will culminate at the
God is a personal God and throne of God
a Caring God.
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6. There are prophecies with eschatological
in the Old Testament.
Eschatology is the study of the
Last Days or End-times.
The Messianic Prophecies were
talked about earlier.
But there are also things
prophesied about the end.
Promises the God made in
Genesis, Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah,
Zechariah and other Old
Testament books.
Things that can not take place until
the second coming of Christ.
Read the following Example:
Isaiah 65:17-18
Daniel 7:9-14
Daniel 9:24-27
Joel 2:1-2
Zechariah 12:10
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7. The Old Testament is still food for the
Christian's Spirit.
Second Timothy 3:16-17 The Old Testament still is able
"All scripture is given by to reach the reader today in
inspiration of God, and various ways.
1.It still bring conviction of sin {Jeremiah 2}
is profitable for doctrine,
2.Its laws and counsel still show the way to
for reproof, for please God {Exodus 20}
correction, for 3.Its psalms still encourages praise and
instruction in prayer {Psalms 107}
4.Its testimonies still inspire the reader to walk
righteousness: that the in the paths of righteousness {Deuteronomy
man of God may be 31:24-32:47}
perfect, throughly 5.Its historical facts still give perspective and
direction to the reader. It points the reader to
furnished unto all good learn from God of all History. {Psalms 78}
works." 6.Its prophecies still warn of danger and plant
hope in the hearts of all believers. (Zechariah
Paul here is referring 14}
directly to the Old 7.Its record of Israel's kingdom gives
Testament. background for our understanding of the reign
of Christ and His Kingship {2Samuel 7:4-17;
Zechariah 14:9}
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Suggestions of Biblical Studies
Use proper methods of scriptural interpretation!
Don't call them stories! (This will help you with
relevance.)
Remember Hollywood's interpretation is not correct!
Pay attention to the details! Know that nothing is written
just to be a part of the narrative/account
Get a working knowledge of the original language! The
saying that something is lost in the translation is true
when it comes to the Bible in general.
Use Study Aides
Last but not least see the grand bigger picture. Read
and study in light of New Testament revelation.
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Genesis
Book of Beginnings
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The Creation
Genesis gives us
four major events
and four major
People.
The first event is
Creation.
God created all
things.
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The Fall
Sin enters into the
earthen creation
Persons involved:
Adam
Eve
Lucifer
Result:
Humanity Driven
From the Garden.
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The Flood
Humanities sin
became worse and
worse.
Evil filled every
corner of the earth
and it repented God
that he created man.
** Note
We acknowledge that according to scripture
the ark was a barge-shaped vessel.
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Birth of the Nations
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Four People
Genesis next explores the lives of 4
Individuals and their family.
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Joseph
The student should take time to
study the lives of these individuals.
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