Old Testament

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” — Matthew 5:17

The Old Testament (39 books) is the record of God’s creation of the world, His covenant relationship with Israel, and the unfolding promise of a coming Redeemer.

Structure

The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) is organized into three divisions:

Torah

Torah (תּוֹרָה) — “instruction, law.” The five books of Moses (the Pentateuch): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books record creation, the patriarchs, the exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Law at Sinai, and Israel’s wilderness wandering. The Torah is the foundation of the entire Old Testament and the bedrock of Israel’s covenant identity.

Nevi’im

Nevi’im (נְבִיאִים) — “prophets.” This division includes the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings), which are historical narratives told from a prophetic perspective, and the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets), which contain the oracles and visions of God’s spokesmen calling Israel to repentance, faithfulness, and hope.

Ketuvim

Ketuvim (כְּתוּבִים) — “writings.” A diverse collection including Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Five Scrolls (Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther), Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles. This division gathers the wisdom literature, liturgical poetry, and post-exilic histories.

Hebrew vs. Christian Canonical Order

The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Christian Old Testament contain the same 39 books but arrange them differently. The Tanakh ends with 2 Chronicles and its call to “go up” to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:23) — a note of hope and return.

The Christian Old Testament follows the Septuagint ordering, grouping books by genre (Law, History, Poetry, Prophecy) and ending with Malachi’s promise that Elijah will come before “the great and dreadful day of the LORD” (Malachi 4:5). This arrangement creates a natural bridge to the New Testament and the appearance of John the Baptist.

Both orderings are legitimate. The Hebrew order emphasizes the liturgical and covenantal rhythm of Israel’s life; the Christian order highlights the forward-looking trajectory of prophecy and fulfillment.

Major Themes

• Creation and Fall — God’s good creation marred by human rebellion (Genesis 1–3)
• Covenant — God’s binding promises to Noah, Abraham, Israel, and David
• Law — God’s holy standard revealing His character and humanity’s need
• Prophecy — The promise of a coming Messiah, a new covenant, and final restoration
• Exile and hope — Israel’s failure and God’s unwavering faithfulness

Progressive Revelation of Redemption

God did not reveal His full plan of salvation all at once. From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15, the protoevangelium), through the covenants with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), Moses (Exodus 19–24), and David (2 Samuel 7), the Old Testament unfolds a progressively clearer picture of how God would redeem His people.

Each covenant builds on the last, narrowing the identity of the promised deliverer — from humanity in general, to Abraham’s line, to the tribe of Judah, to the house of David — until the prophets describe a Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) and a reigning King (Daniel 7:13–14) who would accomplish what the Law and sacrifices could only foreshadow.

Christ in the Old Testament

The Old Testament is not merely background reading for Christians; it is the essential first act of a single story that finds its climax in Jesus Christ. Christ Himself said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39).

The Passover lamb points to the Lamb of God (John 1:29). The bronze serpent lifted in the wilderness prefigures Christ lifted on the cross (John 3:14). The high priest, the temple, the sacrificial system, the Davidic throne — all find their fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The Old Testament is a book about Christ before Christ came. For how the OT relates to the New Testament, see the companion articles on types and shadows and Old Testament to New.

“These are the Scriptures that testify about me.” — John 5:39