When some ask about the essence of Christianity or the basis of its teachings, they often focus on the New Testament, ignoring or downplaying the importance of the Old Testament. This incomplete understanding is not merely a scholarly oversight; it represents a real danger to a believer’s ability to grasp the core of Christian faith. Christianity, by its nature, is not a religion separate from God’s history with humanity, but a natural continuation and culmination of what God began with Abraham and the prophets of Israel. Therefore, faith in the Old Testament is essential to truly understand Christianity.
The Old Testament as the Foundation for the New Testament
First, it must be emphasized that the New Testament did not emerge in a vacuum. Everything in it is built upon the Old Testament, which represents the record of God’s history with humans, the stories of His prophets, His moral principles, and prophecies concerning the awaited Messiah. Christ Himself, according to the Gospels, came to fulfill the covenant, not to abolish what came before. Jesus said:
“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).
These words confirm that understanding Christianity without referring to the Old Testament is like trying to understand the ending of a story without knowing the first chapters.
Prophet Abraham, for example, is not a passing figure in religious history; he is the cornerstone of God’s covenant and the source of the promise of salvation fulfilled in Christ. God said to Abraham:
“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse” (Genesis 12:3).
By studying Abraham’s life and his test of faith and obedience, believers can appreciate the depth of Christian faith based on obedience and trust in God, as Paul expressed in the New Testament:
“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3).
Messianic Prophecies in the Old Testament
The Old Testament is full of prophecies that foretold the coming of Christ, both in terms of timing, place, and the manner in which the Savior would appear. The book of Isaiah alone contains dozens of references to Christ, such as:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14),
which Matthew later cited to confirm the virgin birth of Jesus.
Also, in Micah it is written:
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the clans of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth for me one who will be ruler over Israel” (Micah 5:2),
which was fulfilled in Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem as recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 2:1).
Understanding these prophecies shows that Christ did not appear suddenly; He came to fulfill God’s promise given thousands of years before.
Ethics and Values in the Old Testament
The Old Testament provides a solid moral framework. God’s commandments to Moses illustrate the core principles embodied by Christ later:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5),
“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).
These values were not abolished in the New Testament but were affirmed by Jesus, who said:
“This is the greatest and first commandment” (Matthew 22:37-39).
Studying the Old Testament allows believers to realize that love, justice, and mercy are not new ideas but an extension of God’s moral plan throughout history.
The Old Testament and the Spiritual History of the People
Christianity cannot be understood without understanding the people from whom Christ came, namely Israel. The Old Testament documents this history: the covenant with Abraham, the Exodus from Egypt, the life of the prophets, and the challenges of the people in obeying God. For example, the story of the Exodus:
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go, bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt'” (Exodus 3:10).
This event is not just history but a model of God’s salvation later embodied in Christ, as Paul wrote:
“Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written down as warnings for us” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
Understanding this context allows believers to see Christianity as the culmination of a continuous divine story, not merely a set of new teachings.
Linking the Old and New Testaments
The Bible must be read as a unified whole. The Old Testament provides the foundation; the New Testament completes it. A clear example of this connection is the Passover: the sacrificial lamb in the Old Testament symbolized Christ’s atonement:
“The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13),
while Christ Himself was the true Lamb who redeemed humanity:
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Without understanding the Old Testament background, the believer loses the true meaning of the salvation Christ accomplished.
Responding to Criticisms
Some say that Christianity has surpassed the Old Testament, and focusing on it is unnecessary. The truth is the opposite: Christianity did not abolish the Old Testament; it completed it. Ignoring the Old Testament is like ignoring the roots of a tree that bears fruit. Studying the Old Testament strengthens Christian faith, clarifies God’s unified plan, and enables believers to defend their faith against those who doubt its importance.
Conclusion
Faith in Christianity without studying the Old Testament is like trying to read the ending of a novel without knowing its first chapters. The Old Testament is not just ancient history or isolated stories; it is a living record of God’s plan for humanity, His promise of the awaited salvation, and the moral framework embodied by Christ. Studying the Old Testament allows believers to:
Understand God’s promise and plan of salvation from Abraham’s time.
Recognize the Messianic prophecies fulfilled in Jesus.
Appreciate the ethical values Christ embodied.
Comprehend the history of the people from whom Christ came and the context of events.
Connect the old symbols with the true salvation in Christ.
Those who understand the Old Testament understand Christianity as it truly is: a faith built on a continuous divine promise, a complete message of salvation, and a journey of faith that begins with Abraham and culminates in Christ. Therefore, every Christian believer must study the Old Testament deeply, not merely as a scholarly obligation but as an essential step to understand the nature of Christian faith, engage with God’s will, and defend Christianity against those who diminish its significance. Christianity without the Old Testament is not merely an intellectual gap; it is the loss of the roots that give faith its strength and stability.
