Why Should Christians Study the Old Testament?

[rocnation2222]

The old testament is the hebrew religion, new testament is christian religion all current religions come from hebrew

[FinnAtheist]

@rocnation2222 all current religions don't come from hebrew. duh.

[assemblyofmessiah]

The Old Testament (the Tanakh) is the foundation of the New Testament (the Apostolic Writings).

[56IAM]

You have no idea what the truth is about and why prophecies were written.

[ShaggyShagz13]

I was raised w/o religion by an agnostic mother who thought I should choose my own religion and not have one forced on me. The bible was the first obvious choice to study. I did skip the pages of x begot y whom begot z as it was irrelavant to me. I have forgotten more bible verses than most Christians have even read. I walked away from my experience with major doubt. I looked into a few more faiths with the same result. The world won't be perfect w/o faith but will have many less problems.

[WHollabaugh]

I'd like to meet a Christian who's read even one chapter of the New Testament, all I know are Atheists that have actually read the Bible.

Maybe there's a reason for that....

[bollo3000]

That's all very well, but Christians should also make sure they study and understand things that aren't just made up - like evolution.

[wittenbergdoor]

awesome

[Rfacebook]

We know who Jesus is through the old testament: Jesus himself quote the old testament to tell people who he is. Christ had been expected by Jewish prophets for hundreds of years before He came.

[aniboker]

"Identity is bound up with memory"? But Christianity is fundamentally supercessionist! Perhaps, for Jews, understanding the "Old Testament" is akin to national, or cultural memory, but how can Christians expect the same? Do they claim descent, in any sense, from the Israelites of the Hebrew Bible? Or are they merely descended from those who embraced the same god? The difference is fundamental, and Prof. Waltke has here ignored it.

[mattrajczak]

@aniboker The Old Testament isn't a book about Hebrew self-existence solely. It is mankind's relationship with God and vice-versa. It is understanding God, it is understanding human development with God and occasionally foresight.