Why Study the Old Testament

2 Tim 3:16 2 Tim 3:16 Jesus and the Old Testament Jesus and the Old Testament Paul and the Old Testament Paul and the Old Testament The New Testament writers use of the Old Testament The New Testament writers use of the Old Testament

What is the Old Testament Tripartite Canon Tripartite Canon –Torah –Nebiim (The Prophets) –Ketubim (The Writings) Origen changed the order of the OT books Origen changed the order of the OT books Early Church in the west (Rome) included the apocryphal books Early Church in the west (Rome) included the apocryphal books

TANAK Jewish Canon of the Twenty-Four Books

Tanak consists of Torah (Law) Torah (Law) Nebiim (Prophets) Nebiim (Prophets) Ketubim (Writings) Ketubim (Writings)

THE TORAH (5 Books) Genesis Genesis Exodus Exodus Leviticus Leviticus Numbers Numbers Deuteronomy Deuteronomy

THE PROPHETS (8 Books) Former Prophets Former Prophets –Joshua –Judges –Samuel I & II –Kings I & II

THE PROPHETS Latter Prophets Latter Prophets –Isaiah –Jeremiah –Ezekiel –The Twelve (Minor Prophets) Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

THE WRITINGS (11 Books) Poetry (emeth Truth) Poetry (emeth Truth) –Psalms –Proverbs –Job

THE WRITINGS Five Little Rolls (Megilloth) Five Little Rolls (Megilloth) –Song of Songs –Ruth –Lamentations –Ecclesiastes –Esther

THE WRITINGS Histories Histories –Daniel –Ezra-Nehemiah –Chronicles I & II

What is Old Testament Theology The task of presenting what the Old Testament says about God as a coherent whole The task of presenting what the Old Testament says about God as a coherent whole

Does the OT have a center (Mitte) –W. Eichrodt: Covenant –L. Köhler: God as the Lord –Vriezen: Communion between God and Man –G. E. Wright: God who Acts –W. Kaiser Jr.: Promise –S. Terrien: The Elusive Presence of God –G. Hasel: God as theological center –Dillard & Longman: Multiperspectival appraoch and Christocentric nature

Basic Principles that characterize OT Theology Historical base Historical base What OT itself claims What OT itself claims Address the relationship between OT & NT Address the relationship between OT & NT Join OT & NT to form biblical theology Join OT & NT to form biblical theology Move beyond description of truth to prescription of action Move beyond description of truth to prescription of action Display unity within diversity Display unity within diversity Distance itself from writing a history of Israelite religions Distance itself from writing a history of Israelite religions Not to force the text into certain mold Not to force the text into certain mold

The Relevance of the Old Testament Torah Torah –Meaning –Theology of Torah –What makes law relevant to us?

The Relevance of the Old Testament The Prophets are The Prophets are –Preachers of the Law of Moses –Gods delegates to summon people to return to God –Social reformers –Announcers of judgment and salvation –Messengers of the oracles of God to the nations

The Relevance of the Old Testament Wisdom Literature Wisdom Literature –Proverbs: The fear of the Lord –Song of Songs: Sex and Marriage –Ecclesiastes: Vanity of life –Job: Suffering of the righteous

The Relevance of the Old Testament Psalms Psalms –Hymns: Gods creation or sovereignty –Laments: plead to God for his intervention –Thanksgivings: Praise God for his acts

G. Sheppard Psalms are mainly human words in their approach to God, but in the providence of God, they become Gods word to teach our lisping lips how to come before the throne and altar of God Psalms are mainly human words in their approach to God, but in the providence of God, they become Gods word to teach our lisping lips how to come before the throne and altar of God