Why Study The Old Testament?

As I wrote on Thursday, we are no longer bound by the types and shadows of the Old Testament. But this leads to the error in some folks minds that we don't need that part of the Bible anymore. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Old Testament has much to teach us. Referring to strengthening weak believers, Paul wrote this explanation in Romans 15:4 (BBE). "Now those things which were put down in writing before our time were for our learning, so that through quiet waiting and through the comfort of the holy Writings we might have hope."

We also need to study The Old Testament for wisdom. Proverbs 9:9 (BBE) explains why. "Give teaching to a wise man, and he will become wiser; give training to an upright man, and his learning will be increased."

Certainly Jesus valued the scriptures and quoted them often. After his resurrection, he appeared to two disheartened disciples. Feigning ignorance, he asked them why they were so downcast. Luke 24:25-27 (BBE) tells how Christ showed why he had to die from prophesies in the Old Testament scriptures. "And he said, 'O foolish men! how slow you are to give belief to what the prophets have said. Was it not necessary for the Christ to go through these things, and to come into his glory?' And he made clear to them all the things in the Writings, from Moses and from all the prophets, which had to do with himself."

We also read where Luke commended those folks who studied the scriptures, what we call The Old Testament, and called them more noble. Acts 17:10 and 11 recall, "And the brothers straight away sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea: and they, when they came there, went to the Synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble than the Jews of Thessalonica, for they gave serious attention to the word, searching in the holy Writings every day, to see if these things were so."

I could point out many more verses which show the importance of the holy scriptures. It's one reason which wise believers resist cunningly-devised fables and lies from Satan while others become snared.

In the event that Christ doesn't return by Thursday, I hope to post about spiritual maturity.