During my freshman year of college, I was placed as a roommate with another freshman who was a theology major. Just so we’re all clear about this: theology is the study of God. And just so we’re all crystal clear about this: the study of God is typically based on the Bible.
I can hear some of you now, “Duh! Great insight!” But hang with me for a moment.
Near the start of our first semester together my roommate came into our dorm room very upset, slammed the door shut, and threw down his backpack. When I asked what was the matter he told me he had just come from a meeting with his academic advisor and was furious at his list of required classes. When I inquired what class he wasn’t allowed to take, he said, “No, it’s not what class I can’t take; it’s what classes I have to take!”
“So what classes are you upset that you have to take?” I asked, thinking maybe something like science or phys ed.
“Old Testament,” he responded. I was speechless, but he continued, “I mean, Old Testament! C’mon, that was stuff from a long time ago. We live under the new covenant now, so the old covenant has no purpose for us anymore!”
Although this is somewhat shocking to hear from a theology major, I’m afraid a lot of people feel this way.
Did you know…
- The Old Testament (OT) is directly quoted by the New Testament (NT) writers nearly 700 times.
- There are thousands of references to OT people, events, or principles in the NT.
- Of the 27 books in the NT, only six don’t have direct OT quotations. But four of those six books refer back to OT people or passages.
- Of the 39 books in the OT, all but nine of them are quoted in the NT.
- Jesus Himself quoted from the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) nearly 60 times.
I love the Old Testament! There I read some great stories and meet some very colorful personalities. But I especially love reading the OT to see what was going to happen and then reading the NT to see both what did happen and what’s still going to happen.
Those 39 books of the Old Testament may be old, but they’re so rich, and so valuable, and so enlightening to the New Testament. If you haven’t made the OT a part of your Bible reading time, I encourage you to do so.
Craig T. Owens 
June 5, 2009 at 10:57 am
Since I asked the question, I’ll go first.
My favorite stories are those who take initiative to fight a battle – like David taking on Goliath, Jonathan and his armorbearer picking a fight with the Philistines, Benaiah going into the pit to fight a lion, or Jael (literally) nailing the bad guy’s head to the ground.
For more obscure stories, I like the off-beat. Like, “Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city.” (See the full story in Genesis 34).
-CTO
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June 5, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Queen Esther challenges me beyond belief. To be willing to die for what you believe IS a big deal.
Another profound woman, Ruth. To believe so strongly that you would leave everything you know to pursue God. Wow. I believe that is what she really did. She knew there was something in Naomi that she wanted, and she pursued Him with all her heart.
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June 5, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I love the story of David because David went through so many things and still kept his eyes on God setting a great example for the rest of us.
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June 5, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Great insight! My fav. story is when David spares Saul’s life, because it shows mercy.
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June 5, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Firstly, I could not agree more. The OT is intended by God to be meshed with the NT. It’s valuable beyond words just like the NT. I love reading it due to the narrative flavor. It’s also very hard to name my favorite story. However, looking back, the most revelation soaked, eye-opening and heart-healing story for me when I first heard it was Joseph. I have leaned on it and comforted others with his story many times in the years since that first hearing. ” You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done…” Gen 50:20 Oh glory.
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January 5, 2022 at 11:59 am
“It is a very interesting fact that of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament, it is recorded that our Lord made quotations from no less than twenty-two. … About 850 passages in the Old Testament are quoted or alluded to in the New…. In the Gospel by Matthew there are over a hundred quotations from twenty of the books in the Old Testament. In the Gospel of Mark there are fifteen quotations taken from thirteen of the books. In the Gospel of Luke there are thirty-four quotations from thirteen books. In the Gospel of John there are eleven quotations from six books. In the four Gospels alone there are more than 160 quotations from the Old Testament. … In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians there are fifty-three quotations from the Old Testament; sometimes he takes whole paragraphs from it. In Hebrews there are eighty-five quotations, in that one book of thirteen chapters. In Galatians, sixteen quotations. In the book of Revelation alone, there are 245 quotations and allusions.” —D.L. Moody, Pleasure & Profit In Bible Study
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