How Should Christians Read the Old Testament?

By Dave Jenkins | Contending for the Word Q&A

How should Christians read the Old Testament faithfully in light of Christ and the New Testament?

In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins answers an important question many Christians quietly wrestle with. How should Christians understand and read the Old Testament? Some believers find it difficult, distant, or unfamiliar. Others treat it as background information while focusing almost entirely on the New Testament.

But Jesus and the apostles teach us something very different. The Old Testament is not optional, outdated, or disconnected from the gospel. It is God’s authoritative Word, given for our instruction, revealing God’s character, exposing our need, and pointing forward to Christ.

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How to Read the Old Testament as a Christian

Episode Summary

Drawing from Luke 24:44–47, Romans 15:4, and Hebrews 10:1, Dave explains why Christians should read the Old Testament as Christian Scripture. He shows how it reveals God’s holiness, humanity’s sin, the need for sacrifice, and the promise of redemption fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

This episode helps listeners understand that the Old Testament is part of one unified redemptive story. Creation, fall, covenant, sacrifice, kingship, exile, promise, and hope all prepare the way for Christ. When Christians read the Old Testament in light of Jesus, Scripture becomes clearer, richer, and more coherent.

Key Scriptures

• Luke 24:44–47
• Romans 15:4
• Hebrews 10:1

Big Idea

Christians should read the Old Testament as God’s authoritative Word, recognizing its role in revealing God’s character, exposing human need, and pointing forward to Christ.

Episode Highlights

• Why the Old Testament is Christian Scripture
• How the Old Testament points forward to Christ
• The importance of reading it with the New Testament in view
• The difference between covenant fulfillment and ongoing instruction
• How the Bible tells one unified redemptive story

Full Episode Overview

1. Read the Old Testament as Christian Scripture

The Old Testament is not merely Jewish history or religious background. Jesus and the apostles constantly quoted it, taught from it, and treated it as authoritative, trustworthy, and essential for understanding God’s purposes. When Christians neglect the Old Testament, they lose depth, clarity, and richness in their understanding of God’s Word.

2. Read the Old Testament in Light of Christ

The Old Testament reveals God’s holiness, humanity’s sin, the need for sacrifice, and the promise of redemption. These themes find their fulfillment in Christ alone. The law exposes our need for grace. The sacrifices point to Christ’s atoning work. The kings and prophets anticipate the true King and the final Prophet, Jesus Himself. Christ does not abolish the Old Testament. He fulfills it.

3. Distinguish Between Covenant Fulfillment and Ongoing Instruction

Christians are not under the Mosaic Law as a covenant, but that does not mean the Old Testament is irrelevant. The ceremonial and sacrificial laws are fulfilled in Christ. At the same time, the moral character of God revealed in the law still instructs us. The narratives, wisdom literature, and prophetic writings continue to shape our understanding of God’s faithfulness, justice, and mercy.

4. Read the Old Testament as Part of One Redemptive Story

The Old Testament is the first act of God’s redemptive story. Creation, fall, promise, covenant, exile, and hope all prepare the way for the coming of Christ. Reading the Old Testament as part of this unfolding story helps Christians see Scripture as coherent rather than fragmented. It also keeps us from moralizing the text or reducing biblical figures to mere examples instead of seeing them within God’s saving plan.

Application

So how should Christians read the Old Testament? Read it patiently. Read it humbly. Read it in light of Christ. Read it as God’s Word for God’s people. Do not rush past difficult texts or ignore what feels unfamiliar. Ask how each passage reveals God’s character, exposes human need, and points forward to Christ’s saving grace.

God gave the Old Testament not to confuse His people, but to prepare them for His Son. As Christians, we should read it with gratitude, seeing in it the faithfulness of God, the seriousness of sin, and the beauty of redemption fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Call to Action

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