Old Testament: The Foundation of the Story

The Old Testament is the first part of the Bible — and it tells the beginning of the story of God and humanity.

It’s not just a collection of ancient laws and stories. It’s a record of God’s pursuit of people through covenant, rescue, correction, and promises.

It shows us:

• How the world began.

• How sin entered the world and broke our connection with God.

• How God chose a people (Israel) through whom He would one day bring redemption to all.

• And how again and again, God remained faithful, even when people did not.

A Promise in the Waiting

Even from the beginning, the Old Testament carries a thread of hope — promises of a Savior who would one day come to restore what was broken.

You can see it in:

• The sacrificial system — pointing to the need for a perfect sacrifice.

• The prophecies — foretelling the birth, life, and suffering of the Messiah.

• The covenants — God promising to redeem and bless all nations through one to come.

“All of us, like sheep, have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all
To fall on Him.”
— Isaiah 53:6

The Jewish Roots: The Tanakh

The Old Testament is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. In Hebrew Scripture, it’s called the Tanakh — made up of:

• Torah (Law) — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

• Nevi’im (Prophets) — books like Joshua, Isaiah, and the Minor Prophets

• Ketuvim (Writings) — Psalms, Proverbs, Job, and more

These ancient writings were preserved, memorized, and passed down with extraordinary care — because they were believed to be the very words of God.

The Old Testament is not only spiritual — it is deeply historical. These writings reflect the real events, people, places, and cultures of the ancient Near East, and they were carefully preserved across generations.

Here’s what’s historically important to understand:

• Time Span: The events of the Old Testament cover roughly 2,000 years of history — from the call of Abraham (around 2000 BC) to the return of the Jewish people from Babylonian exile (around 400 BC).

• Geographic Setting: Much of the Old Testament unfolds across modern-day Israel, Egypt, Iraq (Babylon), and surrounding regions.

• Cultural Context: The writings reflect life under empires like Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Persia — offering a unique window into ancient customs, governance, war, and worship.

• Historical Records: Some Old Testament figures — like kings David, Hezekiah, Nebuchadnezzar, and Cyrus — are also mentioned in non-biblical historical sources and archaeological findings, confirming the Bible's cultural and historical framework.

• Compilation: Though written by many authors — prophets, leaders, and scribes — over many centuries, the books were eventually recognized as sacred scripture by Jewish communities and preserved with meticulous care.

These writings weren’t simply passed down — they were copied by hand with extreme accuracy, especially after the Jewish exile, when preserving God’s word became even more vital to identity and faith.