This document provides an overview of the key elements and history of the Old Testament. It discusses the origins and importance of the OT, its major themes of God's relationship with his people and their need for repentance. It outlines the historical periods and divisions of the OT books, important people and events, languages it was written in, and how it provides wisdom for modern times about God and life. The history spans from the beginnings of God's people with Abraham and Moses, the united and divided kingdoms of Israel and Judea, the exiles to Assyria and Babylon, and eventual return to Judea.

2. Oral Tradition
Translation of the Bible

3. Papyrus

4. Dead Sea Scrolls

5. Dead Sea Scrolls

6. Dead Sea

7. Dead Sea Jar

8. Dead Sea Jar

9. Dead Sea

10. Dead Sea

11. Dead Sea Scrolls Fragment

12. Dead Sea Scrolls Fragment

14. What is the Old Testament?
• The OT is the primary collection
of religious writings of the Jewish people.
• It is the only group of writings that the Jewish people
accept as scripture.
• Importance for Christianity
• Christianity grew out of the Jewish religion and also
recognizes the OT as scripture.

15. Old Testament Themes
I The Messiah is coming.
II God chooses a person and a people through whom to send the Messiah.
III God wants to bless his people (physically). The grace of God.
IV The call to repentance.
V God's amazing patience with his people
VI Judgment for those who will not repent.
This is a major and unmistakable theme!
VII. Salvation and forgiveness
VIII God works through history

16. Old Testament Themes
I The Messiah is coming.
II God chooses a person and a people through whom to send the Messiah.
III God wants to bless his people (physically). The grace of God.
IV The call to repentance.
V God's amazing patience with his people
VI Judgment for those who will not repent.
This is a major and unmistakable theme!
VII. Salvation and forgiveness
VIII God works through history

17. Types of Material in OT
• Historical narratives
• Law codes
• Wisdom literature – reflections on life
• Moral instruction – prophets

18. Divisions of the OT
• Torah (Law)--1st 5 books
Pentateuch
• Prophets
Former: Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings
rest of prophetic books, Amos, Hosea, etc.
• Writings
Poetry--Psalms, Proverbs, Job, etc.
Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles

19. Historical Outline
• The Fall
• God chooses a man of faith
• God creates a people of his own
• God gives his people a covenant
• God gives his people a place and a temple
• God sends his prophets.
• God sends his Son

20. Historical Periods
• Patriarchal Period
• Captivity in Egypt
• Escape from Egypt and Conquest of Canaan
• Judges
• United Kingdom
• Divided Kingdom
• Captivity in Babylon
• Restoration to Judea

21. Covenants
• Noah
• Genesis 9
• Abraham Genesis 17
"I WILL NEVER BREAK MY COVENANT WITH YOU"
• Moses
• Exodus 24
• Judges 2:1
• David
• 2 Sam 7
• The New Covenant
• Jeremiah 31:31

22. Major Historical Events: God Saves and God Judges
His People
• Creation
• The Flood judgment
• The choice of Abraham salvation Escape from Egypt
salvation
• Kingship of David salvation
• Destruction of the Northern Kingdom judgment
• Destruction of the Southern Kingdom judgment
• Restorations under Zerubabbel and Ezra salvation

23. Key People in the Old Testament What do we learn from them?
• Adam Giving in to temptation
• Noah Faithful preacher
• Abraham
• Man of faith
• Joseph Man of perseverance
• Moses Humility
• Joshua Courage, Leadership
• Samuel
• God's spokesman
• David Heart for God
• Solomon Wisdom
• Elijah God's prophet
• ...all are prefigures of the Messiah

24. Languages of OT
• Hebrew - most of OT
• Aramaic - Parts of Daniel and Ezra
• Translation of OT into other languages began early after
exile parts trans. into Aramaic--Targums because many did
not know Heb.
• Many Jews moved to Greek speaking Countries and trans.
into Greek - in Egypt ca. 250 B. C. - Septuagint
• Septuagint--LXX--Bible of the early Christians

25. • Septuagint– means 70

26. • Hebrew

27. • Aramaic

28. • Greek

29. Most important thing to remember
• The Bible is an ancient book.
• Written long ago
not written from the viewpoint of modern
scientific knowledge but from the understanding
of the world in ancient times
from the religious understanding of ancient man
and his understanding of God and the world which
God had made.

30. Useful for modern times as well
• Teachings about God
• Concepts of God
• Character • Identity holiness
• Teachings about relationship
between deity and humanity
• Wisdom from God about life and its struggles

31. Overview of OT History
• Beginnings
- Struggles of life
• Abraham
- A people for God
• Moses
- Egypt – Canaan

35. Two Kingdoms
- Northern - Israel
- Southern - Judea
- More gods
Exile
- Northern - Assyria
- Southern - Babylon (135 yrs. later)
Return from exile - Southern
- Rebuild Jerusalem, Temple
- Emphasis on purity - looking for new prophet