Old Testament - [日本語]

The Old Testament is the first part of the Bible and consists of 39 books. The Old Testament covers a period of millennia, starting from the universe’s creation by God (described in Genesis) and continuing to a few hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ.

The 39 books of the Old Testament are organized as follows:

  1. Pentateuch (5 books): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
  2. Historical books (12 books): Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
  3. Poetry and wisdom (5 books): Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
  4. Major prophets (5 books): Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
  5. Minor prophets (12 books): Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

The Pentateuch and historical books describe the history of the Israelites and their relationship with God. These stories not only provide us with the context for the Old Testament, but also allow us to understand God’s sovereignty and mercy, as well as our own disobedience to Him. The major theme of the New Testament, God’s grace and redemption, is also apparent in many passages.

The books of poetry and wisdom describe the beauty, comfort, and hope of a relationship with God.

The last books of the Old Testament are prophecies about the future. The coming of Jesus Christ was not an accident in history. Rather, the Old Testament had predicted the coming birth of Jesus Christ hundreds of years before Jesus was born. These prophecies have come true in history, in the rise and fall of the powerful nation of Israel and the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament is just as important as the New Testament. In fact, in the New Testament, Jesus declares that the Old Testament Scriptures testify to Him. Whether through direct prophecy of Christ, appearances of Christ in narrative, or images that point forward to Christ’s ministry such as the Passover Lamb, the Old Testament is ultimately about Jesus. A good understanding of the Old Testament enables us not only to understand God better, but also to have a deeper understanding of the historical continuity of God’s plan that culminates in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.