Beginner's Bible Study - 001
Christian Bibles have two primary divisions: The Old Testament which may be called the Jewish or Hebrew portion, and the New Testament or the Greek portion. The Old Testament written in Hebrew was the Bible that Jesus used. He couldn't use the New Testament because it didn't exist yet. The New Testament is about Jesus.
A lot of people think the Old Testament is just a dry history of the Hebrews and isn't important today. But the really fun part about it is that Jesus thought it spoke about him.
Contents
- 1 Jesus thought the Old Testament spoke about him
- 2 He taught the teachers how to read the Old Testament properly
- 3 He taught how to read the Old Testament in the synagogue
- 4 He taught his disciples how to read the Old Testament before he died on the cross
- 5 He taught his disciples how to read the Old Testament after he rose from the dead
- 6 Jesus knew his disciples would forget, so he gave them a reminder
- 7 Jesus commanded his disciples to teach others
- 8 And they taught others to teach others
- 9 The New Testament is the teaching of the disciples
Jesus thought the Old Testament spoke about him
Jesus said:
- Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
That verse from the New Testament is about Jesus telling us that the Old Testament is about him. He referred to this verse:
- Ps 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me,
He was speaking to the scholars of his day, but he was telling them that they did not know what they were talking about. (He also made the claim that the whole volume of the Old Testament spoke of him.)
If the Hebrew scholars in the days of Jesus did not know how to read the scriptures, what hope do we have of understanding them? Well, we should have a lot of hope of understanding them. That's why the New Testament is there. Jesus and the New Testament authors attempted to teach us to read the Old Testament for ourselves.
He taught the teachers how to read the Old Testament properly
When Jesus was 12 years old he tried to teach the teachers in the temple :
- Lu 2:42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
- Lu 2:43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not [of it].
- Lu 2:44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among [their] kinsfolk and acquaintance.
- Lu 2:45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
- Lu 2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
- Lu 2:47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
He taught how to read the Old Testament in the synagogue
- Mt 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?
He taught his disciples how to read the Old Testament before he died on the cross
- Mr 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and [of] the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
He taught his disciples how to read the Old Testament after he rose from the dead
- Lu 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Jesus knew his disciples would forget, so he gave them a reminder
- Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, [even] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.
Jesus commanded his disciples to teach others
And they taught others to teach others
- 2Ti 2:2 And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
The New Testament is the teaching of the disciples
Jesus thought the Old Testament spoke of him, and he taught it to teachers, the people in the synagogues, and his disciples. He then provided the Holy Ghost to remind them of the things he taught, and commanded them to teach others; one would think that reading the Old Testament the way Jesus and his disciples did, would be pretty important.
