Old Testament - Hebrew Bible - Tanakh

The Old Testament is the name given by Christians to that portion of Scriptures that record and report God's plan of salvation for and His dealings with, the human race—mediated through the medium of Israelite history—before the coming of Jesus. (By way of contrast, the New Testament reports on God's plan as worked out in the life of Jesus and his disciples.) Before the formation and "canonization of the New Testament, the Old Testament was the only Scriptures the early Christian disciples had. Quite naturally, therefore, the original Old Testament was written in the Hebrew Language. (Click here to view what the Hebrew Bible looks and sounds like.)

Jews do not believe in Jesus—for them, therefore, there is no old testament. What we call the Old Testament was the only Scriptures they had (like the early church). Nowadays, they also refer to it as the Hebrew Bible or the Tanakh. In its Hebrew form, the Hebrew Bible is divided into three parts: the Torah (the Law), the Nebi'im (the Prophets) and Ketuvim (the Writings). The name Tanakh is derived from the insertion of vowels between the first letters of the three divisions.

The Old Testament is not a single book but a compilation of 39 books, written by different persons written over several centuries.

Click here for a more detailed overview of the Old Testament.

Further Reading & Resources:

Bruce K. Waltke, "Why Should Christians Study the Old Testament?". Youtube 3mins.

Old Testament History by Dr V. Philips Long. Covenant Theological Seminary. Podcasts (37 episodes). N

Desmond Alexander, "The Old Testament View of Life After Death," Themelios 11.2 (January 1986): 41-46. Pdf N

Joyce G. Baldwin, "Malachi 1:11 and the Worship of the Nations in the Old Testament," Tyndale Bulletin 23 (1972): 117-124. Pdf N

G. Lloyd Carr, "The Old Testament Love Songs and Their Use in the New Testament," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 24.2 (June 1981): 97-105. Pdf N

G. Lloyd Carr, "The love poetry genre in the Old Testament and the ancient Near East: another look at inspiration," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 25.4 (Dec. 1982): 489-498. Pdf N

Arthur C. Cundall, "Sacral Kingship--The Old Testament Background," Vox Evangelica 6 (1969): 31-41. Pdf N

Edward M. Curtis, "The theological basis for the prohibition of images in the Old Testament," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 28.3 (Sept. 1985): 277-287. Pdf N

William A. Dyrness, "Aesthetics in the Old Testament: Beauty in context," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 28.4 (Dec. 1985): 421-432. Pdf N

l" target="_blank">H.L. Ellison, The Centrality of the Messianic Idea For the Old Testament. London: The Tyndale Press, 1953. Pbk. pp.23. Pdf N

M.J. Evans, "The Old Testament as Christian Scripture," Vox Evangelica 16 (1986): 25-32. Pdf N

Francis Foulkes, The Acts of God. A Study of the Basis of Typology in the Old Testament. London: The Tyndale Press, 1955. Pbk. pp.40. Pdf N

Simon Gathercole, "Devotional Books on the Old Testament: Some Recommended Reading," Themelios 27.3 (Spring 2002): 5-18. Pdf N

John Goldingay, "That You May know that Yahweh is God: a Study in the Relationship between Theology and Historical Truth in the Old Testament," Tyndale Bulletin 23 (1972): 58-93. Pdf N

John Goldingay, "The Study of Old Testament Theology: Its Aims and Purpose," Tyndale Bulletin 26 (1975): 34-52. Pdf N

John E. Goldingay, "The Man of War and the Suffering Servant, The Old Testament and the Theology of Liberation," Tyndale Bulletin 27 (1976): 79-113. Pdf N

Robert P. Gordon, "Simplicity of the highest cunning: narrative art in the Old Testament," Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology 6.2 (Autumn 1988): 69-80. Pdf N

Joseph R. Greene, "The Spirit In The Temple: Bridging The Gap Between Old Testament Absence And New Testament Assumption," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 55.4 (Dec. 2012): 717-742. Pdf N

Geoffrey W. Grogan [1925-2011], "The New Testament Interpretation of the Old Testament: a Comparative Study," Tyndale Bulletin 18 (1967): 54-76. Pdf N

Geoffrey W. Grogan [1925-2011], "The Old Testament Concept of Solidarity in Hebrews," Tyndale Bulletin 49.1 (1998): 159-173. Pdf N

J. Daniel Hays, "'Sell Everything You Have And Give To The Poor': The Old Testament Prophetic Theme Of Justice As The Connecting Motif Of Luke 18:1-19:10," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 55.1 (March 2012): 43-63. Pdf N

David A. Hubbard, "Hope in the Old Testament," Tyndale Bulletin 34 (1983): 33-59. Pdf N

J. Randolph Jaeggli, "The Interpretation of Old Testament Prophecy," Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 2 (Fall 1997): 3-17. Pdf N

Walter C. Kaiser Jr., "New approaches to Old Testament ethics," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 35.3 (Sept. 1992): 289-297. Pdf N

Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., "The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament," Evangelical Quarterly 82.4 (October 2010): 308-315. Pdf N

Walter C. Kaiser Jr., "Is It The Case That Christ Is The Same Object Of Faith In The Old Testament? (Genesis 15:1-6)," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 55.2 (June 2012): 291-298. Pdf N

F. Derek Kidner, Sacrifice in the Old Testament. London: The Tyndale Press, 1952. Pbk. 27pp. Pdf N

F. Derek Kidner, "Retribution and punishment in the Old Testament, in the light of the New Testament," Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology 1 (1983): 3-9. Pdf N

Derek Kidner, "Preaching from the Old Testament," Evangel 8:4 (1990): 10-14. Pdf N

Kenneth A. Kitchen, "The Old Testament in Its Context: Part 1," Theological Students' Fellowship Bulletin 59 (Spring 1971): 2-10. Pdf N

Kenneth A. Kitchen, "The Old Testament in Its Context: Part 2 From Egypt to Jordan," Theological Students' Fellowship Bulletin 60 (Spring 1971): 3-11. Pdf N

Kenneth A. Kitchen, "The Old Testament in Its Context: Part 3 From Joshua to Solomon," Theological Students' Fellowship Bulletin 61 (Summer 1971): 5-14. Pdf N

Kenneth A. Kitchen, "The Old Testament in Its Context: Part 4 The Twin Kingdoms, Judah and Assyria (c.930-640 BC)," Theological Students' Fellowship Bulletin 62 (Autumn 1971): 2-10. Pdf N

Kenneth A. Kitchen, "The Old Testament in Its Context: Part 5 Judah, Exile and Return," Theological Students' Fellowship Bulletin 63 (Summer 1972): 1-5. Pdf N

Kenneth A. Kitchen, "The Old Testament in Its Context: Part 6," Theological Students' Fellowship Bulletin 64 (Autumn 1972): 2-10. Pdf N

Pieter J. Lalleman, "The Old Testament and Archaeology, with a personal top ten of discoveries," Evangel 26.3 (Autumn 2008): 83-88. Pdf N

Tremper Longman III, "The literary approach to the study of the Old Testament: promise and pitfalls," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 28.4 (Dec. 1985): 385-398.

Robert V. McCabe, "Were Old Testament Believers Indwelt by the Spirit?" Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 9 (Fall 2004): 215-264. Pdf N

Robert V. McCabe, "An Old Testament Sanctifying Influence: The Sovereignty of God," Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 15 (Fall 2010): 3-21. Pdf N

J. Gordon McConville, "The Shadow of the Curse: a key to Old Testament Theology," Evangel 3:1 (1985): 2-5. Pdf N

Alan R. Millard, "The Old Testament in its ancient world: aspects of prophetic writings," Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology 7.2 (Autumn 1989): 88-99. Pdf N

l" target="_blank">R.W.L. Moberly, "Story in the Old Testament," Themelios 11.3 (1986): 77-82. Pdf N

J. Alec Motyer [1924-2016], "Skeletons in the Cupboard. Some Problems in Old Testament Morality," Evangel 2:3 (1984): 6-9. Pdf N

Richard Neville, "The Relevance of Creation and Righteousness to Intervention for the Poor and Needy in the Old Testament," Tyndale Bulletin 52.2 (2001): 307-310. Pdf N

Esther Yue L. Ng, "Father-God Language and Old Testament Allusions in James," Tyndale Bulletin 54.2 (2003): 41-54. Pdf N

l" target="_blank">Richard D. Patterson, "Wonders in the Heavens and on the Earth: Apocalyptic Imagery in the Old Testament," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 43:3 (Sept. 2000): 385-403. Pdf N

Christopher Seitz, "Old Testament Apocalyptic," Evangel 17.3 (Autumn 1999): 74-76. Pdf N

Martin J. Selman, "The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament," Tyndale Bulletin 40.2 (1989): 161-183. Pdf N

Mark A. Snoeberger, "Old Testament Lot-Casting: Divination or Providence?" Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 16 (Fall 2011): 3-18. Pdf N

Joe M. Sprinkle, "The Rationale of the Laws of Clean and Unclean in the Old Testament," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 43.4 (Dec. 2000): 637-657. Pdf N

Howard Taylor, "The continuity of the people of God in Old and New Testaments," Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology 3.2 (Autumn 1985): 13-26. Pdf N

Warren Vanhetloo,"Old Testament Sacrifices," Calvary Baptist Theological Journal 6.1 (Spring 1990): 11-13. Pdf N

Willem A. VanGemeren, "'Abba' in the Old Testament," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 31.4 (Dec. 1988): 385-398. Pdf N

John William Wenham [1913-1996], Our Lord's View of the Old Testament. London: The Tyndale Press, 1953. pp.32. Pdf N

John William Wenham [1913-1996], Large Numbers in the Old Testament. London: Tyndale Press, 1967. Pbk. pp.36. Pdf N

Donald J. Wiseman, "Law and Order in Old Testament Times," Vox Evangelica 8 (1973): 5-21. Pdf N

Christopher J.H. Wright, "The Ethical Authority of the Old Testament: a Survey of Approaches, Part 1," Tyndale-Bulletin 43.1 (1992): 101-120. Pdf N

Christopher J.H. Wright, "The Ethical Authority of the Old Testament : A Survey of Approaches, Part 2," Tyndale Bulletin 43.2 (1992): 203-231. Pdf N

Christopher J.H. Wright, "The People of God and the State in the Old Testament," Themelios 16.1 (Oct/Nov 1990): 4-10. Pdf N

Chris Wright, "The Old Testament and Christian Mission," Evangel 14:2 (1996): 37-43. Pdf N

John Barclay Burns, "Some Personifications of Death in the Old Testament," Irish Biblical Studies 11.1 (Jan. 1989): 23-34. Pdf N

John Wilkinson, "The Body in the Old Testament," The Evangelical Quarterly 63.3 (July-Sept. 1991): 195-210. Pdf N

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