Why the Old Testament and New Testament?
Updated: December 2, 2025
The Bible is made up of several books split into two parts: Old and New. This should be a big clue as to how we should look at them. The New is where we are living now. It is New because Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God starting a whole new paradigm of living for us. He was the sacrifice for a brand new and eternal covenant (or “Testament”) that is far better than what existed in the Old covenant.
Yet it doesn’t mean that the Old Testament has no more use. The New Testament writers were convinced that all of it was written to foreshadow this new way of life. It was considered “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” If read and applied properly through “Jesus eyeglasses”, the Old Testament can be a great comfort, giving us solid confidence for our faith. It reveals the love of God toward mankind in spite of man’s persistent failings. Jesus Himself approved the Old Testament by referencing much of what was written there. He also obeyed it in his personal and private life (since He was born during the time of the Old Testament). Therefore we should not ignore this great legacy of faith contained in the Old but allow the Spirit of God to reveal His truth in all of His inspired writings.
(2 Timothy 3:14-17, 1 Timothy 1:8, John 5:46-47, 2 Peter 3:16, 2 Peter 1:19-21, Romans 15:4, John 10:35 AMP, Matthew 5:17-18)