Is the OT as important as the NT?

Question

or the OT simply serves as the foundation of the whole system?

Answer 1

The Bible is a progressive revelation. If you skip the first half of any good book and try to finish it; you will have a hard time understanding the characters, the plot, and the ending. Even so, the New Testament is only completely understood when it is seen as being built upon the foundation of the events, characters, laws, sacrificial system, covenants, and promises of the Old Testament (OT). If we only had the New Testament (NT), we would come to the gospels and not know why the Jews were looking for a Messiah (a Savior King). Without the OT, we would not understand why this Messiah was coming (see Isaiah 53); we would not have been able to identify Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah through the many detailed prophecies that were given concerning Him (e.g.., His birth place (Micah 5:2); His manner of death (Psalm 22, especially vv. 1,7-8, 14-18; Psalm 69:21, etc.), His resurrection (Psalm 16:10), and many more details of His ministry (Isaiah 52:13f.; 9:2, etc.).

Answer 2

Well, both the OT and the NT are parts of the same story, which is the story of a God relating to His creation.

If you go straight to the NT without a good foundation in the OT, it's like coming in on the last couple pages of "The Little Engine That Could". I mean, you'll get the drift, the train made it. But what about all that other stuff? The tough journey is as cool as the triumphant end. In the same way, skipping straight to Jesus just gives you the triumph. What about all the other stuff?

I think it's a different kind of importance.

Answer 3

The only reason I can think of for including the OT with the NT is that 1.) the OT mentions a messiah so the NT uses it as a "look, the old book said so...here's the new book" and, 2.) Jesus was Jewish so they couple the two together.

I can think of no other reason. The OT god and the NT god are like night and day. It really makes no sense to have the two together. Ask some Christians and they'll tell you that they are both written with the same pen, but if you ask others they'll say the NT is the new version of the OT. As in Jesus updated the old stuff.

Personally I think the OT, Revelations and anything by Paul should be used as kindling. They are so far from what Jesus said in the gospels that it's like reading texts from two completely different religions.

Answer 4

Both the OT and the NT are equally important. Because the OT is the foundation NT. Without one the other is pointless.

Answer 5

Yes the OT is important, it is the foundation of everything. The NT is equally important, they go hand in hand

Answer 6

I think the Old Testament is just as important as the new Testament because it seves as the foundation for the new. Several old prophets in the OT predict a lot of things that happen in the New.

Answer 7

If you refer the OT as Old testament and the NT as New Testament, of course both are important in religion and the study of the bible to know about God.

But if you refer OT as overtime and NT as night time, its you to answer it.
jtm

Answer 8

The OT and the NT are dependent upon each other. The OT is full of prophesy and the NT is full of prophesy fulfilled. They are of equal importance.

Answer 9

We are under the new covenant now. However, when Jesus referred to Scriptures, He talked about the OT. So I would say that OT is important because Jesus confirmed it. However, He fulfilled the prophecy and Law. So God basically saves us from His own wrath if we let Him to do that.

Final answer: Both are important. : )

Answer 10

"THe OT is the NT concealed and the NT is the OT revealed."

The NT is the New and everlasting covenant, hence, the NT is MORE important than the OT, because it fullfills it,with the coming of Jesus to save us from our sins.