Why do Christians read and constantly refer to the old testament?

Question

It doesn't take a biblical scholar to know that Jesus (being a Jew) knew the Torah and even debated it with Jewish elders but he did not preach it. His preaching were radically different from the Torah (Old Testament), a loving God, a compassionate God, a Father that wants you to turn the other cheek not "an eye for an eye", or stoning someone for working on the sabbath. So I ask, the Old Testament is a Jewish testament, someone else's culture, why do Christians waste their time with it?

Answer 1

Many people feel that way Boanarges, but what does Jesus say?

When tempted by the Devil, He said: "It is written" to each temptation.

On the road to Emmaeus He opened up the scriptures and psalms concerning Himself.

He said to the bigoted priests, You read the Law and the Prophets and they all testify of me.

And the Bereans are called "more noble" because they searched the scriptures to see if Jesus was the Messiah.

The early church only had the Old Testament and some circulating epistles and New Testament was first suggested in the fourth-century.

Eusebius researched the usage of early authors by elders, and listed what is known as the Cannon, or just what was true and valuable. These he compiled into a New Testament. Constantine the great ordered 50 volumes.

Satan would like to destroy the Bible, and he succeeded for many years. The "legal" church burnt translations in other than Latan as well as their readers and translators.

God's Word was bought with a price of blood, and it need be studied in its entirety. And don't forget that the New Testament has violence,too. Herod was consumed with worms, James and Peter thrown in jail and flogged, Ananias and Sapphira struck dead in church service for lying, and it says: "All who live godly in Christ Jesus will undergo persecution [on R & S].

Blessings, One Way.

One more thing, that O.T. has a Bible code only to be "unsealed" in our time. It's message is important at http://abiblecode.tripod.com

Answer 2

Confusion in Bible
Only two contradictions of the New Testament have been mentioned, but others will be referenced when the Trinity, Divinity of Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship of Jesus, Original Sin and Atonement are reviewed.
How could the "inspired words" of God get the genealogy of Jesus incorrect (See Matthew 1:6-16 where it states 26 forefathers up to Prophet David, and Luke 3:23-31 says 41 in number). Or for that matter, give a genealogy to Jesus who had NO father? See II Kings 19:1-37, now read Isaiah 37:1-38. Why is it that the words of these verse are identical? Yet they have been attributed to two different authors, one unknown and the other is Isaiah, who are centuries apart; and yet, the Christians have claimed these books to be inspired by God.
I looked up the word Easter in the Nelson Bible dictionary and learned that the word "Easter" (as mentioned in Acts 12:4) is a mistranslation of "pascha," the ordinary Greek word for "Passover." As, you know Passover is a Jewish celebration not a Christian holiday. I think human hands, all to human, had played havoc with the Bible.
From the brief points mentioned above, and the fact that Biblical scholars themselves have recognized the human nature and human composition of the Bible (Curt Kuhl, The Old Testament: Its Origin and Composition, PP 47, 51, 52), there should exist in the Christian’s mind some acceptance to the fact that maybe every word of the Bible is not God’s word.
As a side note to this subject, let me mention that some Christians believe that the Bible was dictated to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) by a Christian monk, and that is why some of the biblical accounts are in the Quran. After some research, I found that this could not have happened because there were no Arabic Bible in existence in the 6th century of the Christian era when Muhammad (SAW) lived and preached. Therefore, no Arab, not even Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who was absolutely unlettered and unlearned, would have had the opportunity to examine the written text of the Bible in his own language.

Answer 3

This is a good question--one I'm constantly talking to my friends about. As a Christian, I don't consider reading the Old Testament as a waste of time, but rather as something of a reference point for behaviors that still exist today. Let me explain: the phrase "stiff-necked people" is used to describe behavior that is still as much in existence today as it was back then. For us Christians, the Old Testament provides a picture of behaviors and attitudes towards God and His purpose for us that is as relevant to ALL people today as it was for the Jewish people in those days. Don't look at the OT so much as a collection of laws and rules. Look at the bigger picture the OT paints. Plus, it was not for Jesus to preach the Law, but rather, to fulfill it. He said that himself. Unfortunately, however, I have found that many of us Christians today tend to resort to the OT for the wrong reasons. For many Christians, the idea of "turning the other cheek" doesn't sit too well when there's a suffocating desire for vengence when wronged. It's during those times that reliance on the Old Testament can be dangerous. Understand that the OT and the NT work well together--it clearly documents God's perfect love for us from the creation of Adam to His love for us by sending His Son Jesus for the atonement of our sins to this very moment!

Answer 4

The Old Testament attains its full meaning and fulfillment in the New Testament and in turn sheds light upon the New Testament and allows it to be understood more fully. The New Testament in turn fulfils the Old Testament because it reveals the final Word of God, promised to Israel, Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 1,2)

Peace and every blessing!

Answer 5

The Old AND New Testament go HAND IN HAND to make a Complete Book. (The Scriptures) Psalm 40:7 and Hebrews 10"7 state the "Lo, I Come, and the VOLUME of the Book is written ABOUT ME" (Christ)

Answer 6

The Bible is all God inspired, it is for guidance and to teach us morality and how to live it comforts us and teaches how to handle all situations. If you really study the Word you will find that it all comes from a loving and righteous God.

Just because we can't fathom being righteous and not accepting sin we think the old testament is not for us. All of Gods Word is for our benefit.

One humble opinion...

Answer 7

Because the NT states that the Whole Bible is beneficial. In the OT you can read of the prophecies that were to come in the NT and God's dealings with people which have an important moral lesson to teach us today.

Answer 8

because you need to know where your faith comes from. Also, wthout knowing hte old testament, the new is not as rich. they relate to each othere on all sorts of levels.

Answer 9

because god was very prissy in the old testament, smite this smite that. Not friendly or loving.

Answer 10

It's the only way to justify human sacrifice. Seriously. Thank God we don't need another Christ...