2007-10-05 09:08:24 · 26 answers · asked by Mr. Dog 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Old Testament is the Jewish Tanakh. It chronicles the received history of God's relationship with man from the point of view of the Hebrews. It has sections and phases that correspond to the chronilogical history of Judah and Israel through the various empires that conquered and enslaved them.
The New Testament begins when Jesus is born and ends about 100 years later, as at later councils the Church leadership decided revelations were over and the book was closed to new submissions.
In betwene the two books, that is inbetween Malachi and Matthew, most Bibles exclude the story of the Maccabees and the hero Judah. By the time we get to Jesus, Romans have control of Israel.
It is called Old and New for Christians because we believe that Jesus, through his life and death, fundamentally changed the nature of our relationship to God and that the old way is no longer valid - we have moved from the obedience to the law and a focus on karmic success in this life that permeates the Tanakh to this idea of living as a new creation through the grace of Jesus and of there being more to our existence than this life.
Hope that helps!
2007-10-05 09:28:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There have been 3 Biblical dispensations. The Patriorichal and the Mosaic Laws are spoken of in the Old Testament. Moses was the beginning of the Law of Moses, that was for a specific group of people only.
The New Testament is for the new Christian dispensation. No part of the Old Laws were continued into the Christian era. Some were a part of the Christian dispensation but they were entered again in the New Testament. The sacrifices of the Old Law were not reentered into the New Testament. Remember a day to keep it holy (Sabbath) is not a part of the New Testament. The 10 commandments were a part of the old and not in the new law. Just see where the law is written and if it is NOT in the New Testament, that is from Acts through Jude, it is not for Christians. The teachings of the new law begin in Acts. Jesus lived and died a Jew. He taught Jews to be better Jews, not to be Christians.
The gospel is defined by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
2007-10-05 09:33:30 · answer #2 · answered by mesquiteskeetr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Old Testament is made up history, the law, the Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the prophets. The Old Testament pointed to the coming of the Messiah.
The New Testament contains history (the gospels and Acts) and the letters to various churches.
The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament, He doesn't change. Jesus was God in the Old Testament and the New.
2007-10-05 09:17:02 · answer #3 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, some believe the difference is simply in the time period. Old Testament was really old history, then New Testament is the new stuff that Jesus introduced.
That's kind of incomplete, though. The OT was all the scripture before Jesus was here on earth, but what many forget is that some of the prophet teachings int the OT happened less that 100 years before Christ, so it's really not about the time period.
Anyways, the NT's biggest difference is that there's good news. People can be saved through Christ.
'nuff said
2007-10-05 09:14:26 · answer #4 · answered by JG 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The Old Testament is the Law which leads us to the New Testament which is the Grace and Mercy of God.
edit:
You can't have one without the other.
2007-10-05 09:15:07 · answer #5 · answered by hisgloryisgreat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Old Testament or Hebrew Bible is the story of the Hebrew people's relationship with God before the coming of Christ.
The New Testament is the story of Jesus coming and living among us and of the early Christian Church.
2007-10-05 09:17:55 · answer #6 · answered by Mary W 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not nearly as much as many Americans may currently think!!!
One deviation from God's word; What is the scriptural old testament'? Many may say Genesis-Malachi (either 39 or 46 books depending on whether one is Protestant or Catholic). My answer, on the high side 3.5 books (the law of Moses). Apply the '2 or more witnesses' principle, Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1.
2007-10-05 09:31:52 · answer #7 · answered by jefferyspringer57@sbcglobal.net 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Old Testament is the age of law, whereas the New Testament is the age of grace. When Jesus was crucified He fullfilled the law.
2007-10-05 09:15:50 · answer #8 · answered by JES 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Old testament is about the stuff/ events that happend before Jesus birth. New testament is from Jesus time and after!
2007-10-05 09:22:24 · answer #9 · answered by Investor 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The old testament was the covenant of the law that cannot forgive any sins or save anyone (Hebrews). The new testament is the only way of salvation and forgiveness of sins, the covenant made by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross where He died for our sins. And then Jesus rose again.
2007-10-05 09:11:57 · answer #10 · answered by CJ 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋