A Case For The Old Testament: Reasons To Study The Whole Bible

Why should we study the whole Bible, Old Testament and New? Many people today, even Christians, believe that the Bible is outdated, especially the Old Testament. Yet, as Christians isn’t it important to know what we believe and why we believe it? There is no way to truly be a Christian (follower of Christ) without knowing the whole story, especially the reason behind everything Jesus said and did. We can only fully understand that by reading and studying the Old Testament in light of the New, and vis versa.

Biblical reasons we should know the Bible

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” –Psalm 11:3

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. -Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Note: Cross-reference with the “Great Commandment” by Jesus in Matthew 22:36-40

My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. -Proverbs 7:1-3

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  -2 Timothy 2:15

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  -2 Timothy 3:16

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  -1 Peter 3:15-16

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. -1 Peter 1:22-25

Christians are to put on “The Full Armor of God” because, know it or not, we are in a spiritual warfare battle on a daily basis:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes form the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  -Ephesians 6:12-18

Reasons to Be Investigative

When skeptics attack Christianity we often need to take the role of defense attorney by asking them to put the reliability and truth of the Bible up against a courtroom test. Simon Greenleaf, enlightened atheist, professor, and principle founder of Harvard’s prestigious school of Law was challenged to do just that. After using careful courtroom and investigative methods Greenleaf became a Christian and wrote a classic Christian Apologetics’ book:  “Testimony of the Evangelists, The Gospels Examined by the Rules of Evidence” (1846). There have been many to follow in Greenleaf’s footsteps and Christian Apologists are still using “case-making” as a form of pre-evangelism, demolishing misconceptions and flawed philosophies that reign in education today. Check out work by J. Warner Wallace, Lee Strobel, Josh and Sean McDowell, to name a few.

Another great Christian Apologist, Greg Koukl, has a book out called “Tactics”. In that book Greg teaches us to ask questions of skeptics by trying to get to the root of their skepticism (one of my favorite is the “Columbo tactic”). Also, we should not be afraid to say “I don’t know, but I will find out,” then do the research and get back to them with answers. Be discerning with your research sources and get advice from mature Christians when necessary. Sincere questioners will respect your commitment to seeking truth. Challenge critics to go deeper with you, and be confident that God’s Word will always provide us with answers and will always prove true, because God’s truth corresponds to reality.

There are other reasons to be investigative when it comes to knowing the Bible in its entirety: 

Last week we looked at statistics that showed a low level of Biblical knowledge, even among professing Christians, and this hurts our witness because we are suppose to be a reflection of Jesus to an unbelieving world. As long as things are fine in our lives we can make excuses for not spending time with God and His Word. Daily responsibilities and stresses give excuse for putting Bible study at a low priority. However, when life changing or catastrophic events cause us to reflect on our purpose and eternal destiny, we can be catapulted into the shadows of hopelessness and despair. If we are not grounded by the knowledge that Christianity is true, and the Bible is the Word of God, we can find ourselves in a very dark place.

Nabeel Quereshi, Christian Apologist and former Muslim, shared strong words of encouragement and trust in God even though he was going through an unimaginable situation in his young life. His testimony, (especially now since passing on to his eternal home), should inspire us to know that we can get to that place of complete confidence and assurance in the God of the Bible and His Word, if we just make it a priority in our life. Nabeel never recanted his Christian testimony and we can be confident that he is with his Lord and Savior Jesus today.

Nabeel did not come to the conclusion that Christianity was true, and Islam false, without spending some serious time and study. He came to trust that the Bible is the inspired and historically accurate Word of God. That confidence made it easy for him to proclaim at the end of his life: “Jesus is the victory!”  If we commit to reading, studying, and praying the Bible we can have that same level of confidence, enabling us to make the same declaration that Nabeel did.

Going Deeper:

Nabeel gave a profound talk shortly before he passed. Watch his full presentation at IPC Hebron Huston Church:

Bible Study: Read Genesis 11:24-12:5

After Shem, son of Noah, had fathered many children, he passed away at the age of 600 (Genesis 11:10–11). Shem is mentioned in the New Testament as an ancestor of Jesus (Luke 3:36). He is the one that carries the “Scarlet Thread” of Jesus and he is the “great-great-great-great-great-great-great Grandfather” of Abraham. Because he lived to 600 years old he would have still been alive with Abraham.

Note: After the flood, ages began to drop due to environmental changes and DNA decline. By Abraham’s time people were living less than 200 years, and a few centuries later Moses writes in Psalm 90 that human’s have 70 years, and with strength 80 years. Even though some live into their 100s, the average has remained 70-80 years of human life.

1. Genesis chapter 12 is an introduction to Abraham (Abram) and the Abrahamic Covenant. This Covenant is the expansion of God’s promise from Genesis chapter 3. Write out the Covenant by copying Genesis 12:1-3:
2. What are the three main parts of God’s Promise to Abraham (Abram) in this Covenant (12:1-3)?
3. How old was Abram when the LORD spoke to him. Who went with him as he left his home in Haran (12:4-5)?
4. How do you think you would respond to God’s calling if it meant leaving everything you know behind? Are there things in your life God is calling you to leave? Why?

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15