Why should Christians read the Old Testament?

Why is this a question we feel we should ask and then answer very compellingly? Do we not see the value of our history? Of our origin? Of the foundation of the faith that has been passed down to us? Do we not desire to know the faith and culture and story that Jesus entered into? These questions cause me to wonder if it is the arrogance and ignorance of our current age or if Christians after the apostles always struggled to value anything related to the Jewish faith. Either way, we have a responsibility as those who benefit from the hard work of those who fought to have both testaments written for our edification. We have a responsibility to read that book and both its testaments. So why should we read the Old Testament?

As I have already mentioned, it is within these first pages of the Bible that we find the beginning of our story. It is not a nice story that is merely good for us to know. This is our story as God’s people. Although there are many reasons to read the books found in the Old Testament, three stand out as primarily important. We should read these books to learn our identity, God’s promises, and the history and context of God’s people.

Many people who do not fully grasp the value of the Old Testament still see the value of the first few chapters of Genesis. Most Christians know the creation story well, but their experience with the Old Testament unfortunately ends with Genesis 3. It is in these first three chapters of the Bible that God begins to show us who he created us to be and what He created us to do. But those three chapters are only an introduction. It is in the many chapters following that God begins to flesh out what it means and what it looks like to be a human and one of His people. God is using these people and the stories of their lives to teach us what our identity is. We are God’s people. We were created, chosen, called, and given purpose. He created us for Himself.

It is to His people that God has also made countless promises. How can we properly appreciate the fulfillment of these promises if we never spend time in the lives of those who God originally made them to? Scattered throughout the books of the Old Testament are covenants, Messianic prophecies, and hopeful promises. Each and every one of these points to the character of our God. He is a God who intends to keep His word and desires for His people to experience His faithfulness. By only reading the New Testament, we lose the depth of God’s promises fulfilled in the second half of the Bible.

A less emotional reason but still a crucial one is that reading the Old Testament gives us invaluable context and history that we need for the New Testament. The Bible should be seen as one story, not one story with a very long prequel that we do not have to pay attention to. The stories, people, laws, and histories found in the Old Testament set the stage for the world that Jesus enters into. It helps us to better understand Jesus’ words as we consider the faith that He grew up devoted to. 

More than anything, Christians should read the Old Testament to truly believe that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is not a different God that finally learns grace in the New Testament. He has always been compassionate, faithful, gracious, sovereign, and loving.