These discussion questions are designed to help you understand the material covered in the lesson. You can either answer them in a spoken format with your parents and friends, or you can write out your responses. Answers based on the lecture material are provided at the bottom. This is not a graded assignment, but rather a way to test your comprehension of the biblical material.
- How does Jesus’ post-resurrection teaching demonstrate the central purpose of the Old Testament in pointing to Him?
- What is the significance of referring to the Old Testament as “the Law and the Prophets,” and how does this division structure its content?
- In what ways does the Pentateuch function as the foundational core of the Old Testament, including its blend of history and law?
- Discuss the unique characteristics and attributions of the wisdom books in the Old Testament, such as Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.
- Explain the distinction between the Major and Minor Prophets and their collective role in conveying divine messages within the Old Testament.
- How do various New Testament passages reference and interpret Genesis 1-3 to affirm its foundational role in Christian theology?
- How does Jesus’ post-resurrection teaching demonstrate the central purpose of the Old Testament in pointing to Him?
Jesus’ post-resurrection teaching powerfully illustrates the central purpose of the Old Testament as a unified narrative designed to point directly to Him and His redemptive work. Right after His resurrection, in His very first teaching moment with His new glorified life, He gathers with some disciples on the road and conducts what amounts to an in-depth Bible study, carefully walking them through the Scriptures to show how every part—from the laws and histories to the prophecies—leads to and finds fulfillment in Him. This act underscores that the Old Testament is not merely a collection of ancient stories or rules but a deliberate divine blueprint that anticipates the Messiah, with Jesus Himself revealing these connections to emphasize their profound importance.
By choosing this as His initial post-resurrection activity, Jesus models how believers should approach the Old Testament: not just for historical or moral lessons, but to see its overarching message of salvation culminating in His death and resurrection. This demonstration affirms that the entire Old Testament serves as a foundation for understanding Christ’s identity and mission, making it essential for recognizing the continuity between the old covenant promises and their realization in the new covenant through Him.
- What is the significance of referring to the Old Testament as “the Law and the Prophets,” and how does this division structure its content?
Referring to the Old Testament as “the Law and the Prophets” holds deep significance because it reflects the way Jesus Himself often described the Scriptures, emphasizing their two primary divisions that together form a comprehensive guide to God’s plan. The “Law” refers to the Pentateuch, the first five books—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—which lay the groundwork with a mix of historical accounts and divine commandments. The “Prophets” encompass what are now categorized as the historical books (like Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther) and the prophetic writings, highlighting messages from God’s spokespeople about judgment, hope, and future restoration. This division structures the content by starting with the establishment of covenants and Israel’s origins in the Law, then moving to narratives of faithfulness and failure in the histories, and culminating in prophetic calls that point forward.
This framework organizes the 39 books into a logical progression that builds toward a messianic hope, ensuring the Old Testament is seen as interconnected rather than disjointed. It excludes other books not considered inspired at the same level, focusing on texts frequently quoted in the New Testament, and reinforces the idea that the Scriptures are meant to reveal God’s unfolding redemptive story.
- In what ways does the Pentateuch function as the foundational core of the Old Testament, including its blend of history and law?
The Pentateuch functions as the foundational core of the Old Testament by providing the essential building blocks of God’s relationship with humanity and Israel, seamlessly blending historical narratives with legal instructions to set the stage for all that follows. Beginning with Genesis, which covers creation and early human history, and continuing into Exodus with accounts of the exodus from Egypt, it incorporates history up to about halfway through Exodus before introducing laws around chapter 20 at Mount Sinai. Leviticus delves deeply into these laws, Numbers interweaves more wilderness travel history with additional regulations, and Deuteronomy serves as a second retelling of the law, reinforcing key principles just before entering the promised land. Traditionally attributed to Moses, with possible contributions from Joshua who accompanied him closely, this section is known as the Torah or the Law of Moses and is the most frequently quoted part in the New Testament.
This blend of history and law establishes critical themes like creation, covenant, obedience, and divine guidance, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through human writers—sometimes with scribes adjusting details—to ensure accuracy. As the base, the Pentateuch anchors the rest of the Old Testament, offering context for the prophets and wisdom books while illustrating how God’s instructions are rooted in real events and people.
- Discuss the unique characteristics and attributions of the wisdom books in the Old Testament, such as Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.
The wisdom books in the Old Testament—Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon—stand out for their distinctive focus on practical life lessons, human emotions, and moral reflections, differing markedly from the historical or prophetic emphases elsewhere. Job, considered one of the oldest books, depicts an ancient time of suffering and divine justice, likely written by someone other than Job himself to convey timeless questions about hardship. Psalms, primarily authored by David, employ poetic forms to express praise, lament, and trust in God, serving as a collection of songs and prayers. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon are attributed to Solomon or those in his court, with Proverbs compiling various sayings—including some from King Lemuel—and concluding with a vivid portrayal of a diligent, faithful woman’s virtues, emphasizing wisdom in daily living. Ecclesiastes explores life’s vanities and ultimate meaning, while Song of Solomon poetically celebrates love and beauty.
These books often result from a compilation process, where sayings and writings from multiple sources are gathered and organized to present enduring truths, sometimes with alternative names or contributors involved. Placed after the historical books in modern Bibles, they enrich the Old Testament by offering reflective, applicable insights that encourage faithfulness and diligence, highlighting wisdom as a divine gift for navigating human experiences.
- Explain the distinction between the Major and Minor Prophets and their collective role in conveying divine messages within the Old Testament.
The Major Prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel—are distinguished primarily by their greater length, allowing for more extensive prophecies, historical details, and visions, while the Minor Prophets—Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi—are shorter books, collectively known as the Twelve and generally arranged in chronological order, with Malachi as the final one. For instance, Isaiah’s prophecies are dated to the reigns of specific kings like Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, addressing Judah and Jerusalem over a broad span. These distinctions do not imply lesser importance for the minors but reflect their concise nature, often focusing on targeted messages.
Collectively, the prophets play a vital role in conveying divine messages by building on the Law, interpreting Israel’s history through God’s perspective, and delivering calls to repentance, warnings of judgment, and promises of future hope. Written by the prophets or their associates, such as disciples compiling collections, they tie into specific times and places, making the messages historically grounded yet forward-looking. This prophetic tradition enriches the Old Testament by linking past covenants to anticipated redemption, urging faithfulness amid challenges.
- How do various New Testament passages reference and interpret Genesis 1-3 to affirm its foundational role in Christian theology?
Various New Testament passages reference and interpret Genesis 1-3 to affirm its status as the foundational cornerstone of Christian theology, establishing key doctrines about creation, humanity, and redemption. For example, Exodus 20:11, part of the Ten Commandments, directly ties the Sabbath commandment to the six days of creation followed by a day of rest, explaining that humans should mirror God’s pattern of work and rest, which underscores the literal structure of the creation week. Mark 10:6 references Genesis by stating that from the beginning of creation, God made humans male and female, using this to address marriage and divorce, implying that people were present right from the start rather than after long ages. Romans 1:20 asserts that since the creation of the world, God’s invisible attributes have been clearly seen through what He made, providing a basis for general revelation and human accountability.
Additionally, 2 Peter 3:5 recalls the earth being formed out of water and by water, echoing the early days of creation in Genesis. Luke’s genealogy in chapter 3 traces Jesus back through generations to Adam, described as the son of God, directly linking Christ to the original creation and portraying Him as the second Adam who triumphs in temptation where the first Adam failed in the garden. These interpretations collectively affirm Genesis 1-3 as accurate history that underpins essential beliefs, such as divine design, the origin of sin, and the need for salvation, showing that without this foundation, core Christian doctrines lose their grounding.