A Way to Remember the Contents of the Old Testament

One way that has been helpful for me to remember what’s in the 39 books in the Old Testament is thinking of the number 593-5-593.  I first heard this years ago from a teacher name Robert Morey.

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Quick Thoughts on “The Old Testament is just a collection and rehash from older sources”

Someone asked me the following:

How can one respond to the statement:

“The OT is just a collection and rehash from older sources” (for example: Sumerian)

Usually non-believers use this approach to undermine the Genesis narratives, stating that there are civilizations much older than the Hebrew people, thus, the books from the Hebrews have been inspired by previous texts from those folks.

Here’s my reply:

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Dr. Bill Barrick’s Seminary Lectures: The Book of Genesis

Here’s a wonderful resource that’s worth bookmarking!  The Old Testament professor at The Master’s Seminary has taught in the past on the book of Genesis.  Fortunately for all of us his lectures are online for free!

Here are the videos:

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Review: Interpreting Apocalyptic Literature: An Exegetical Handbook

Richard Taylor. Interpreting Apocalyptic Literature: An Exegetical Handbook.  Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, July 27^th, 2016. 208 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This book is part of the Handbooks for Old Testament Exegesis series published by Kregel Publications.  Previously I have enjoyed the work on interpreting Old Testament historical books by Robert Chisholm very much and was looking forward to this volume largely because of it.  I was also excited for this volume since apocalytpic literary forms is one of the hardest to interpret in the Old Testament and as a preacher it would be helpful to think through critically and be equipped in handling passages of Scripture like the book of Daniel.

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Is Justification by Faith Taught in the Old Testament? Part I: Abraham was Justified by Faith

Is Justification by Faith Taught in the Old Testament?

Justification is the act of God declaring a sinner righteous before Him.

But first why is this question important:

This question is important if one believes in the continuity between the Old and the New Testament.

This question is also important if one believes that Christianity has its root in the Jewish Scripture.

Moreover if you love the truth that God has justified sinners by faith, you will appreciate that this was always God’s intention.

This is also helpful for Jewish evangelism and apologetics to the Jews.

It is useful for doctrinal apologetics of Christianity.

I have found Paul in Romans 4 to be quite insightful of his argument from the Old Testament in which he argues and defends the thesis that the doctrine of justification by faith has Old Testament roots.

For this post we will look at Abraham in Genesis.  Specifically we will look at Paul’s argument concerning Abraham and you will notice in Romans 4 that Paul’s argument was faithful to the context of Genesis.

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Announcement of Series: Is Justification by Faith Taught in the Old Testament?

Is justification by faith taught in the Jewish Scripture (Old Testament)?  Or was it something the New Testament invented?

I believe that justification by faith is taught in the Old Testament.

Next week we will be doing a series showing how the Old Testament does teach justification by faith.  We are going do so by looking at the argument set forth by Paul in Romans 4 but we are going to do so with a focus on what verses he employs and its context and how he goes about with his argument.  I hope it would be an series that will bless God’s people and be at awe more of God’s grace.

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Review: Preaching Old Testament Narratives by Benjamin Walton

Benjamin Walton. Preaching Old Testament Narratives.  Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, June 27th 2016.  256 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase:  Amazon

Most Christian preachers are probably more comfortable preaching from New Testament epistles than Old Testament narrative.  Yet as the book points out forty percent of the Bible is narrative with a large part of that found in the Old Testament.  If preachers are to be faithful in preaching all of God’s Word they need to do it well.  The author Benjamin Walton has written an excellent resource for expositional preachers who want to preach faithfully the Word of God from Old Testament narratives while at the same time desiring to preach with the intention of impacting contemporary audiences today.  Unlike most works on preaching this is a “two-in-one” in that it covers the interpretative skills that a preacher needs as he studies Old Testament narratives and also the practical skills of crafting a sermon.  You really get the bang for your buck with this book.  One really gets the feeling that the author is writing for the purpose of pastors and teachers able to do all the aspects of expositional preaching well.

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