Introduction
The Old Testament is the first major part of the Bible. It brings together 39 books, written mostly in Hebrew before the birth of Jesus. It tells of the creation of the world, God's covenant with the people of Israel, his law, their history, their songs and the messages of his prophets.
Many people open the Bible, see a whole library and don't know where to start. The Old Testament takes up about three quarters of it. This page explains what it contains, how it is organized, which stories to read first, how Jesus himself read it, and why it still matters today, even if you are just beginning.
What Is the Old Testament?
The word testament comes from a Latin term meaning covenant, that is, a solemn commitment between two parties. The Old Testament therefore presents the old covenant: the one God made with Abraham, then with the people of Israel, whom he led out of a land where they were enslaved.
It contains 39 books in most Protestant Bibles. Some Christian traditions add a few more books, which changes the total without altering the overall message. These texts were written over roughly a thousand years by very different authors: shepherds, kings, priests, poets and prophets.
It is also the sacred Scripture of Judaism. Christians receive it as the first stage of one and the same story, that of a God who creates, who speaks to humanity and who prepares his coming in the person of Jesus.
The Four Major Parts of the Old Testament
The Law includes the first five books, from Genesis to Deuteronomy. They tell of the origins of the world, the life of Abraham and his family, the escape from slavery, and then the commandments received through Moses. They are the foundation for everything that follows.
The historical books, from Joshua to Esther, follow the people of Israel into the land promised to them, through their judges, their kings, their fall and their return from exile. We read of victories, but also of failures and unfaithfulness, told without varnish.
The books of poetry and wisdom, from Job to the Song of Songs, are songs, prayers, proverbs and reflections on suffering and the meaning of life. The Psalms hold a central place. Finally, the prophets, from Isaiah to Malachi, convey God's messages: they call people to return to him, denounce injustice and announce a savior.
The Major Stories of the Old Testament to Know
If you were to remember only a few passages, start with these. They provide the key to reading the whole, and they recur often in the rest of the Bible.
Genesis 1:1
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
The Bible opens with a statement: the world is not the product of chance, it has an author. The whole account that follows, from creation to the fall of humanity, starts from this simple sentence. Read all of Genesis 1.
Exodus 20:2-3
"I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before me."
Before giving his commandments, God recalls what he has done: he has freed his people. The law therefore comes as the framework of a relationship, after deliverance and not before it. Read all of Exodus 20.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
"Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one. You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might."
This passage sums up the faith of Israel: one God, to be loved without reservation. Jesus will later quote it as the greatest of the commandments. Read all of Deuteronomy 6.
Psalm 23:1
"Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing."
The shepherd psalm is probably the best-known text in biblical poetry. It shows a close God who guides, feeds and protects, and who answers the anxiety of the one who prays. Read all of Psalm 23.
Isaiah 53:5
"But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed."
About seven centuries before Jesus, this prophet announces a servant who bears the suffering of others to bring them peace. Christians see in it the meaning of the cross. Read all of Isaiah 53.
How Jesus and the Apostles Read the Old Testament
For Jesus and his disciples, the Old Testament is not an outdated old book: it is the Word of God that announces what is to come. The authors of the New Testament quote it hundreds of times and find in it the portrait of the one they followed.
The three passages below show this reading. They do not aim to oppose two books, but to explain how one prepares the other.
Matthew 5:17
"Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill."
Jesus himself says that he did not come to erase the Scriptures of his people. He comes to bring them to their goal, which explains why the two Testaments are read together. Read all of Matthew 5.
Luke 24:27
"Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself."
After his resurrection, Jesus joins two disciples on a road and explains to them the whole Bible of his time. He shows that Moses and the prophets were already speaking of him. Read all of Luke 24.
Romans 15:4
"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
Paul affirms that these ancient texts were written to instruct us and to give us hope. They are not reserved for historians: they speak to every reader. Read all of Romans 15.
Why and How to Read the Old Testament Today?
We read it to understand the roots of the Christian faith. Without it, words such as covenant, sacrifice, prophet, Messiah or kingdom stay vague. It also offers a rare honesty: men and women who doubt, make mistakes and cry out to God, and whom God does not abandon.
To begin, don't read it from start to finish like a novel. Start with Genesis for the origins, then Exodus for the liberation, and add one psalm each day. Keep Isaiah or Daniel for later, once you have found your bearings.
Finally, read each passage with three questions: what does this text say about God, what does it say about the human being, and how is it illuminated in the light of Jesus? This method keeps you from taking an ancient custom for an order that would apply to you directly.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books are in the Old Testament?
Most Protestant Bibles have 39 books: 5 of Law, 12 of history, 5 of poetry and wisdom, and 17 of prophets. The Catholic and Orthodox traditions add a few more books, so the total is higher depending on the edition.
Why is it called the Old Testament?
Testament means covenant. Old refers to the first covenant, made with Israel, before the coming of Jesus. The word does not mean useless or outdated: it simply indicates that this account comes first in the Bible.
In what language was the Old Testament written?
It was written almost entirely in Hebrew, with a few passages in Aramaic, a closely related language. Already in antiquity it was translated into Greek, and then into hundreds of languages, which makes it possible to read it almost anywhere today.
Which book of the Old Testament should you start with?
Genesis is a good starting point: its stories are short and lay the foundations. Then add Exodus, followed by the Psalms for prayer. The books of law or genealogies can wait until you have an overview.