Introduction to the Old Testament
The word “testament” means covenant.
The covenant of Sinai being the precursor and forerunner to the greater
covenant of the gospel.
The Old Testament is not a book --- it is a collection, a collection of thirtynine books that comprise the record of God’s dealings with his covenant
people of the era of Moses/ancient Israel.
The Old Testament begins with Moses (Moses 1:40 and Moses 2:1).
There is strong evidence that the setting of the revelation of Genesis is with
Moses and the Israelites.
Sadly, most of the lessons that readers can learn from the history of ancient
Israel are from bad examples.
It would probably not be incorrect to assume
that for many members of the Church the Old
Testament is the most neglected book of
scripture.
This neglect is not difficult to understand.
The Old Testament is the longest of all the
scriptures, being about twice the size of the
Book of Mormon. Its history and culture are
farthest removed from our day.
It is not enough to be entertained by its
stories unless these stories can reach
deep into our souls to make better
persons. The accounts of the Bible were
preserved for the help which they can
give to man in developing his faith in God
and in following His teachings. The
reader who misses the significance of
Bible stories in present life is not a true
student of the Bible” (Larsen,
Introduction to The Message of the Old
Testament, by Jacob,).
The following quotations are representative of Joseph Smith’s
thoughts concerning the Bible:
“Many important points touching the salvation of men had
been taken from the Bible or lost before it was compiled.”
“There are many things in the Bible which do not, as they now
stand, accord with the revelations of the Holy Ghost to me.”
“We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is
translated correctly.”
“I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the
original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or
designing and corrupt priest have committed many errors”
(Teachings, 10, 310, 327, 56).
The biggest part of the Old Testament deals with broken
covenants and the people who broke them.
It covers about 4,000 years.
It covers the most time of any of the scriptures and sets the
stage for all additional scripture.
From a historical perspective the Bible begins with the story of
Abram who becomes Abraham.
The Abrahamic Covenant, The Priesthood and the Atonement
all work in concert to save mankind.
The Old Testament is a brutally honest book (scriptural foils).
A Brief History of the Bible
• Why were books bound?
It was easier than hiding scrolls.
• It wasn’t until 1200 A.D. that the Bible comes to be.
• Only 50 fragments exist from the first 300 years of Christianity.
• There are no printing presses until the 1400’s.
• Latin is the standard language before the printing press is
invented.
• The Bible was the dominant book over the
people and the people had no access to it. It
controlled the people economically and
politically.
• The first English Bible was created in 1384 by
John Wycliff. Wycliff was opposed to
transubstantiation.
• During the 1400’s there were two Popes which
both excommunicated each other.
• Wycliff believed that the scriptures should have
more authority than the church.
• It took one small herd of sheep to provide the parchment for
one Bible.
• Wycliff’s followers would be burned by the hundreds and
thousands.
What was there crime?
They had a page or two of the Bible in their possession.
• Wycliff’s bones would be removed from his grave 44 years after
his death. They pounded them to dust and burnt the remains
to symbolize that he never existed.
• He translated the Bible from Latin to English.
• The Gutenberg Bible:
In 1453-55, was printed in Latin and intended for the church.
• Martin Luther:
A great scholar who translated the Latin Bible into German. He
also studied the Bible in Greek before it was translated into
Latin. He was told to renounce his beliefs or be burned alive.
His “95 Thesis” was written during the 1500’s.
• William Tyndale:
He was England’s Martin Luther. He knew eight languages
fluently. Knowing those languages were helpful when he was
fleeing English authorities seeking to take his life. He read the
Bible in Latin and translated it from Greek to English.
Why? Because Wycliff’s Bible was pretty much destroyed by
then.
• Tyndale standardized the English language.
He translated the Old Testament from Hebrew
to English. He got to the Book of Chronicles
and was then caught and put in jail for 18
months.
• He was admitted to Oxford when he was
eleven. He helped to open the eyes of
England. He was burned at the stake.
• His last words were, “If God grants me breath
to finish this translation then the simplest plow
boy will be able to read it and will know more
about it than you in the clergy.”
• The Geneva Bible:
In 1560, it was the first English Bible. Because of Bloody Mary people
escaped and settled in Geneva (Switzerland). People were actually
studying the Bible in English. It was the first entire Bible written in English.
• This was the Bible that the Puritans and the Pilgrims brought to the New
World.
• King James, 1611:
Forty seven scholars worked on it. It was not really completed until 1900.
King James had nothing to do with it, but he was the King when they were
working on it.
We are really reading Tyndale’s words, not so much God’s.
• The Wicked Bible:
Thou shalt commit adultery!
• The Bay Psalm Book, 1782: This is the first
publication in America because of copy right problems
with the King James Version.
• The Dead Sea Scrolls
– 18,000 segments were found, they did not find
scrolls.
– They are 2,000 years old
– They legitimize that Jesus once lived there.