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Why would a lack of knowledge of the Old Testament weaken our understanding of the New Testament?
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In the Old Testament God gives us his promises. If one doesn’t have the knowledge of his promises throughout the old testament, we may miss the completion of the promise in the new testament.
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Old Testament revealed the coming of Christ, his life ministry, his death and resurrection. It also revealed what God future plans for mankind after the fall and sin of man and His ultimate rule on earth as King of Kings, Lord of Lords over this earth. So without knowledge of Old Testament we will no understanding the reason why Christ came into the world to redeem mankind. New Testament is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy about Christ coming and His future rule on earth and the final restoration of relationship between God and mankind through accepting Christ as the messiah of mankind.
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A lack of knowledge of the Old Testament weakens our understanding of the New Testament because the Old Testament gives us an understanding of the Hebrew culture so prominent in the New Testament. Also, it gives insight into Christ’s purpose in coming to the Earth. Christ came to fulfill the promises made in the Old Testament.
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The OT gives us insight into how the Jews lived and why Jesus addressed certain topics with them and responded to them in certain ways. We can have a broader view of the history of God’s people and understand their (and our) need for Jesus’ sacrifice. We can have a greater understanding of God’s love and character and how Jesus fulfills those in the flesh in the New Testament. We understand the New Testament in context instead of interpreting it how we want to. Without the foundation of the Old Testament it has hard to fully grasp the Good News of the New Testament and Jesus’ fulfilment of the Law. Jesus wrote the Law and how fortunate are we to read about how He correctly interprets it for His people. I think it helps me be even more grateful for the Father’s heart for me and the freedom I have in Jesus !
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Without understanding the Old Testament we wouldn’t be able to fully understand the new testament, especially Jesus Christ. We would not understand and value why he came and the sacrifice he made on the cross, it would just not make sense.