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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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It would be difficult to see how sacrifices worked, how Christ changed that and how He was the final sacrifice (because that alone wouldn’t make sense if we didn’t understand sacrifice from the perspective of the Old Testament). Also, the prophecies give us confidence and validates what Jesus said, in relation to God and being the Messiah.
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We wouldn’t understand the necessity of Christ without the OT. We also wouldn’t be able to have certainty about why sins can only be forgiven by the shedding of blood. We also wouldn’t get to see specific prophecies fulfilled which gives us certainty about Jesus being the Christ. And we would miss out on so much of the character and nature of God that is revealed through the OT.
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Without knowing the Old Testament we wouldn’t have the history or foundation of God, and of His purpose for us. It also would weaken the explanation of Jesus without the OT prophecy.
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The Old Testament is the foundation of the Bible. It tells us about God, it also tells us about Jesus, and God’s plan for salvation. It is factual, and it also tells us about who God is.
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The new testament is all informed by the old testament. Much of the ways that Christ and the apostle talk about sacrifice and other topics are referring to the old testament.