Introduction to the Old Testament

My good friend Maren Hardy Hale is the instructor this year in the study of the Old Testament at my Ward (church meeting building and geographical area) and in this introduction lesson she has taken hours researching the information I have attached. Some of you know that no matter where you are in the world on Sundays or as it happens in Israel on Saturdays this years study in Sunday School is the same, from the same manual, by the same writers, on the same Sundays around the world.

Now my personal interest: As most of you know I was born in my grand parents family home, the home of my Mother's parents, Emma Jane Thomas Bethune and Daniel Malcolm Bethune, outside of Hartsville SC about 10 miles. By the time I was 4 we had moved to Florence SC where my brother Howard Jr was born, then we lived a short while in Atlanta GA, then we moved to Fayetteville NC where my brother Dan was born and where I started school in a private Catholic school because I was only 5 and not old enough for public school as my birthday was not until the end of Nov. The first book we learned to read from was the Old Testament. We made Bible maps out of flour, salt and water and then used water colors to color them. I loved the stories, I did not like all the discipline but over all my young memories were good ones.

The years in Fayetteville were fun and I especially liked Bible School on Sundays and in the summers. I also was aware that my grand parents, my parents and my aunts were members of the Mormon church and I did understand the differences from other religions by the time I was in 5th grade. Because for many years we did not have a gathering of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints in Fayetteville I attended a different church each Sunday with friends, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Synagogue, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Catholic.

By the time I was baptized in Hartsville in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ward Building on my 8th birthday I knew enough to speak my mind about the differences. I was a logical child and I wanted answers so I would ask and ask and ask. More often than not I had to wait until we visited Hartsville where there were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints to get answers that satisfied me. I did learn from all religions the Old Testament is the foundation for all that I would learn in the years to come and indeed it is so. My testimony of Jesus Christ was first born when I was a small child and it became the focus of my life.

As far back as I can remember I have attended Sunday worship, Monday Family Home Evenings, Thursday Relief Society luncheons and lessons, Friday evening dinners at Church, Saturday clean up days at the meeting house, weeks at a time of directing plays at church, choir practice, years of church baseball teams with children and basketball and volleyball, scouting, years of rehearsals for Dance Festivals with 10,000 teens and on and on. I realized I was working all the years I have worked to support my family and myself but also to make it possible to get to and be part of all the activities, events, classes and socials at church.

This will be an exciting year as we work our way through the Old Testament and discover more meanings and insights. The blog will be open for comments and dialogue, we will learn together.

So find your Bible scriptures the King James version and keep a Book of Mormon handy too. And rather than saying "you don't believe or agree with what is said or written" help us to find answers and offer your opinions.

Please pass this invitation along to your loved ones. I love you all.....surely you know that by now and I want to connect in the best possible way and this seems to be an answer to prayer. Patricia/Pat/Grandma Trish/Mom


Introduction to the Old Testament December 27, 2009
Maren Hale, Pleasant View 1st Ward Gospel Doctrine Class

BOARD: “The Old Testament prophets from Adam to Malachi are testifying of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ was the God of the Old Testament, and it was He who conversed with Abraham and Moses.” President Spencer W. Kimball (Ensign, May 1977, p. 76, referenced in Ensign, January 2009, p. 41)

INTRODUCTION
EXPERIENCE:

The first time I tackled the Old Testament was when I attended early morning seminary as a teenager in Washington, D.C. I can’t recall too much about that experience now.

I remember my first full, in depth read through and study of the Old Testament. I was a young mother with small children. We were living in Maryland at the time. A friend from the ward and I decided we would read every single page of the Old Testament. For a year, we met once a week for an hour to discuss the things that stood out for us during our week’s reading.

I recall that Numbers and Deuteronomy were particularly tedious. We underlined every reference to Christ we could find – and there were so many.

My next in depth study session with the Old Testament was during an evening Institute class when we were stationed at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho. The teacher and class members added to my understanding.

I’ve also been able to attend about 3 series of gospel doctrine classes that focused on the Old Testament.

In 2010, I’ll be learning right along with some of you and will look forward to being enlightened by many of you. In the new year we will be drawing upon the scholarship of great scholars in the Church, 3 of whom we sadly lost in 2009 – Daniel H. Ludlow, Truman G. Madsen, and Robert J. Matthews.

BODY

The Old Testament of the Bible is considered part of the official canon of scripture for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Old Testament is considered an "indispensable foundation" to understanding the ordinances and covenants we make during this life.

The Old Testament consists of a collection of books.

The term “Old” is used to distinguish it from the “New” Testament, or the Old Covenant from the New Covenant given by Jesus. Most scholars refer to the Old Testament as the “Hebrew Bible” or the Jewish Bible. Jews refer to it simply as “The Holy Scriptures.”

The books were written mainly in Biblical Hebrew with a few books in Biblical Aramaic.

The King James Version

The King James Version is an English translation of the Bible begun in 1604 and first published in 1611 under the authority of King James. The edition was published by the Church of England.

The Old Testament of the King James Version was translated from the
Masoretic Hebrew text. The translation was commissioned because of
glaring errors of translation in the bibles commonly used in England.

It was the result of the translating efforts of 47 scholars working in groups centered in universities. They often worked separately and then compared their translations. The guidance of King James encouraged them to uphold the
"divine right of kings to rule," and common protestant ideals.

A few years ago, I received from my Mother, a fascinating book by Adam Nicolson entitled God’s Secretaries, The Making of the King James Bible.

QUOTE: In it the author states:

“Jacobean England was the England of Shakespeare, Jonson, and Bacon, and the worst outbreak of the plague. Jacobean England was both more godly and less godly than the country had ever been, and the entire culture was drawn taut between these polarities.

“This was the world that created the King James Bible. It was the greatest work of English prose ever written, and it is no coincidence that the translation was made at the moment…the English language itself, had come into its first passionate maturity.

“The making of the King James Bible…remains something of a mystery. The men who did it, who pored over the Greek and Hebrew texts, comparing the accuracy and felicity of previous translations, arguing with each other over the finest details of chapter and verse, were many of them obscure at the time and are generally forgotten now, a gaggle of fifty or so black-gowned divines whose names are almost unknown but whose words continue to resonate with us.”
(God’s Secretaries, The Making of the King James Bible, pp. xi-xiv)

Because of the numerous translations performed anciently and the orientation of the King James scholars, who made translation decisions by majority vote, the Bible includes many errors in translation.

Thus, Latter-day Saints are Bible-believing Christians—as long as the Bible is translated correctly (see Article of Faith #8). Revelation directly from the Lord makes up for errors in translation. Thus, the other scriptures canonized by the Church clarify many obscure passages and omissions in the Bible.

Purpose and Message of the Old Testament

Through the power and light of the Old Testament, we gain precious and enduring benefits:

1. We gain a deeper understanding of the origin and nature of God’s design for the immortality and eternal life of man.

2. We gain life-sustaining insights into the covenant process of sanctification and purification.

3. We gain a treasured witness of the verity of Christ’s calling and atonement.

4. And we gain a greater abundance of strength and courage to “seek the face of the Lord always.” (D&C 101:38)

Let’s read about the message of the Old Testament:
QUOTE #1:

Elder John A. Widtsoe: “What is the message of the Old Testament? From the first to the last, in the Pentateuch, in the historical books, in the poetical books, and in the prophets, it teaches the existence of a personal God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth, the Father of the human race. It teaches that the earth and all things upon it are provided for man’s benefit but that man must obey law, divine law, to secure the blessings he desires. It teaches that obedience to the moral law, given by God for human conduct, involving faith in God, not to be compared with man-made, ethical, selfish codes of action, is the most important concern of man. It is the message of messages for humankind. (Evidences and Reconciliations, Salt Lake City, Improvement Era, p. 135)

QUESTION: So, what is the primary purpose for the Old Testament?
[To provide a witness of the Son of God, the great Jehovah]

The Old Testament shows us how we can move forward to be more like Him through covenant fidelity and obedience.

In the Old Testament we view our Savior in His sacred role as Jehovah, Messiah, Christ, Creator, Emmanuel, Jesus, and the King.

By making the Savior the central focus of our study of the Old Testament, we can look forward to rich blessings of wisdom in applying the Lord’s doctrines and commandments in righteousness.

How to Understand the Old Testament

Today we will discuss 8 ways we can achieve a deeper understanding of the Old Testament and its eternal message.

1. The first step to understanding the Old Testament is to study and pray.

QUOTE #2:

Brigham Young: “The Bible, when understood, is one of the simplest books in the world, for, as far as it is translated correctly, it is nothing but truth, and in truth there is no mystery save to the ignorant.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 124)
This statement gives us a clue to understanding the Old Testament – we must study and ponder the book, become acquainted with its makeup and format, and learn its doctrines and teachings.

The reason why the scriptures should be searched diligently is in the statement by the Savior in John 5:39: “They are they which testify of me.”

2. The 2nd step to understanding the Old Testament is to Follow the Spirit

Nephi taught of the power of combining the word of God with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

SCRIPTURE: 2 Nephi 32:3-5

3. Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

4. Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

5. For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.

QUOTE: In his Latter-day Commentary on the Old Testament, Brother Ellis T. Rasmussen points out:

Brother Ellis T. Rasmussen: “The individuals and the peoples of the Old Testament experiences hopes and fears, aspirations and disappointments, achievements and failings in all of which we can find examples of good or evil, to be emulated or avoided. Indeed, as we see Old Testament accounts of our spiritual forebears and sense their faith, reverence, hope and joy – or feel their doubt, infidelity, despair, and misery – we may find ways to avoid pitfalls ourselves, reach our ideals, and attain more joy. But it must here be declared that the most important aid to understanding the Old Testament, or any other book of scripture, is the inspiration from the Holy Spirit, which is promised to us in those scriptures.” (A Latter-day Saint Commentary on the Old Testament, Salt Lake City, Deseret, 1993, vii-viii)

3. The 3rd step to understanding the Old Testament is to Look at the big picture

When we are focusing our attention on a specific scriptural passage in the Old Testament or on a broader sweep of events and developments, it is helpful to begin our consideration by examining things from a higher perspective. By looking at the big picture ---- the structure and purpose of an entire book or series of books ---- we can often acquire a framework for understanding and interpreting individual passages or events.

QUOTE #3 Elder Charles W. Penrose gave the following counsel:

Elder Charles W. Penrose: “In reading the scriptures, whether the Old Testament or the New Testament, in order to understand them properly we should not take one isolated text, but read it in conjunction with the context, then we get the meaning of the writer or speaker.” (Conference Report, April 1911, p. 33)

The use of the Bible Dictionary is helpful in understanding the bigger picture.

QUOTE #4: Victor Ludlow gives us some specific recommendations:

Brother Victor Ludlow: “The reader should study the following items in the Bible Dictionary to better understand the Old Testament as a whole: Scripture, Bible, Canon, Italics, Joseph Smith Translation, Writing, Scroll, Roll, Codex, Lost Books, Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Hagiographa, Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Vulgate, Dead Sea Scrolls, Tell el-Amarna Letters, Talmud.” (Unlocking the Old Testament, Salt Lake City, Deseret Book, 1981, p. 2)

4. The 4th step to understanding the Old Testament is to look upon the Old Testament as a “family matter.”

The scriptures deal with the Lord’s relationship to and interaction with HIS FAMILY – the vast congregations of mankind that constitute His progeny. In this sense, all scripture is family history.

QUOTE #5: Daniel H. Ludlow provides some interesting details in connection with this view of scripture:

Daniel H. Ludlow: “The Old Testament is primarily a record of a series of families. In order to understand and appreciate the Old Testament, you will need to understand the major events, beliefs, customs, and traditions of the families discussed. (In Richard D. Draper, ed., A Witness of Jesus Christ: The 1989 Sperry Symposium on the Old Testament, p. 118)

“The family of Adam is introduced first, but by chapter 6 of the first book (Genesis), the family of Noah appears. In only 6 more chapters (Genesis 12), the family of Abraham is featured, next Isaac (whose birth is recorded in chapter 21), and then Jacob (Israel), whose story begins in chapter 25 and whose descendants dominate the remainder of the Old Testament.

Thus, of the 929 chapters in 39 books in the Old Testament, only 24 chapters do not deal directly with Jacob and his descendants, and these first 24 chapters provide the background for the coming forth of the family of Israel.

“The last part of the Old Testament is primarily concerned with a specific segment of Jacob’s family – the Jews, descendants of Jacob’s 4th son (Judah), and also citizens of the kingdom of Judah. Thus, sometimes the entire Old Testament is referred to as the ‘record of the Jews.’

“Other titles associated with the heads of major families might be used to indicate that the Old Testament is also the record of –

1. The Semites (descendants of Shem, the son of Noah)
2. The Hebrews (descendants of Abraham)
3. The Israelites (descendants of Jacob/Israel)

“All Israelites, (descendants of Jacob/Israel) are Hebrews (descendants of Abraham), but not all Hebrews are Israelites.

QUOTE:

Brothers Ed Pinegar and Richard Allen inform us that: “One reason the world is confused about these terms is that essentially the only Israelites the world has know about for over 2,700 years…are Jews. Most people, therefore, think the terms Jew and Israelite are synonymous, but they are not. (A Companion to Your Study of the Old Testament, pp. 5-6)

5. The 5th step to understanding the Old Testament is to read the Old Testament on its own terms.

Brother Lowell Bennion gives us some valuable advice for understanding the Old Testament on its own terms:

QUOTE:

“Some of [the prophets’] teachings have local and temporary meaning only; others have universal enduring value. It is not always easy to distinguish between the two, but the Old Testament cannot be understood apart from the times and circumstances in which its writings were produced.

“People habitually read a book…from beginning to end; but the Old Testament was not written as a single book…It is more like a shelf of books in a library, arranged neither chronologically nor alphabetically. Proverbs and Psalms are themselves collections of writings composed over centuries…

“Some Christians have not been interested in the Old Testament for its own sake but only because it predicts the coming of Jesus Christ…It can be so powerful that they may relate passages to the Savior that do not apply to him.”
(Lowell L. Bennion, The Unknown Testament, 1988, pp. 4-6)

QUOTE #6

Brother Lowell L. Bennion: “The Old Testament is a wonderfully honest and human record as well as inspired of God. Its humanity and divinity co-mingle in a fascinating record. It works best when it is read for its own sake, not as something it is not.” (Lowell L. Bennion, The Unknown Testament, 1988, pp. 4-6)

We need to remember that the Old Testament was formulated within a linguistic context very different from our own. If we were to seek an intimate understanding of the basic text of the Old Testament, we would likely want to acquire a knowledge of Hebrew.

QUESTION: Now, who studied Hebrew in our Church history? -- The Prophet Joseph Smith.

6. The 6th step to understanding the Old Testament is to become accustomed to the figurative and symbolic language of the Old Testament.

The ancient prophets frequently turned to figurative or symbolic language and often expressed themselves in poetic imagery to convey their inspired messages.

QUOTE:

These are guidelines that will be helpful as we decide how to correctly interpret the symbols used in the Old Testament:

1. Look for the interpretation of the symbol in the scriptures themselves.

2. Look for Christ in the symbols and imagery of the scriptures.

3. Let the nature of the object used as a symbol contribute to your
understanding of its spiritual meaning.

4. Seek the reality behind the symbol – the reality behind the Old Testament is Jesus Christ and His teachings of salvation. The better we understand Him, the more clearly we will see the meaning of the
symbols. (Jesus Christ, Key to the Plan of Salvation, Gerald Lund, pp. 54-56)

The poetic nature of some Old Testament discourse lifts the message upward.

The prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, often felt inspired to project the message of divine purpose and love through poetry.

7. The 7th step to understanding the Old Testament is Cross-illumination: Turn to Latter-day Revelation

We are extremely fortunate to be able to enrich our understanding of the Old Testament through insights and guidance derived from latter-day scripture. There are many illustrations.

QUOTE #7

Brother Robert J. Matthews said: “It is evident that the Old Testament, as it has come to us today, is not as clear and not as complete as it was anciently. Many plain and precious things have been taken from it…Thus we need the benefit of latter-day revelation…to give us a perspective and understanding of the Old Testament. Without latter-day revelation, a correct and thorough viewpoint of the Old Testament cannot be achieved, and hence I am bold to declare that the Latter-day Saints can have a more correct understanding of the Old Testament than anyone else upon the face of the earth…” (Selected Writings of Robert J. Matthews: Gospel Scholars Series, p. 109)

8. The 8th step to understanding the Old Testament is to look for practical themes and applications.

Our study of the Old Testament can be rendered more productive if we will seek to draw out themes and applications that can assist us in cultivating a more spiritual nature in our daily lives.

Themes of the Old Testament

We’ll now look at seven themes the Old Testament:

1. It is the old testament, or witness, of Jesus Christ. (The ancient prophets saw His coming and understood His ministry).

2. The message of the Old Testament is that the gospel is eternal. It was the same for the ancient patriarchs as it is for Latter-day Saints.

3. The Old Testament is a book about covenants. (Helps us learn how to make and keep covenants. We also learn the horrible consequences of breaking our oaths to God).

4. The Old Testament is a key to unlocking other scriptures.

5. The Old Testament is the record of our spiritual and physical ancestors. (It is the journal account of our own ancestors’ struggles to live the gospel).

6. We come to better appreciate temples through he Old Testament. (Our own Latter-day Saint temple heritage gives us an appreciation of why the children of Israel would sacrifice to build a temple to the Lord).

7. We gain a greater appreciation for the laws of God in the Old Testament.
(The torah or the law took a very special place in the hearts of the people).

QUOTE #8:

Brother Lee Donaldson: “…We will find the Old Testament so compelling [to read and study]. There are familiar tones of eternal principles in this testament of Christ. Its message is so familiar to Latter-day Saints because it is the same gospel. One can embrace this book because reading it is like coming home to an old friend.” (“Record of a Loving God and His People,” LDS Church News, January 1, 1994)

CONCLUSION

We have just celebrated Christmas and the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Old Testament prophesies concerning the birth of Christ have been fulfilled. Let’s look at three examples.

SCRIPTURES:

In Micah 5:1-2 we learn that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem:

Micah 5:1-2: “Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousand of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

In Isaiah 7:14 we read that Jesus would be born of a virgin and called Immanuel.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Hebrew = with us is God)

We read in Isaiah 9:6-7 that Jesus would come from David's family and be heir to his throne.

Isaiah 9:6-7: “For to us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The might God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for eve., The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

The Old Testament consists of writings from ancient prophets who testified of Jehovah (Christ) and His ministry yet to come.

The Old Testament teaches many important truths that must be understood to have a firm grasp of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It lays the foundation for the ancient covenants which have governed God's people since the beginning. The Old Testament is also important because all of the other official scriptures of the Church are rooted in it.

The Old Testament was the history and heritage of those living in New Testament times. It was the contemporary history of much of the Pearl of Great Price and the Book of Mormon. Even the Doctrine and Covenants is better understood in light of the teachings of the Old Testament.

QUOTE: Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin:

“We delight in the knowledge of the Lord that we find recorded in the Old and New Testaments. We know that Jehovah of the Old Testament and Jesus of the New Testament are one and the same.

“We are grateful that this sacred record of God’s dealings with the people of ancient Israel ... has been preserved and passed to us to enlighten our minds and strengthen our spirits.

“The fragmentary nature of the biblical record and the errors in it, resulting from multiple transcriptions, translations, and interpretations, do not diminish our belief in it as the word of God “as far as it is translated correctly.”

“We read and study the Bible, we teach and preach from it, and we strive to live according to the eternal truths it contains. We love this collection of holy writ.” (“Christians in Belief and Action,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, p. 70).

The prophets who lived in Old Testament times prophesied of the coming Christ, His Atonement, and His Second Coming. They preached repentance to the people and warned them of the consequences of sin. These books also teach the concepts of tithing, fasting, the pre-mortal life and foreordination, the importance of temples and prophets, God's love for all nations, the return of Elijah, the sticks (writings) of Ephraim and Judah coming together, and the coming forth of the kingdom of God.


I am grateful for the Old Testament –

I pray that we may we have the desire and discipline to read and study it –

to ponder and pray –

and to invite the Spirit into our lives through it.

References:

Teachings and Commentaries on the Old Testament, “Understanding and Appreciating the Old Testament,” Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, pp. 1-12

God’s Secretaries, The Making of the King James Bible, Adam Nicolson, Harper Perennial, 2003

Various sources from an Internet Google referencing topic of: Old Testament introduction, LDS

Ensign, January 2010, pp. 39-45