Dan J. Harkey

Master Educator | Business & Finance Consultant | Mentor

“The Old Testament: The Foundation of Christian Faith”

The Old Testament profoundly shaped the formation and growth of Christianity in several key ways:

by Dan J. Harkey

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1.  Foundational Scriptures

  • The Old Testament was the Bible of Jesus and the early church.  Before the New Testament was written, Christians relied on the Hebrew Scriptures for teaching, worship, and moral guidance.
  • Early Christian preaching (e.g., in Acts) consistently referenced the Law, Prophets, and Psalms to explain Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises.

2.  Messianic Expectation

  • Prophecies in books like Isaiah, Micah, and Daniel created anticipation for a Messiah.  Christians interpreted Jesus as the realization of these prophecies.
  • This continuity strengthened Christian legitimacy among Jewish audiences and built a solid theological foundation for Gentile converts, fostering trust in the faith’s historical roots.

3.  Moral and Ethical Framework

  • The Ten Commandments and covenant ethics shaped Christian morality.  Jesus reaffirmed these principles but deepened them—emphasizing internal purity and love of neighbor.
  • This ethical continuity helped Christianity appeal to cultures seeking a coherent moral system.

4.  Worship and Liturgy

  • Early Christian worship borrowed heavily from Jewish synagogue practices: reading Scripture, prayer, and singing Psalms.
  • The Psalms became central to Christian devotion and liturgy.

5.  Typology and Interpretation

  • Christians used typology—seeing Old Testament figures and events as foreshadowing Christ (e.g., Adam as a type of Christ, the Passover lamb as a symbol of Jesus’s sacrifice).
  • This interpretive method enriched preaching and catechesis, making the Old Testament indispensable for Christian identity.

6.  Missionary Advantage

  • The Old Testament’s monotheism and ethical clarity distinguished Christianity from pagan religions.
  • In the Greco-Roman world, where polytheism was dominant, Christianity’s rootedness in ancient Scripture gave it intellectual credibility.

7.  Cultural Transmission

  • The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) made the Old Testament accessible to non-Jews, aiding early missionary work.
  • This translation allowed Christianity to spread across linguistic and cultural boundaries without losing its scriptural foundation.

Summary:

The Old Testament was not just a backdrop—it was the theological spine of early Christianity.  It provided prophecy, ethics, worship patterns, and a narrative of God’s dealings with humanity that Christians claimed reached its climax in Jesus Christ.  This continuity gave Christianity depth, coherence, and credibility, fueling its growth across cultures.