Old Testament Survey

The Old Testament is categorized into five parts: the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy), the historical books (Joshua through Esther), the poetic books (Job through Song of Solomon), the Major Prophets (Isaiah through Daniel), and the Minor Prophets (Hosea through Malachi). The Old Testament was authored from around 1400 B.C. to about 400 B.C. It was predominantly written in Hebrew, with a few small sections in Aramaic (essentially a variation of Hebrew).

The Old Testament primarily addresses the connection between God and the nation of Israel. The Pentateuch focuses on the formation of Israel and God establishing a covenant with them. The historical books document Israel’s history, its triumphs and achievements, as well as its losses and shortcomings. The poetic books offer a more personal insight into God’s bond with Israel and His desire for them to worship and follow Him. The prophetic books serve as God’s plea to Israel to turn away from idolatry and disloyalty, and to recommit to obedience and spiritual loyalty.

Perhaps a more fitting title would be the First Testament. The term “old” can imply “outdated” or “irrelevant,” which is far from accurate. Please peruse the following articles:

Exploring the Old Testament is a valuable and spiritually rewarding pursuit. Below are links to overviews of the different books of the Old Testament. We trust you will find our Old Testament Survey beneficial in your Christian journey.