Historically, Christianity has always received the Old Testament as Scripture, and Jesus himself treated it as the word of God. For that reason, rejecting the Old Testament outright was condemned by the early church.
Historic Christian view
This question is often asked today in terms of personal belief, but historically the mainstream Christian church has not treated the Old Testament as optional. Christianity has received the Old Testament as Scripture, and this reception is tightly connected to how Christians understand Jesus and the message of the New Testament.
At the same time, it is important to be clear about what this article is (and is not) doing: it reports how Christians have historically viewed the question, not a personal ruling on any individual’s faith.
Jesus and apostles
A key historical reason Christians have received the Old Testament is that Jesus and the apostles quoted the Old Testament constantly as authoritative. In other words, the Old Testament was not treated as merely background material or a discarded religious document; it was used as a source of authority in teaching and argument.
Because Jesus himself treated the Old Testament as the word of God, Christians who looked to Jesus as their teacher and Lord also received the Old Testament as Scripture. This pattern continues in the New Testament’s portrayal of the apostles, who likewise used the Old Testament as authoritative.
Bound together
Another key point is the way the New Testament presents itself in relation to the Old Testament. The New Testament presents itself as the fulfillment of the Old, so the two are bound together. Historically, this has meant that Christians have not simply kept the Old Testament out of habit; they have understood the New Testament’s message as connected to, and completing, what came before.
In this view, removing the Old Testament is not a small adjustment. If the New Testament presents itself as fulfillment, then the Old Testament is part of the framework the New Testament assumes and builds upon.
Marcion and response
The early church’s response to rejecting the Old Testament is also part of the historical record. In the second century a teacher named Marcion rejected the Old Testament, and the church declared this a serious error. This matters for the question because it shows that an outright rejection of the Old Testament was not treated as a harmless difference of opinion in the early Christian community.
Historically, then, the church’s stance was that Christianity receives the Old Testament as Scripture, and that rejecting it entirely is incompatible with the way Jesus and the apostles treated it, and with the way the New Testament connects itself to the Old.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone follow Jesus but ignore the Old Testament?
Historically, Christians have said no to ignoring it as Scripture, because Jesus and the apostles quoted the Old Testament constantly as authoritative, and Jesus treated it as the word of God. The historical point being reported here is about Christianity’s received sources of authority.
Why does the Old Testament matter if there is a New Testament?
According to the key Christian claim reported here, the New Testament presents itself as the fulfillment of the Old, so the two are bound together. Historically, Christians have understood the New Testament’s identity and message as connected to the Old Testament rather than replacing it as irrelevant.
Has the church ever accepted rejecting the Old Testament?
The historical example given is that in the second century a teacher named Marcion rejected the Old Testament, and the church declared this a serious error. That indicates that outright rejection was condemned rather than accepted as a valid Christian option.
Did Jesus treat the Old Testament as optional?
No, the historical claim summarized here is that Jesus himself treated the Old Testament as the word of God, and Jesus and the apostles quoted the Old Testament constantly as authoritative. That is a central reason the church continued to receive it as Scripture.
Is this article saying who is or is not “really” a Christian?
No. This page reports how Christians have historically viewed the question, not a personal ruling on any individual’s faith. The historical report is that Christianity has always received the Old Testament as Scripture and that rejecting it outright was condemned by the early church.