“The Old Testament” is the name Christians give to the first and larger division of the Bible—a collection of 39 books (in Protestant Bibles) that are the Scriptures of Israel written before the coming of Christ.
The word “Old” distinguishes these Scriptures from the “New Testament,” the Christian writings that follow.
Name and meaning
In Christian usage, “the Old Testament” refers to the first main division of the Bible. It is called “Old” not because it is treated as unimportant, but because it is distinguished from the “New Testament,” which comes after it and contains Christian writings.
As described here, the Old Testament is identified as the Scriptures of Israel written before the coming of Christ.
Not a single book
The Old Testament is not one book. It is a library of 39 books (in Protestant Bibles), spanning from Genesis to Malachi. Because it is a collection, it includes many different kinds of writing rather than a single style or genre.
What it contains
Within its 39 books, the Old Testament contains several major types of material:
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Law
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History
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Poetry and wisdom
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Prophecy
This variety is one reason it is best described as a collection rather than a single book.
Relation to New Testament
The term “Old Testament” is used in contrast to the “New Testament.” The Old Testament comes first and is the larger division; the New Testament is the set of Christian writings that follow it. In other words, the name marks how Christians commonly organize the Bible into two major parts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Old Testament the whole Bible?
No. In Christian usage, the Old Testament is the first and larger division of the Bible, and it is distinguished from the New Testament, which contains the Christian writings that follow.
How many books are in the Old Testament?
In Protestant Bibles, the Old Testament is a collection of 39 books.
What books does the Old Testament include?
It runs from Genesis to Malachi, meaning it begins with Genesis and ends with Malachi in that arrangement.
What kinds of writing are found in the Old Testament?
It contains law, history, poetry and wisdom, and prophecy.
Why is it called “Old”?
“Old” distinguishes it from the “New Testament,” the Christian writings that follow. It also identifies these books as the Scriptures of Israel written before the coming of Christ.