Is it right or wrong to only read the new testament?

[CounselorForChrist]

Ok, just so I make it clear, growing up I was always taught the whole bible. We read it all the time. I LOVED it! But at 16 when I had my seizure and brain injury I had a hard time remembering things and keeping things clear.

What I mean is as christians most of what I call "the law" is taught in the new testament. As in we no longer have to make sacrifices on an altar...etc. But the problem is when I try to real the old testament I get confused later when trying to recall how a christian should live in terms of what to follow.

Example I know we don't stone people anymore, thats obvious. But overall I try to avoid the old testament because of my brain injury or else I might bring up something thats old testament ways of doing things.

In the end I know God sees my heart and knows I only want to make him smile and want to try my best. I know I had asked in another topic months ago if he understands that I can't remember to pray sometimes...etc because of my memory issues and peoples feedback was GOd understands. I assume he understands in thsi situation to.

So do you think God understands my brain injury make it hard for me to seperate the two things? I just finished reading the new testament and am starting it again. Of course I should mention I've always been considered learning disabled since I was young.

 

[Girder of Loins]

The OT is there now, for a few reasons: to understand God's dealings with men throughout history, it has major prophecies that have come true and can hep affirm our faith, and it allows us to see how men reacted to God in the past, as well as giving a few motivational stories. We no longer need to worry about Levitical law, as Christ fulfilled the Law, and He is now our guardian from sin.

 

[seeingeyes]

One thing you can try is read only the NT again, but this time flip back and look at just the OT verses that Jesus quoted.

For example, when you come to Luke 22:37:
"It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."

In that verse, he is quoting Isaiah 53:12:
"Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

(Most Bibles have these cross references listed right on the bottom of the page.)

This will give you some insight into how Jesus read the scriptures, without leaving the NT too much yourself.

 

[Dragnog]

Ok, just so I make it clear, growing up I was always taught the whole bible. We read it all the time. I LOVED it! But at 16 when I had my seizure and brain injury I had a hard time remembering things and keeping things clear.

What I mean is as christians most of what I call "the law" is taught in the new testament. As in we no longer have to make sacrifices on an altar...etc. But the problem is when I try to real the old testament I get confused later when trying to recall how a christian should live in terms of what to follow.

Example I know we don't stone people anymore, thats obvious. But overall I try to avoid the old testament because of my brain injury or else I might bring up something thats old testament ways of doing things.

In the end I know God sees my heart and knows I only want to make him smile and want to try my best. I know I had asked in another topic months ago if he understands that I can't remember to pray sometimes...etc because of my memory issues and peoples feedback was GOd understands. I assume he understands in thsi situation to.

So do you think God understands my brain injury make it hard for me to seperate the two things? I just finished reading the new testament and am starting it again. Of course I should mention I've always been considered learning disabled since I was young.

You have quite a unique situation! I don't think that this is a moral issue. I think that this is more of a practical issue.

I would stick to the New Testament as this is the narrative of Jesus and what happened after that.
If you are doing serious study into it, there will be parts that will not make sense without the Old Testament but I would just look those up. The main thing is that you keep reading, praying and growing your faith. If you come to the end of your study of the New Testament, then look at the Old Testament, but if you have to choose between one; go with the New Testament.

 

[BFine]

Our Lord knows very well what your condition does to you.

I liked what another person recommended, if you choose--
you can do a bible study that includes scripture references to
both the New and Old Testaments-- that way it's in context
as it pertains to that particular bible study.

I hope this helps!

 

[quietpraiyze]

So do you think God understands my brain injury make it hard for me to seperate the two things? I just finished reading the new testament and am starting it again. Of course I should mention I've always been considered learning disabled since I was young.

Of course God understands your brain injury. You belong to Him. You read the Word the way YOU read the Word and God will meet you there. I know after I've had a hospitalization, I can't even read the Word because it takes me a while to settle down. So I rely heavily on the Holy Spirit. I also have the entire Bible on tape. So I can just listen to the Word without having to read. Eventually I get back into reading the Word but whether it's initially OT or NT I couldn't tell you.

Don't get into some kind of legalistic thing. Just read what you can read and enjoy your fellowship with the Lord.

 

[znr]

Is it wrong that a person in a wheelchair can't walk?

There is your answer in a nutshell really. Why would God hold you accountable for something over which you have little control? I agree with the poster above that this isnt a moral issue.

 

[Johnnz]

The OT books were the only Scriptures available to the NT Christians for quite some time. It was regarded as inspired by Paul. The life and ministry of Jesus grew out of a progressive revelation of God's purposes and we canny fully understand the NT apart from a good understanding of the Old. But that requires good teaching based on good exegesis, and these may be lacking in some churches.

How to Read the Bible for all its Worth by Gordon Fee or The Drama of Scripture by M Goheen are two excellent books on understanding the biblical story.

John
NZ

 

[jehoiakim]

Yeshua was a Jew, and Christianity when it stared was really more of a sect of Judaism. Christ argued his deity not through the Apostolic scriptures(New Testament) but the Tanak or "Old testament" and Christ said he did not come to abolish the Torah (Old Testament/Law) but to fulfill it. Christ is the Word/Torah become Flesh! You don't really need to know the "Old testament" for salvation, but I think it would be foolish to avoid it because it adds so much context to understanding the scriptures. I would argue most Christians as it is don't really understand a lot of what Christ was saying because they don't look enough at the "old testament," but to avoid it all together I think might be doctrinally dangerous down the road. If you really want to understand hoe the old testament and New Testament fit together I recommend a program you can take online It is called Hayesod and it is offered through FFOZ. Quite intense but well worth it I cannot recommend it enough

 

[corymartin2012]

I believe in your situation that you should be fine because you do have an underlying medical problem that makes it very difficult on you.

On a more every person wide level. I believe that you benefit to have a knowledge of the Old Testament because it has multiple prophecies declared hundreds of years before that would help affirm the faith, it show the hard history of Israel and there are many stories (by stories I mean real events that happened) that help you to understand God's qualities and attributes more clearly.

I strongly would recommended a supplementation of the Psalms and Proverbs and other passages because its not as "law" oriented but gives you a foothold into God's attributes, mercy, love and wisdom.

Thats all I have haha.

 

[LilLamb219]

There's SO much more to the Old Testament than Law. The promise of the Savior is found there too! The way the Lord set aside His people, to build them up, only to have them turn away and Him bringing them back to Him again and again. It's amazing.

Can someone else help you, maybe provide you with sections of the Old Testament that will help you out but still have you get a good taste of it?

I never was much into the Old Testament until I went to a 2 year long Bible Study at my church called the Bethel Bible series. WOW! I have such an appreciation for it now!

 

[Johnnz]

In Genesis we have a perfect environment with a tree of life. Then that perfection was lost. God then begins a series of interactions with humanity, trying to get them back on track. John begins his Gospel with the same opening words of Genesis, signalling that the restoration of creation has begun with the coming of Jesus. Paul pick sup this theme in Romans 8. And the last chapter of the Bible ends with a grand finale, heaven and earth reunited and there again is the tree of life, tying up the whole story.

One book, one story, but several chapters of history with one more chapter to come.

John
NZ

 

[CounselorForChrist]

Thanks for the replies. I should point out I do know most of the old testament. And often I do talk to others about it through bible studies. I don't ignore ir or anything. Just more or less I stick the NT when it comes to reading purposes.

And since I live in an area with a big jewish population I have to know my OT for when we talk to each other (friendly of course).