Old Testament

The Old Testament or the Hebrew Scriptures (also called the Hebrew Bible) constitutes the first major part of the Bible according to Christianity. It is usually divided into the categories of law, history, poetry (or wisdom books) and prophecy. All of these books were written before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth who is the subject of the subsequent Christian New Testament.

Naming of the Old Testament

The term "Old Testament" is a translation of the Latin Vetus Testamentum, which translates the Greek Η Παλαια Διαθηκη, I Palea Diathiki, meaning "The Old Covenant (or Testament)". Christians call this group of books the Old Testament, because of a belief (taught in the Epistle to the Hebrews) that there is a new covenant or testament between God and mankind, after the coming of Jesus of Nazareth.

Related Topics:
Latin - Vetus Testamentum - Greek - Epistle to the Hebrews - Covenant - God - Jesus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jews themselves do not accept the New Testament or the characterization of the Tanakh as the Old Testament (although many Jews accept Jesus as a historical figure and even as a student of a Tannaitic sage).

Related Topics:
New Testament - Tannaitic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

21st century Christian theologian Marva Dawn has advocated calling the Old Testament the First Testament, freeing the writings from any trace of irrelevancy associated with aging in western culture. Some modern Biblical scholars and liberal theologians have advocated referring to the books as the Hebrew Bible, which emphasizes Christianity's roots in Judaism. Neither Dawn's or the liberal theologians' attempts have gained much popularity.

Related Topics:
Christian theologian - Marva Dawn - Liberal theologians

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~