Introducing the Old Testament

Top Highlights

“Scholars have often forgotten that, whatever else may be said about their literary origins, the way these books were combined to form the final edition of the Hebrew Bible was intended to present a coherent message that would both sum up and take forward the stories told by the individual writers.” (Page 13)

“The books of Chronicles contain many of the same stories as the books of Samuel and Kings, but they are an analysis of the meaning of those stories and an application of their lessons to the people of a later generation.” (Page 31)

“They are all narratives that have obviously been skilfully designed, like a good novel, to engage the reader’s attention and to get a message across at the same time.” (Page 27)

“The central thread of the Old Testament story shows how personal experience of God was to be a vital element in the very survival of the whole nation of Israel, over many generations.” (Page 43)

“In the time of Jesus, for example, there were more Jewish people in Alexandria in Egypt than there were in Jerusalem.” (Page 31)