The Old Testament in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic (Introductions in Seven Sentences)
Overview
Some people find the Old Testament to be confusing, out of date, and essentially replaced by the New Testament. They are missing out. The Old Testament offers us a grand narrative that reveals God’s work, God’s purposes, and God’s wisdom.
Christopher J. H. Wright fits the pieces together and shows us the coherent whole. Using seven key sentences drawn straight from the Old Testament, he connects the dots and points us toward Jesus.
- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
- All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
- You shall have no other gods before me.
- How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news.
Such sentences as these are not merely beautiful or helpful (though they are that). They are part of the great drama of Scripture, the story of God’s plan of redemption that embraces all nations and the whole of his creation. Wright starts from the beginning, describing God’s promises and covenants with his people and his mission to bless the world. At the end of this short survey, readers will clearly see God’s faithfulness and love for his people and will understand how the Old Testament scriptures prepared for the identity and mission of Jesus as Messiah, Savior, and Lord.
- Examines seven major themes of the Old Testament
- Explores the value of the Old Testament for Christians today
- Connects individual themes to the overall story of Scripture
- Creation: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
- Abraham: All peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:3)
- Exodus: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Exodus 20:2)
- David: The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people. (1 Samuel 13:14)
- Prophets: What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 NRSV)
- Gospel: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the One who brings good news. (Isaiah 52:7)
- Psalms and Wisdom: The Lord is my shepherd. (Psalm 23:1)
Top Highlights
“Without the first three acts, Jesus becomes just another human savior of some kind. The story would lose its essential beginning (creation), its profound problem (sin), and the governing theme of God’s promise of blessing to all nations. If anyone suggests to you that you don’t need the Old Testament (and probably shouldn’t be reading this book), remind them that Jesus never read the New Testament, and the first Jesus followers (including the apostle Paul) went out into the world to evangelize, teach, and transform with only the Old Testament Scriptures at first—and did pretty well at it—until Paul started writing his letters and Mark produced his Gospel.” (Page 7)
“In other words, the Bible answers those fundamental worldview questions by telling us the true story from the very beginning. Here is the setting (God’s creation), the characters (God and the human race), the problem (evil, sin, death), and here is the promise of a solution (through Israel and the Messiah, Jesus).” (Page 14)
“Looking at the Bible, we could say that Genesis 12–Revelation 22 is God’s long answer to the question set in Genesis 1–11: What can God do about the brokenness of humanity, the earth, and the nations?” (Pages 34–35)
“we call the universe—heaven and earth. He creates it ‘good,’” (Page 5)
“The whole story only makes sense as a whole story.” (Page 7)
The Old Testament in Seven Sentences sounds like an impossible task, but Chris Wright makes it work beautifully, capturing the central features of the Old Testament in a way that is both rich and accessible. I’m not surprised really—Wright is one of our best, most mature thinkers about the Bible today. His book gives readers an essential and impressive orientation to the life-giving message of the Old Testament. I recommend it highly.
—Tremper Longman III, distinguished scholar and professor emeritus of biblical studies, Westmont College
What a fantastic title! What an imaginative project! What a delightful way into the Old Testament! What a great gift for anyone who is bewildered by the Old Testament and thinks they might be able to get into it if only they had some signposts!
—John Goldingay, professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary
Christopher Wright has provided the church, seminary, and evangelist a creative and accessible tour of the biblical narrative. I commend this book as a resource for all who want to understand and be drawn into the Bible’s story.
—Chris Gonzalez, executive director of Missional Training Center, pastor of Missio Dei Communities
- Title: The Old Testament in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic (Introductions in Seven Sentences)
- Author: Christopher J. H. Wright
- Series: Introductions in Seven Sentences
- Publisher: IVP Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2019
- Logos Release Date: 2019
- Pages: 184
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. O.T. › Introductions; Bible. O.T. › Criticism, interpretation, etc
- ISBNs: 9780830873630, 9780830852253, 0830873635, 0830852255
- Resource ID: LLS:LDTSTMNTSSNTNCS
- Resource Type: text.monograph.survey.old-testament
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-04-12T16:25:39Z