Beginning at Moses: A Guide to Finding Christ in the Old Testament (Revised Edition)

by Michael Barrett

Publisher:

Reformation Heritage

, 2018

Overview

For many Christians today, the Old Testament is difficult to understand, seems outdated, and has questionable relevance. But, as Old Testament scholar Michael Barrett points out, all Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit and we must read it by faith, seeing that Christ is the key to unlocking the Old Testament’s message. With great knowledge of and contagious passion for the Old Testament, the author shows readers how to identify basic characteristics of Christ and where to look for Him throughout the Old Testament. The author challenges us: “God’s promise throughout the Bible is that those who seek Him will find Him. Beginning at Moses and ending with Malachi, we want to be on Christ alert.”

Key Features

• Contextualizes the Old Testament for a contemporary audience
• Helps modern Christians understand the centrality of the Old Testament's message for their Christian faith
• Illustrates how the totality of the narrative of Scripture points toward Christ

Contents

• Part 1: Whom to Look For
  • Jesus the Messiah
  • The Person of Christ
  • The Work of Christ
• Part 2: Where to Look
  • Christ in the Covenants
  • Christ in Person
  • Christ in His Names
  • Christ in Word Prophecy
  • Christ in Picture Prophecy—Explained
  • Christ in Picture Prophecy—Illustrated
  • Christ in Song

Top Highlights

“Although each of the three messianic offices—prophet, priest, and king—maintained distinct duties and responsibilities, they had some factors in common.” (Page 22)

“Seeing Christ is the key to unlocking the message of Scripture, including the Old Testament. To miss seeing Christ either in the overall scheme of the Old Testament or in the individual books is to miss the central message and to jeopardize the proper understanding of the rest of the message. Whereas the New Testament centered on the historic Christ, the Old Testament centered on the coming Christ. But they center on the same Christ, from the beginning the only way, the only truth, and the only life.” (Page 14)

“The Pentateuch, the first five books with all their religious rituals, prepares the way for the perfect Priest to stand between God and people as the perfect sacrifice for sin. The Historical Books draw attention to the perfect King, who would come to rule His people and subdue His enemies. The Prophets anticipate the perfect Prophet, who represents and reveals the only true and living God to humankind. The Poetical Books put it all together with the Christ as the great theme for worship and praise.” (Page 13)

“People cannot stand as the judge of Scripture; Scripture stands as the judge of people.” (Page 5)

“Faith is not a subjective exercise of positive thinking that tries to convince that something is true contrary to fact. It is just the opposite—faith is based on objective truth, and it has value only in proportion to the worth of the object of that faith. This is why faith must always supersede and subdue experience.” (Page 4)

Endorsements

This book is well-written, thoroughly biblical in its approach, and presents Christ Jesus as the key to understanding the Old Testament and all Scripture. It focuses on Christ Jesus—the coming Prophet, Priest, and King—who will fulfill all Old Testament promises and expectations, especially that all nations will be blessed through the redemption that He purchased. This book will help scholars and laymen alike. I recommend this useful book.

—Russell T. Fuller, professor of Old Testament, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

I have read Dr. Michael Barrett's Beginning at Moses with sheer pleasure. I think it is the best book of its kind, one that meets an urgent need for many Christians. Here a profound Old Testament scholar writes for the common man and shows us how to mine the greatest treasure of the ancient Scriptures - their testimony to the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. All who are serious about uncovering the central message of Scripture, from the experience preacher to the newest believer, will find Dr. Barrett an excellent teacher who makes difficult things understandable in an eminently readable style. I heartily recommend this book.

—Dr. Alan Cairns, Faith Free Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC

Dr. Barrett has produced a book that will be a blessing to every Christian who reads it. his years of study have enabled him to mine the depths of the Old Testament and to present to his readers in a logical and easily understandable manner the treasure that is to be found there in the person of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Beginning at Moses is an effective guide to lead any student of the Scripture, whether layman or preacher, to the riches of Christ in the Old Testament.

—Dr. Robert Taylor, Dean College of Arts and Science, Bob Jones University

Product Details

• Title: Beginning at Moses: A Guide to Finding Christ in the Old Testament
• Author: Michael Barrett
• Publisher: Reformation Heritage
• Print Publication Date: 2018
• Logos Release Date: 2020
• Pages: 322
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Typology (Theology); Jesus Christ › Biblical teaching; Bible. O.T. › Theology; Bible. N.T. › Relation to the Old Testament
• ISBNs: 9781601786241, 9781601786234, 1601786247, 1601786239
• Resource ID: LLS:BEGINMOSES2018
• Resource Type: text.monograph.biblical-theology
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:11:04Z

About Michael Barrett

Michael Paul Vernon Barrett (born September 18, 1949) is the author of Beginning at Moses: A Guide to Finding Christ in the Old Testament, God’s Unfailing Purpose: The Message of Daniel, and Complete in Him: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying the Gospel. He is academic dean and professor of Old Testament at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He is a minister in the Free Presbyterian Church of North America, and was formerly president of Geneva Reformed Seminary. Converted to Christianity as a child, he was called to ministry early in his college career at Bob Jones University. He earned his doctorate in Old Testament Text at BJU with a special focus on Semitic languages.