Similarities Between Old Testament and New Testament  

What is the Old Testament?  

The term “testament” means “covenant” or “agreement,” and it refers to the relationship between God and His people. The Old Testament is the first part of the Christian Bible that is based on the Hebrew Bible. It consists of 39 books that were written over many centuries before Jesus Christ was born (The Holy Bible, 2001): 

• Genesis 
• Exodus
• Leviticus 
• Numbers 
• Deuteronomy 
• Joshua 
• Judges
• Ruth 
• 1 Samuel
• 2 Samuel 
• 1 Kings
• 2 Kings
• 1 Chronicles
• 2 Chronicles
• Ezra
• Nehemiah 
• Esther
• Job
• Psalms 
• Proverbs 
• Ecclesiastes 
• Song of Solomon 
• Isaiah 
• Jeremiah 
• Lamentations 
• Ezekiel 
• Daniel 
• Hosea
• Joel 
• Amos 
• Obadiah 
• Jonah
• Micah 
• Nahum 
• Habakkuk 
• Zephaniah 
• Haggai 
• Zechariah 
• Malachi 

The Old Testament is also referred to as the Hebrew Scriptures and contains various kinds of literature, including historical accounts, poetry, wisdom literature, and prophetic writings. The books in the Old Testament cover diverse subjects, such as the creation of the world, the history of the Israelites, their religious practices and laws, prophesies of different prophets, and messages of wisdom and poetry (Britannica, 2023).

For Christians, the Old Testament is a crucial religious text that provides a basis for their faith and comprehension of God’s nature and connection with humanity. Many of the stories and concepts in the Old Testament are also cited or realized in the New Testament, which narrates the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the early Christian Church.

What is the New Testament? 

Christians believe that Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament and established a new covenant between God and humanity. This new covenant is recorded in the New Testament, which describes the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the early Christian Church (Britannica, 2023). The New Testament is made up of 27 books that were written in Greek during the first century AD. These books are grouped into four categories: the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Epistles (or letters), and the Book of Revelation.

The Gospels describe the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (The Holy Bible, 2001): 

• Matthew 
• Mark 
• Luke 
• John 

The Acts of the Apostles, authored by Luke, narrates the early Christian Church’s story, from its inception in Jerusalem to the spread of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire.

The Epistles, written by early Christian leaders such as Paul, Peter, and James, offer guidance and instruction to the early Christian communities: 

• Romans 
• 1 Corinthians 
• 2 Corinthians
• Galatians 
• Ephesians 
• Philippians
• Colossians 
• 1 Thessalonians 
• 2 Thessalonians 
• 1 Timothy 
• 2 Timothy 
• Titus 
• Philemon 
• Hebrews 
• James 
• 1 Peter 
• 2 Peter
• 1 John 
• 2 John 
• 3 John
• Jude 

The Book of Revelation, or Apocalypse, is a highly symbolic work that depicts the end of the world and the ultimate victory of God’s kingdom.

What are the Similarities between Old Testament and New Testament? 

Similarity in Terms of Covenant 

Both Old Testament and New Testament are covenants between God and humanity. 

Similarity in Terms of Emphasis

Both Old Testament and New Testament emphasize the importance of faith and obedience. 

Similarity in Terms of God’s Attributes

Both Old and New Testament reflect God as omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. 

Similarity in Terms of Wisdom 

Both Old and New Testament are rich sources of wisdom which can guide people in having blessed lives. 

Similarity in Terms of Author

Although the various texts were physically written by different people, it is believed that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Author of the Scripture. 

Summary: 

• Both Old and New Testaments are covenants between God and humanity; emphasize the importance of faith and obedience; reflect God’s attributes, are rich sources of wisdom, and were divinely authored by the Holy Spirit. 
• The Old Testament is the first part of the Christian Bible which has 39 books. 
• The New Testament is the second part of the Christian Bible which has 27 books. 

Frequently Asked Questions: 

What is the difference and similarities between the Old and New Testament?

Both Old and New Testaments are covenants between God and humanity; emphasize the importance of faith and obedience; reflect God’s attributes, are rich sources of wisdom, and were divinely authored by the Holy Spirit. Regarding their differences, the Old Testament was written first and it is the first part of the Bible while the Second Testament was written later and is the second part of the Bible. 

What is the connection between the Old and New Testament?

The Old and New Testaments are linked because the New Testament expands upon the ideas and principles established in the Old Testament. The New Testament completes and fulfills numerous themes, narratives, and prophesies from the Old Testament through the teachings and life of Jesus Christ.

What contains both the Old Testament and the New Testament?

The Holy Bible contains both the Old Testament and the New Testament. 

What is the difference between the Old Testament God and the New Testament God?

The depiction of God in the Old Testament shows a powerful and just deity who sometimes displays vengeance towards humanity through supernatural events such as plagues and miracles. It also contains numerous laws and regulations given by God to the Israelites, along with accounts of wars, conquests, and punishments attributed to God’s will.

In contrast, the New Testament presents God as a merciful and loving Father who aims to redeem humanity from sin and death. The New Testament teaches that God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of humanity, offering eternal life to those who believe in him. Additionally, the New Testament highlights the significance of love, forgiveness, and compassion, and it teaches that God desires a personal relationship with each believer.

When was the Old Testament written compared to the New Testament?

The Old Testament was authored over numerous centuries, starting from around the 12th century BC to the 2nd century BC. The original writings of the Old Testament were in Hebrew, with some sections in Aramaic.

In contrast, the New Testament was written after the death of Jesus Christ, during the 1st century AD. The books of the New Testament were written in Greek, over a span of a few decades by several writers, which include the apostles and other leaders of the early Christian faith.

Is Jesus mentioned in the Old Testament?

While the name “Jesus” is not explicitly mentioned in the Old Testament, there are several prophecies and foreshadowing of the coming of the Messiah who is identified with Jesus in the New Testament. These prophecies, found throughout the Old Testament, describe the Messiah as a savior who would bring salvation and establish a new covenant with God’s people.

Who divided the Bible into Old and New Testament?

The Christian theologian Tertullian, who lived in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, is credited with being the first known person to use the terms “Old Testament” and “New Testament.” However, the process of gathering and arranging the books that compose the Old and New Testaments began much earlier. The Hebrew Scriptures, which make up the Old Testament, were already considered authoritative and circulated extensively within the Jewish community during the time of Jesus. It took several centuries for Christian leaders to debate and decide on which books to include in the New Testament. The final canon of the New Testament, which now contains 27 books, was not firmly established until the 4th century AD when it was widely accepted by the Christian church.