Further Study

Review Questions

These questions are designed to help you review important material covered in the lecture.

1. Name and describe two causes that create a sense of distance between us and the Old Testament.
2. Describe three kinds of distance we commonly find between us and the Old Testament.
3. Explain the relationship between Jesus’ teaching and the teaching of the Old Testament.
4. How does Paul’s teaching affirm the ongoing value of the Old Testament?
5. What should we learn from the teachings of Jesus and Paul about the relevance of the Old Testament in the modern world?
6. Describe the significant challenge we face as we try to understand and apply the Old Testament to our lives.
7. Describe the connections that make it possible for us to apply the teachings of the Old Testament in our contemporary world.
8. Describe three significant developments that took place between the period of the Old Testament and period of the New Testament.

Application Questions

Application questions are appropriate for written assignments or as topics for group discussions. For written assignments, it is recommended that answers not exceed one page in length.

1. Think of a time when the Old Testament was perplexing to you. What contributed to your initial confusion?
2. How would you respond to someone who said, “Jesus’ teaching on such things as murder, adultery and love for enemies contradicts the teachings of the Old Testament”?
3. In the Sermon on the Mount, why did Jesus keep contrasting what was said versus what was written? In what ways might modern Christians be tempted to make errors like those that Jesus refuted?
4. What benefits come from acknowledging God’s unchanging nature as you study the Old Testament?
5. Why is it helpful to recall that people in both the Old Testament and the New Testament lived in the same world?
6. What is the most significant insight you have learned from this study? Why?