This publication explains what the biblical Old Testament is. Sadly, many readers pay attention to the wars, prohibitions, genealogies and punishments that God sent for not fulfilling the commandments. It should be understood that this is not only the Bible. The Old Testament, like the New Testament, testifies to the love of God for man and you just need to see it.
To begin with, these holy books are translated into many languages of the peoples of the world. The Old Testament was translated into ancient Greek in the third century BC. It was intended mainly for Jews who could not read their native language, and is known as the "Septuagint." He is the oldest of those that have come down to us. According to legend, preserved in the message of Aristeus, the Septuagint created 72 scholars in 72 days. They tried for the ruler of Egypt, Ptolemy, who became interested in the holy book. And these sages lived and engaged in the translation of the Sacred Scroll on the island of Faros.
Since the beginning of the II century from R.Kh. Latin translations of the Bible appear, and created by Jerome at the end of the 3rd century. The “Vulgate” is still recognized by the Catholic Church as an official text. Around the same time, Egyptian and Coptic translations saw the light of day. In the fourth century AD, Ulfil translates the Old Testament into Gothic. In the next, fifth century, appears Armenian (Mesrop), Georgian and Ethiopian. The last two translations of scripture apply to this day.
The King James Bible is well known - the most widespread English translation, made at the beginning of the XVII century at the request of the King of England. Separate parts of the Holy texts were transferred to the Russian language in the 17th-19th centuries, but were not widely used then. Generally recognized for Russian-speaking Christians today are the "Canonical Books of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments." And their translation itself was carried out by decision of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1852, and printed in 1876.
Believers seeking truth, the interpretation of the Old Testament is more interested than history and translations. The name of the collection, consisting of 39 books, indicates some kind of agreement (union). The covenant is an alliance treaty and chapter 15 of the book of Genesis describes the ritual of its conclusion. Abram sacrificed animals, spilling their blood on the ground, and then he saw the coming fire and smoke. These signs were accompanied by the Voice of God, which promised him and his descendants of the earth from the Nile to the Euphrates.
Also, during the conclusion of the Covenant (sealed with the blood of sacrificial animals), Abram learned that his people would live in enslavement for 400 years. Then God will free his descendants, bring him out of slavery, and return him to the promised lands. A little later, the Lord changes the name of Abram to Abraham and promises to make him the father of many nations. The new name of the participant in the Covenant with God is translated: "Father of many nations."
In fact, he is the father of not only Jews, but all the people who today recognize Jesus Christ as their Savior. This is exactly what is written in the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Galatians - 3:29. It says that those who belong to Jesus are the true descendants of Abraham and the heirs of the promises of Heavenly Father. If the Old Testament implies the acquisition of earthly territories by a certain people, today believing Christians expect from God a new earth and a new heaven, in which there is room only for righteousness and holiness. Another Apostle writes about this - Peter in the third chapter of his second epistle.
When reading and interpreting the Bible, remember the words of Christ. He said that when you study the Scriptures (Old Testament), you need to know that they all testify of Him. Jesus said this to the Pharisees, who, diligently studying the Holy books, were never able to discern the Image of the Lord who came down from Heaven and became like all of us.
If you arm yourself with the knowledge that the entire Bible is dedicated to Christ and study it diligently, you can see that His types are viewed in each of the 39 books of the Old Testament. Also, all these sacred texts prepare the children of God for the New Testament by believing in the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. God loves the crown of his creation - man, and this should be known and remembered while reading the Bible.