Introduction. The study of the Old Testament is vital for the church today, the formation of sound doctrine, for a godly Christian life, and the promotion of Reformation in the church and the nation. Tragically, the Old Testament is not very well known or understood by Evangelical or Reformed pastors today, nor the average Christian. This is the result of the influence of Enlightenment paganism upon Biblical scholarship as well as Dispensationalism and Neo-Orthodoxy in the church. I will be presenting here my own Puritan and Reformed view of the Old Testament, its relationship to the New Testament in the Biblical Canon, and how important a devoted reading and study of the Old Testament (along with the New Testament) is essential for a godly Christian life, the building of a godly Christian family, and the pursuit of reformation in the church and society. You will have a much better understanding of the Old Testament just by listening to my Bible Study Lectures on the Old Testament. I teach a class on Old Testament Survey and Theology every other year, in which we read through the Old Testament at least twice.
Resources for Studying the Old Testament:
- For Families and Students:
- Jonathan Edwards – History of the Work of Redemption
- A.M. Hodgkin – Christ in All the Scriptures
- Brett Woody – Bible Study Lectures on the Old Testament
- Brett Woody – Bible History Catechism
- Talk Thru the Bible – Wilkinson and Boa
- Ed Hindson – The Essence of the Old Testament
- Norman Geisler – Popular Survey of the Old Testament
- For College and Seminary:
- The Reformed Confessions (Including and especially the Westminster Standards)
- John Calvin – Institutes, Book 2. Ch.11-12
- Jonathan Edwards – History of the Work of Redemption
- A.M. Hodgkin – Christ in All the Scriptures
- Gareth Crossley – The Old Testament Explained and Applied
- Matthew Henry – Six Volume Commentary on the Bible
- Talk Thru the Bible – Wilkinson and Boa
- Brett Woody – Bible Lectures on the Old Testament
- Brett Woody – Bible History Catechism
- John Calvin – Commentaries on Holy Scripture
- Willem Van Gemeren – The Progress of Redemption
- Miles van Pelt – A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old Testament
- Edward Taylor – Upon the Types of the Old Testament
- Nathaniel Mather – The Types and Figures of the Old Testament
- John Owen – Biblical Theology
- Herman Witsius – Economy of the Covenants
- A.W. Pink – The Divine Covenants
- Geerhardus Vos – Biblical Theology
- O. Palmer Robertson – The Christ of the Covenants
- O. Palmer Robertson – The Christ of the Prophets
- Charles Pfeiffer – Old Testament History
- Vern Poythress – The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses
- Alfred Edersheim – Bible History
- E.J. Young – Old Testament Introduction
- R.K. Harrison – Old Testament Introduction
- W. La Sor – Old Testament Introduction
Bible Study Lectures on the Old Testament: The Bible study lectures presented here were primarily given in adult Sunday school class, but are also part of a larger work on Old Testament and New Testament Survey that I teach for High School. College, and Seminary classes on the same subject. I hope to be able soon to have these available on the Bible study lecture tab free to listen to. They will eventually be published in a large volume called A Biblical and Theological Survey of the Old Testament. When completed it will comprise between 1200-1500 pages.
- Studying the Bible: An Overview
- Studying the Old Testament: An Introduction
- Christ Revealed in the Old Testament, Pt.1
- Christ Revealed in the Old Testament, Pt.2
- First Principles of Old Testament Study
- The Pentateuch: An Introduction
- Genesis: The Book of Beginnings, Pt.1
- Genesis: The Book of Beginnings, Pt.2
- Exodus: The Book of Redemption
- Leviticus: The Book of Worship
- Numbers: The Book of Guidance
- Deuteronomy: The Book of Obedience
- The Evils and Idolatry of Ancient Paganism*
- The Historical Books: An Introduction
- The Book of Joshua
- The Book of Judges
- The Book of Ruth
- The Book of 1 Samuel
- The Book of 2 Samuel
- The Life of King David and its Many Lessons*
- The Book of 1 Kings
- The Book of 2 Kings
- The Book of 1 Chronicles
- The Book of 2 Chronicles
- The Book of Ezra
- The Place and Importance of Ezra the Scribe*
- The Book of Nehemiah
- The Book of Esther
- The Fame of Mordecai and the Glory of Christ*
- The Wisdom Books: An Introduction
- The Book of Job, Pt.1: An Overview
- The Book of Job, Pt.2: The Trial and Triumph of Job
- The Book of Job, Pt.3: Job’s Personal Confession of Faith in Christ
- The Book of Psalms Pt.1: An Introduction
- The Book of Psalms Pt.2: The Place of the Psalms
- The Book of Psalms Pt.3: The Authorship of the Psalms
- The Book of Psalms Pt.4: The Structure of the Psalms
- The Book of Psalms Pt.5: The Types and Genres of the Psalms
- The Book of Psalms Pt.6: The Historical Background of the Psalms
- The Book of Psalms Pt.7: The Theology of the Psalms
- The Book of Psalms Pt.8: Christ Revealed in the Psalms
- The Book of Psalms Pt.9: A Brief Overview of the 150 Psalms
- The Book of Psalms Pt.10: The Right and Godly Use of the Psalms
- The 3 Wisdom Books of Solomon (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon)*
- The Book of Proverbs, Pt.1: A Biblical and Theological Overview
- The Book of Proverbs, Pt.2: A Biblical and Theological Overview
- The Book of Proverbs, Pt.3: The Ten-Fold Purpose
- The Book of Proverbs, Pt.4: The Ten-Fold Purpose
- The Book of Ecclesiastes, Pt.1: A Biblical and Theological Overview
- The Book of Ecclesiastes, Pt.2: A Biblical and Theological Overview
- The Book of Ecclesiastes, Pt.3: The Apologetical Purpose 1
- The Book of Ecclesiastes, Pt.4: The Apologetical Purpose 2
- The Book of Ecclesiastes, Pt.5: The Apologetical Purpose 3
- The Song of Solomon, Pt.1: An Introductory Overview, Pt.1
- The Song of Solomon, Pt.2: An Introductory Overview, Pt.2
- The Song of Solomon, Pt.3: Love to God the Key to the Song
- The Song of Solomon, Pt.4: Christ Revealed in the Song
- The Song of Solomon, Pt.5: The Holy Spirit in the Song
- The Song of Solomon Pt.6: The Comfort of Christ’s Saving Love
- The Song of Solomon Pt.7: Spiritual Revival in the Song
- The Prophets: An Introduction
- The Prophets and their Ministry
- The Prophets and their Identity
- The Prophets and their Piety
- The Prophets and their History
- The Prophets and their Poetry
- The Prophets and God’s Glory
- The Prophets and God’s Fury
- The Prophets and Christ’s Glory
- The Prophets and the Family
- The Prophets and the Nation
- The Prophets and their Eschatology
- The Major Prophets: An Introduction
- The Book of Isaiah, Pt.1 – Isaiah’s Life and Ministry
- The Book of Isaiah, Pt.2 – Isaiah’s Life and Ministry
- The Book of Isaiah, Pt.3 – Isaiah’s Message and Theology
- The Book of Isaiah, Pt.4 – Isaiah’s Message and Theology
- The Book of Jeremiah, Pt.1 – Jeremiah’s Life and Ministry
- The Book of Jeremiah, Pt.2 – Jeremiah’s Life and Ministry
- The Book of Jeremiah, Pt.3 – Jeremiah’s Message and Theology
- The Book of Jeremiah, Pt.4 – Jeremiah’s Message and Theology
- The Lamentations of Jeremiah – An Appendix to the Book of Jeremiah
- The Book of Ezekiel, Pt.1 – Ezekiel’s Life and Ministry
- The Book of Ezekiel, Pt.2 – Ezekiel’s Life and Ministry
- The Book of Ezekiel, Pt.3 – Ezekiel’s Message and Theology
- The Book of Ezekiel, Pt.4 – Ezekiel’s Message and Theology
- The Book of Daniel, Pt.1 – Daniel’s Life and Ministry
- The Book of Daniel, Pt.2 – Daniel’s Life and Ministry
- The Book of Daniel, Pt.3 – Daniel’s Message and Theology
- The Book of Daniel, Pt.4 – Daniel’s Message and Theology
- The Book of Daniel, Pt.5 – Daniel’s Seventy Week Prophecy
- The Book of Daniel, Pt.6 – Daniel’s Seventy Week Prophecy
- The Minor Prophets, Pt.1 – An Introduction to the Unity and Structure of the Twelve Scrolls
- The Minor Prophets, Pt.2 – An Introduction to the Theology and Message of the Twelve Scrolls
- The Minor Prophets, Pt.3 – The Prophets of Salvation: Hosea, Joel, and Amos
- The Minot Prophets, Pt.4 – The Prophets of Correction: Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah
- The Minor Prophets, Pt.5 – The Prophets of Destruction: Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah
- The Minor Prophets, Pt.6 – The Prophets of Restoration: Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi
- The Minor Prophets, Pt.7 – Christ Revealed in the Twelve Scrolls, Pt.1
- The Minor Prophets, Pt.8 – Christ Revealed in the Twelve Scrolls, Pt.2
- The Prophets and the Inter-Testamental Period, Pt.1*
- The Prophets and the Inter-Testamental Period, Pt.2*
Commentaries and Other Resources on Old Testament Books: There are thousands of commentaries and resources available to use for pastors, scholars, and Christians in studying the individual books of the Old Testament. It is important for folks to know the use and value of them as well as the theological viewpoints of the authors. Having lectured on the Old Testament for over 20 years and reading through most of the commentaries written from the Early Church Fathers to the present, I intend to give my own recommendation and review of the best along with my own outlines and lectures as I am able. I have lecture outlines for every book of the Bible, including the Old Testament. It would take me months, if not years, just to put them on to this website. But Lord willing in time, I will try to make it happen.
- The Pentateuch
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- The Historical Books
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 Samuel
- 2 Samuel
- 1 Kings
- 2 Kings
- 1 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Esther
- The Wisdom Books
- Job
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- The Song of Solomon
- The Prophets
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
Brett Woody, Pastor-Teacher