ABOUT THE BIBLE

The Christian Bible has two major divisions which are called the Old
Testament and the New Testament. The Christian Orthodox Church believes that
both of them are inspired by God and that their message is important for our
Salvation. The first part of the Bible is called the Old Testament and it
was written during about 1000 years by different inspired authors. It was
written in Hebrew; in the third century B.C. the Hebrew Bible had been
translated in Greek in Egypt and it received the name of Septuagint (because
it had been translated by 70 rabbis).

The Old Testament comprises three collections of books: the Law (Torah), the
Prophets (Neviim) and the Writings (Kethouvim). According to the Christian
Orthodox canon, the Old Testament has 39 canonical books (which are
completely inspired by God) and 14 deuterocanonical books (which are
believed not to be inspired, but still recommended for reading.) These books
are also divided according to their topic: some of them are historic, others
are poetic, and some others are prophetic.

The books of the Old Testament speak about mankind’s history and the
historic events having relevance for the Messianic expectancy:

the creation by God of the first human couple, Adam and Eve, and their
banishment from Paradise after the fall;

the multiplication of the human kind all over the world after the banishment
of the forefathers from Paradise ;

the flood of Noah and a new beginning of humanity;

the election by God of the Patriarch Abraham as forefather of the Jewish
people (from which Messiah (the Savior) was to be born);

the formation of the nation of Israel and their captivity in Egypt (approx.
1600 to 1200 B.C.);

the return from captivity under the guidance of Moses and the formation of
the first Israeli kingdom, as well as the construction of the first Jewish
Temple in Jerusalem (Temple of Solomon - approx. 1000 B.C.);

the Assyro-Babylonian captivity of the Israeli people (722 B.C. for the
Northern Kingdom of Israel and 586 B.C. for the Southern Kingdom of Judah);

their second return from exile (539 B.C. – during the Persian rule of King
Cyrus)  and the building of the Second Temple (consecrated in 515B.C.and
renovated by King Herod the Great in 19 B.C.).

We have to underline the fact that the name of “Old Testament” is used only
by Christians, whereas the Jews call these books the Tanakh, or the Hebrew
Bible. The Christians call them the Old Testament by comparison with the
books of the New Testament, which speak about the life of our Savior Jesus
Christ and the formation of the Christian Church during the first century of
our age. The term “testament” or “covenant” is a reference to God’s covenant
with His people, by which His people recognize Him as only God and as
Savior. The Orthodox Christians believe that the Old Testament (Covenant)
was like a “teacher” that showed people the way to Christ. As soon as Jesus
Christ, the Messiah, was born, a new covenant was established with the
Christian people. The Christians are expected to respect the moral laws of
the Old Testament (the Decalogue), but not its rituals (sacrifices,
purification rites).

For Christians, the Old Testament is very important because it speaks about
mankind’s relationship with God and also because it contains many prophecies
about the Messiah (translated: the Anointed One.)