Was the Old Testament written for our doctrine or for our learning?
The Old Testament was written for our learning, not for our doctrine. Romans 15:4 says whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. In the Church Age, it serves as building blocks of learning, while doctrine for Gentiles comes through Paul.
Les explains that the Apostle Paul writes what pertains to us as Gentiles in the Church Age, and all we can do with our Old Testament is use it for building blocks of learning. He points to Romans 15:4, where whatsoever things were written aforetime—that is, in the Old Testament—were written for our learning, not for our doctrine, so that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope. He then notes the Church Age is completely insulated from everything written to the nation of Israel under prophecy, and after it is complete, the next great event will be the appearance of the Antichrist, the seven years of tribulation, then Christ's Second Coming, His Kingdom in Jerusalem, the 1,000-year millennial reign, and eternity.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
More Questions
Who is the Old Testament written for?
Everything written before Paul wrote, that is the Old Testament, is written for the believer's learning, and the same is true of the Gospels.
Why were Old Testament events written for us?
Old Testament events like the separation of Israel from Egypt were written for our learning, so we are to learn from them.