Yes — the Old Testament is essential for Christians because it was written for our learning, and it supplies the foundation, background, hope, and pictures needed to understand the New Testament.
Scripture itself says the Old Testament was written for our learning so we might have hope through patience and comfort (Romans 15:4). Les Feldick explains that the Old Testament was not written to give us our doctrine, but to provide the background for the doctrines Paul later revealed. It also makes the whole Bible more believable because events recorded thousands of years earlier fit together perfectly with later truth.
Romans 15:4 — This verse directly answers the question by stating that the Old Testament was written for our learning, patience, comfort, and hope.
1 Corinthians 10:11 — This shows that Old Testament events were recorded as examples and admonition for believers living at the end of the age.
In Romans 15:4, Paul writes, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." This is the Bible's own statement about the ongoing value of everything written before the New Testament era. In 1 Corinthians 10:11, Paul says, "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." In the same passage, Paul identifies the spiritual Rock that followed Israel as Christ, and in 1 Corinthians 5:7 he calls Christ "our passover," linking the Old Testament Passover to the sacrifice of Jesus.
Les Feldick teaches that the Old Testament was written for our learning, not for our doctrine. He explains that doctrine is what we must have straight for our eternal destiny and for living the Christian life, but the Old Testament gives us the learning — the background of how all this fell into place. God used the Old Testament to prepare the way so He could turn to the whole human race with the plan of salvation revealed through Paul (clips 2, 5). Les is emphatic that we do not go to the Old Testament to find grace, the Body of Christ, or the Rapture, but that does not mean we ignore it; he says he loves to teach Genesis and that the Old Testament is still "apropos for our learning" (clips 2, 5). Les also stresses that the Old Testament makes the Bible believable. He says he likes to bring out the "intrinsicness" of Scripture — how miraculously it all fits together, even though the writers could not have known what was coming later. That unity leaves no doubt that we can trust Scripture as the eternal, supernatural, miraculously written Word of God (clip 3). All of the Old Testament is prophecy; it speaks of the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, though in such subdued language that nobody understood it at the time (clip 7). Because revelation is progressive, there is no use trying to study the Gospels without understanding the Old Testament; it is like building blocks (clip 4). Paul pulls the whole Exodus out of Egypt as a lesson for the Corinthians and for us, using the Passover lamb as a picture of Christ (clips 0, 6). Old Testament believers had salvation, but under a whole different set of circumstances spiritually and physically than believers today (clip 1).
No. Les Feldick explains that the Old Testament was written for our learning, not for our doctrine. Doctrine is what we need for our eternal destiny and living the Christian life, while the Old Testament provides the background that helps us understand why we have that doctrine. Romans 15:4 uses the word "learning," and Les uses this to show that the Old Testament is still relevant for Christians without being the source of Church-age doctrine.
Les says there is no use trying to study the Gospels unless you understand the Old Testament because revelation is progressive — it is like building blocks. He also teaches that the whole scope of the Old Testament is prophecy, telling future events such as the coming, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, though in such subdued language that no one understood it at the time.
Romans 15:4 says the Old Testament was written so that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope. Les Feldick adds that seeing how the Old Testament miraculously fits together with later truth removes any doubt that the Bible is the eternal, supernatural, miraculously written Word of God. This gives believers a stronger basis for trusting Scripture.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 10 applies the Exodus to believers as a lesson, and in 1 Corinthians 5:7 he says "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." Les uses Exodus 12 to show that the Passover lamb is a type or picture that enhances our New Testament understanding of Christ's sacrifice. He says all these Old Testament things were written for our learning, not for doctrine necessarily, but for learning.
Exodus as a Lesson for Believers
Les shows that Paul pulled the whole Exodus out of Egypt as a lesson for both the Corinthians and us, connecting the spiritual rock to Christ and calling Christ our Passover.
Old Testament Salvation Under Different Circumstances
Les explains that Old Testament believers had salvation, but they were under a whole different set of spiritual and physical circumstances than believers today.
Written for Our Learning, Not Doctrine
Les distinguishes doctrine from learning, showing that the Old Testament gives us the background of God's plan of salvation so we can understand New Testament doctrine.
Scripture's Supernatural Unity Brings Hope
Les emphasizes the intrinsicness of Scripture — how it all fits together miraculously — so we can trust the Bible as the supernatural Word of God.
Progressive Revelation and the Gospels
Les teaches that you cannot properly study the Gospels unless you understand the Old Testament because revelation is progressive, like building blocks.
Old Testament Is Not for Church Doctrine, But Still Studied
Les says you won't find grace, the Body of Christ, or the Rapture in the Old Testament, but that doesn't mean we don't study it — he loves teaching Genesis.
Old Testament Types and Pictures Enhance the New
Les uses Exodus 12 to show that the Old Testament was written for our learning, and the types and pictures like the Passover lamb enhance our New Testament understanding.
The Old Testament as Prophecy of Christ
Les teaches that the whole Old Testament is prophecy, including the coming, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, though in subdued language nobody understood at the time.
Romans 15:4: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
This is the key verse Les uses to show the Old Testament's purpose for believers today — learning, patience, comfort, and hope.
1 Corinthians 10:11: Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
This reinforces that Israel's history was recorded as examples and admonition for believers living in the last days.
1 Corinthians 10:3-4: And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
It shows that Israel's wilderness experience pointed to Christ, connecting Old Testament history to the New Testament.
1 Corinthians 5:7: Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Paul directly ties the Jewish Passover to the sacrifice of Christ, showing the Old Testament as a foundation for New Testament truth.
Scripture says the Old Testament was written for our learning. Les Feldick explains that it is not for our doctrine but for our learning, to give us the background of how New Testament doctrine fell into place (Romans 15:4; clips 2, 5).
Yes. Les Feldick says "No way!" when asked if we shouldn't study it. He loves teaching Genesis and uses Old Testament types and pictures, like the Passover lamb, to enhance our understanding of the New Testament (clips 5, 6).
Les says the Old Testament does not contain grace and salvation as revealed in the New Testament, but Old Testament believers were saved under a different set of circumstances. The Old Testament gives the background for God's later plan of salvation (clips 1, 2, 5).
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