The Old Testament

A covenant is a mutual agreement or alliance. In the Bible, a covenant is an agreement established between God and humanity. The entire Bible is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The books written before the birth of Jesus are called the Old Testament, while those written after are called the New Testament. The Old Testament was primarily written by Israelite prophets and other ancient sages and contains 39 books. While there are many modern ways of classifying the Old Testament, the Jewish tradition divides it into three sections: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. The Old Testament was completed and compiled before the birth of Jesus, and it is continued by the New Testament, which was written after His birth.

Scholars generally agree that the Law was compiled in the mid-to-late 5th century BC, the Prophets in the 3rd century BC, and the other books of the Writings were gradually compiled up to the end of the 1st century AD. In AD 90, at the Council of Jamnia, which sought to define the biblical canon, the influential Rabbi Akiba decided to include the books of Esther, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes. This decision finalized the Old Testament canon.

The Bible records:

[2 Corinthians 3:14-15] But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.