3 Oct 2026
4 min read
1. Compare the Old and New Testament book collections
The Old Testament contains writings about creation, Israel, law, worship, wisdom, and the prophets. The New Testament has 27 books: four Gospels, Acts, letters, and Revelation. Old Testament book counts and ordering vary among Christian traditions, so the Bible’s table of contents can differ.
This book map helps answer what the New Testament is and how it is arranged. For more context on its sections, see our New Testament overview.
2. Place each testament in its historical setting
The Old Testament brings together writings from different periods in ancient Israel’s history. Most were written in Hebrew, with some passages in Aramaic. The New Testament emerged in the first-century Roman world and was written in Greek by different authors and communities.
That setting matters: the books reflect distinct places, audiences, and circumstances rather than one moment of composition. Jerusalem, for example, is central to several New Testament events; explore its role in Jerusalem in the New Testament.
3. See how covenant connects the two testaments
The Old Testament describes covenants between God and people, including promises and obligations involving Israel. The New Testament presents Jesus as central to God’s purposes and describes the early Christian community’s understanding of that relationship.
Christians commonly read the New Testament in light of these earlier promises, while interpretations of how the covenants relate can differ. For another perspective on a connected theme, read about salvation in the Old Testament.
4. Compare law, worship, and religious practice
The Old Testament includes commandments, priestly duties, festivals, and instructions about worship in ancient Israel. The New Testament discusses how early Christians understood Jewish law and worship in light of Jesus, including debates about which practices applied to non-Jewish followers.
So, the difference is not simply that one testament contains rules and the other does not. Both address faithful living, but they do so in different historical and covenantal contexts.
5. Follow the story from Israel’s history to the early church
The Old Testament recounts Israel’s beginnings and history, including leadership, exile, return, and prophetic messages. The New Testament centers on Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection, then follows the early church’s growth through Acts and the letters.
Read together, the collections create a broad movement from Israel’s story to the communities that formed around Jesus. Individual books still have their own purposes and should not be reduced to a single storyline.
6. Trace distinct themes and shared theological threads
Creation, justice, hope, redemption, and relationship with God appear across both testaments. The Old Testament develops these themes through Israel’s history, poetry, law, and prophecy; the New Testament revisits them through Jesus’ ministry and the teachings of early Christian writers.
The emphasis and interpretation shift across the collections, but many Christians understand the themes as connected. Comparing passages on the same subject can show both continuity and difference.
7. Use the book map to explore both testaments further
Choose a starting point based on what you want to understand: a Gospel for an account of Jesus’ life, Acts for the early church, a letter for Christian teaching, or a psalm for prayer and poetry. For Old Testament history or wisdom, select a book from that section.
Read a passage in its book’s context, then compare related passages across the testaments. This approach helps clarify what each text says before drawing conclusions about how the two collections relate.
FAQ About the Old and New Testaments
Do Christians believe in the Old Testament too?
Yes. Christians generally regard the Old Testament as scripture, though traditions differ on how its laws and teachings apply to Christian life.
What did Jesus say about the Old Testament?
The Gospels portray Jesus referring to the scriptures of Israel and teaching about their meaning. His statements are understood within the context of each passage and Gospel.
Why do Christians not follow the Old Testament?
Christians do read the Old Testament, but many understand some covenant laws as not binding on Christians in the same way. Views differ on how particular commands apply.
Is Jesus in the New or Old Testament?
Jesus’ life and teachings are described in the New Testament. Christians also interpret some Old Testament passages as anticipating or pointing toward him.
Should Christians follow the Old or New Testament?
Christians generally read both as scripture, while looking to the New Testament for how Jesus and early Christians interpreted faith and practice. Applications of particular Old Testament laws vary.
Did Old Testament believers go to heaven?
Christian traditions generally affirm that faithful people before Jesus could be saved by God, but explain how this relates to Jesus and salvation in different ways.
Why do some Christian Bibles include different numbers of Old Testament books?
Christian traditions differ over which ancient Jewish writings they include as scripture. As a result, their Old Testament collections may have different book counts and arrangements.
What does the word “testament” mean in the Bible?
“Testament” is commonly used to mean “covenant” or agreement. The terms Old Testament and New Testament refer to the two major collections and their covenantal themes.
Recommended next steps
Choose one book from each testament and read a short passage in context. Note its audience, setting, and central theme, then compare how the other collection treats a related idea. This gives you a practical way to explore both testaments without treating either as a standalone book.
Rachel Bennett holds a master’s degree in theological studies and has more than a decade of experience supporting adult learners in online ministry education. She writes about ministry degree pathways, thesis and dissertation planning, and prior learning assessment, with an emphasis on explaining academic requirements clearly. Her work helps prospective students compare flexible study options and make informed decisions about their education.