How to read the Old Testament

Many Christians start reading the Bible with enthusiasm, get through Genesis and Exodus, and hit a wall somewhere in Leviticus. The Old Testament is long, complex, and sometimes strange. But it is also the foundation of everything the New Testament says about God, salvation, and the human condition.

This guide offers a practical approach to reading the Old Testament that respects its difficulty while unlocking its extraordinary riches.

The Old Testament is not one book but a library. It contains narrative history (Genesis through Esther), poetry and wisdom (Job through Song of Solomon), and prophecy (Isaiah through Malachi). Each genre requires a different reading approach. You read a psalm differently than a genealogy.

Narrative should be read for the story: what is God doing, and how are people responding? Poetry should be read slowly, feeling the rhythm and imagery. Law should be read as covenant terms: what does this tell us about God’s character and priorities? Prophecy should be read in its historical context first, then for its broader theological meaning.

Do not start at Genesis 1 and try to read straight through. Instead, begin with the narrative backbone: Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, Judges, 1–2 Samuel, 1–2 Kings. This gives you the story of Israel from creation to exile. Once you know the story, the prophets and wisdom literature make far more sense.

Add the Psalms as a daily companion. Read one psalm each morning alongside whatever else you are reading. The Psalms are the Bible’s prayer book, and they teach you how to respond to what you read in the rest of Scripture.

The Old Testament contains violence, slavery, polygamy, and divine commands that trouble modern readers. Do not skip these passages or pretend they are easy. Instead, recognise that the Bible tells the story of God working within real human cultures, gradually revealing his character and purposes.

The trajectory of Scripture matters. God meets people where they are and moves them toward where he wants them to be. The Old Testament is not God’s final word on many subjects — it is the beginning of a conversation that reaches its fulfilment in Christ.