The Old Testament is a collection of books written before the birth of Jesus, primarily in Hebrew, recounting the history of Israel and its covenant with God. The New Testament consists of 27 books, written in Greek in the first century CE, covering the life and teachings of Jesus and the early church. Both parts make up the Christian Bible, but they differ in the time of writing, language, number of books, subject matter, and how different religions interpret them.
To sum it up
- Old Testament was written over many centuries BC, and New The Testament - over the course of several decades of the 1st century AD.
- The Old Testament was written primarily in Hebrew (with fragments in Aramaic and some books preserved in Greek), the New Testament in Greek.
- The New Testament contains 27 books across all denominations; the number of books in the Old Testament varies by tradition: 46 for Catholics, 39 for Protestants.
- The Old Testament is common to Judaism (as the Tanakh) and Christianity, while the New Testament is considered sacred only to Christians.
Where does the word "will" come from?
Word «"covenant"» comes from Latin testamentum , which is translated from Greek diatheke , which means «"covenant"» . Therefore, in Christianity, the "Old" and "New" Testaments are the "Old" and "New Testaments." These terms express the Christian understanding of the Bible. In Judaism, these same books are simply called Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), and in academic circles and interreligious dialogue the terms "Hebrew Bible" or "First Testament" are also used.
The time of creation of the world and language
The books of the Old Testament were written, edited, and collected over the course of many centuries BC , and before that, some traditions were passed down orally. Most of the books were written in Hebrew , and some fragments (including the books of Daniel and Ezra) — in Aramaic . Several books recognized by Catholics and Orthodox Christians have survived or are Greek origin.
The New Testament was written much more quickly - within a few decades. after the 1st century AD. It was written in Koine (ancient Greek) , the common language of the eastern part of the Roman Empire at that time. The Epistles of Saint Paul are considered the oldest texts of the New Testament.
How many books are there in the Old and New Testaments?
Christians agree on the New Testament: it consists of 27 books – the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles (including the Epistles of St. Paul), and the Apocalypse of St. John. The Old Testament is distinguished by:
- Catholic Church recognizes 46 books of the Old Testament, so the entire Catholic Bible consists of 73 books.
- Protestants recognize 39 books whose content corresponds to the Hebrew Bible.
- Orthodox Churches , relying on the Greek translation called the Septuagint, they recognize several more books.
The difference concerns the so-called deuterocanonical books (including Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch), which Protestants call apocrypha.
The content and main themes of both Testaments
Old Testament includes many different genres: narratives of creation and the patriarchs, the Law (Torah) transmitted by Moses, historical books about the history of Israel, prophets, psalms, and wisdom literature such as the Book of Proverbs and the Book of Job. The central place in the text is occupied by God's covenant with Israel , including the covenant made at Sinai.
New Testament focused on the individual Jesus of Nazareth : his teachings, death, and—according to Christian faith—resurrection. The Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles describe the formation of the first Christian communities and explain the doctrine of the faith. Christians interpret the New Testament as the fulfillment of the Old Testament and the establishment New Testament , open to all peoples. Judaism does not share this interpretation and does not recognize the New Testament as Holy Scripture.
Old and New Testaments - Comparison Chart
| Characteristic | Old Testament | New Testament |
|---|---|---|
| Time of creation | Many centuries before our era | 1st century AD. |
| Original language | Mainly Hebrew, fragments in Aramaic, some books in Greek. | Greek (Koine) |
| Number of books | 46 (Catholics), 39 (Protestants) | 27 in all denominations |
| Main theme | The History of Israel and the Covenant with God | The life and teachings of Jesus, the origins of the Church. |
| Variety | Law, history, prophecy, poetry, wisdom | Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Epistles of the Apostles, Apocalypse |
| Who is considered a saint? | Jews (as Tanakh) and Christians | Christians |
| The period described | From the creation of the world to the times before Jesus Christ | The time of Jesus and the first generations of Christians |
How to read the Bible – which Testament to start with?
Those just beginning their reading journey are often advised to begin with one of the Gospels, for example, the Gospel of Mark, which is the shortest. Of the Old Testament, Genesis and the Psalms are accessible starting points. It's worth using an edition with footnotes and introductions to the books—they help understand the historical context and genre of the text.
In Poland, the Catholic Church typically uses the Millennium Bible, while Protestants often use the Warsaw Bible. For questions of theological interpretation, it's best to consult a priest or biblical scholar from the relevant congregation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many books does the Old Testament contain?
It depends on the tradition. In the Catholic Bible, the Old Testament contains 46 books, in the Protestant Bible, 39, and in the Orthodox Bible, a little more. The New Testament, in all denominations, contains 27 books.
What language were the Old and New Testaments written in?
The Old Testament was written primarily in Hebrew, with fragments in Aramaic; some books recognized by Catholics have been preserved in Greek. The New Testament was written in Koine (ancient Greek).
Do Jews recognize the Old Testament?
Jews recognize these books as Holy Scripture, but call them the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible, not the "Old Testament." Judaism does not recognize the New Testament as sacred.
What does the word "covenant" mean in the Bible?
In this context, "testament" means covenant. The word comes from the Latin "testamentum," which is translated from the Greek "diatheke.".
Who wrote the New Testament?
Christian tradition attributes the books of the New Testament to the apostles and their disciples, including the evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as well as Saint Paul. The authorship of some books is a subject of debate among scholars.
See also
- How is Judaism different from Christianity?
- What is the difference between the Catholic and Protestant Bibles?
- What is the difference between a Christmas carol and a pastoral?
- How are evangelicals different from Catholics?