Old Testament missing?

[littleone85]

Am looking to buy a bible, can anyone tell me why most bibles I see only have the New Testament in? Whats wrong with the old testament?

[Lonnie]

There's nothing wrong with the Old Testament, and really, it should be included in any Bible sold, unless its being sold just as The New Testament, in which case it shouldn't be The Bible.

[wizard69]

littleone...if you would take the time to read it you might find out why.It shows god to be a bloodthirsty psychopath and most old testament laws are an embarresment to todays christians.Many times I have shown large portions of oll testament scriptures to people who are largly ignorant of the bible and almost without exception they have been flabergasted at the cruelty and inhumanity therein.I urge you to read it (all of it).There wont be one christian that will tell you to do that.

[littleone85]

Thanks, both of you, thats a great help. Hopefully I should find a copy with both in soon.

[littleone85]

So Wizard 69, are you saying you think its often omitted because it casts christians in a bad light?

[Lonnie]

Just to carry on a bit from wizard, he/she has given a very good answer, God, in the Old Testament, is a vengeful God, a God of war, ordering hundrds of deaths, and conquering of countries, never a peaceful forgiving God, But he metamorphised into that with the advent of Christianity

[wizard69]

littleone, christians would tell you that the old testament isnt applicable anymore and that is why you will find bibles with only the new testament in them.But the fact remains that th O.T. is an embarresment to them.(despite the fact that it makes up 70% of their scriptures) They will be quiet happy to quote from it when it suits (the psalms, 10 commandments, creation story etc) but by and large ignore the genocide, the bloodbaths,the inhumane punishments,the slavery, the homophobia and sexism, the numerous stonings.Read it for yourself and you may be surprissed how the church has duped people for 2000 yrs into believing that it is the "good book"

[littleone85]

Thankyou both of you, I'm even more interested in reading it now! I'm sure I will find many interesting insights in it which will give me a better understanding of Christianity.

[Cetti]

Where have you been looking littleone, as all Bibles have both the old and new included? It's only the Gideons that leave copies of the New (if they are still allowed) Testament in hotels, hospitals etc.

To get a good range or one to suit you go to a Christian book shop where there are mountains to choose from - or do what I do and get in touch with the Gideons - and get the NIV totally free of charge.

[wizard69]

or nick one next time you'r in hospital...

[Lighter]

Littleone - The Bible consists of the Old and New Testaments and each Bible will contain both of these. Some publishers publish just a New Testament, which are mainly pocket sized for carrying about, but this doesn't not replace the whole Bible.
As Cetti said you can get a Bible from a Christian book shop, or from the Trinitarian Bible Society.

Btw, Wizard is again off target regards Christians. He/she says there wont be one Christian who will tell you to read the Old Testament. Well I am a Christian and I urge you to read all of it. I wonder what else he/she is wrong about!

The Old Testament not only shows the love, mercy and forgiveness of God, but also points the way toward the coming of Christ, as revealed in the New Testament. The Lord Jesus quoted many times from the Old Testament. It also shows how God helped those who trusted in Him.

True, the Old Testament does contain wars etc. It not only reveals God to us but also gives an honest history of the Jewish nation. And what nation has not had a history of bloodshed and war??

Littleone I hope you get yourself a Bible and that from Genesis to Revelation you find God's message to man. That God is a holy God, that all of us have broke His laws in some shape or form and are in danger of judgment, but that God through His love gave His own Son the Lord Jesus Christ to take the punishment of our sins if we only trust in Him.
I have great blessings from my Bible each day.
Enjoy reading yours.

[Lonnie]

I wouldn't knock anyones belief, unless they ask for it, cetti's suggestion is the best one, get a complete bible, and have a read.

i've just got a bit cynical in my old age.

[wizard69]

"and what nation has not had a history of bloodshed and war"....true lighter, but the bloodshed and war in the old testament was ORDERED by God. Mmmm, would have thought that an omnipotent being would have been above that.

[littleone85]

Thankyou everyone for your responses, I haven't actually looked that far for a bible, I'd had the idea a while ago to buy a bible and when I was in Oxfam the other day I spotted some bibles and was gonna buy one, it had 'The Bible' printed on the side so it did appear to be a complete bible but when i looked inside it was only the new testament. I'm not actually looking to 'find God' rather learn more about it as an academic interest.

[wizard69]

just a quick thought littleone.Make sure that you get one that is translated into modern English.If you get the king james version (authorised version) you may well find yourself bogged down after a couple of chapters (full of thee, thine, thou, Elizabethan language) the new international version is quiet popular though not all that accurate (allthough very readable) whatever you do, do not get the Living bible.All the horror stories are watered down so as not to upset the littleones (no pun intended. lol)

[littleone85]

lol, wizard69, thanks for the advice, thankyou for being so helpful

[Cetti]

The NIV Bible is the most popular of all the versions littleone, because it's the most readable and also the most accurate - despite what a certain person thinks ;-)

These are the reasons:

"More than 100 scholars from six English-speaking countries, as well as editors and English stylists, worked on the NIV. The scholars represented more than 20 denominations.

In the 17th century, King James translators worked from the Erasmus Greek text of the New Testament. Erasmus had six Greek manuscripts from which to work. NIV translators work from more than 5,000 complete or partial manuscripts and papyri.

It took 10 years to complete the NIV translation. The process started in 1968 and finished in 1978. This does not include more than 10 years of planning before 1968."

[littleone85]

Thanks Cetti, what does NIV stand for?

[Cetti]

It's New International Version. Sorry, I should have said that and not assume with the initials.

[Lighter]

Cetti - The King James translators DID NOT just use six Greek manuscripts !
The KJV is far more accurate than the NIV.

Littleone - I hope you get yourself a Bible, and read it for what it is - God's Word to you.

Atb

[beckyboo0121]

i recently read the bible more for the learning aspect rather than the religious side,i agree with most of the postings uve already had,so i thought id add my own.the old testament is all about greed,war,sexuality,rights and wrongs,god in the old testament killed and hurt people.i loved the old testament stories though moses samson and delilah etc most modern day christians would i think pferef you to base your faith on the new testament as this is all aboout preaching and spreading the world of god,but i think its ESSENCIAL to read both new and old to get the whole picture.