What is the Old Testament's main purpose?

• A. To tell how God relates to His people before Jesus and to teach moral laws
• B. To predict future events precisely
• C. To describe the life of Jesus
• D. To provide guidelines for temple building

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that the Old Testament shows how God relates to His people before Jesus and teaches them how to live rightly. It presents God's relationship with Israel through covenants, promises, and laws, revealing His character—holy, loving, just—and how people respond in faith or disobedience. Alongside stories, poetry, and laws, it shows the standard for how God wants His people to live and worship. This foundation also points forward to God’s larger plan of salvation that unfolds in the New Testament with Jesus. While there are prophecies about a future deliverer, they’re about God’s plan rather than predicting exact details. The Old Testament isn’t mainly about Jesus’ life—that belongs to the New Testament—and it isn’t focused on temple-building guidelines, though some laws touch worship practices.