How Relevant Is the Hebrew Bible Today

It was the Scripture of Jesus, the foundation of His teachings, and the sacred text He quoted on the Mount, in the Temple, and on the cross.

Today, many believers ask:
“Is the Tanakh still relevant?”
The answer is not only yes—
It is foundational. It is irreplaceable. It is the root of all Scripture.

Before Matthew wrote a Gospel...Before Paul penned an epistle...Before the cross and the empty tomb...There was the Tanakh.

What Is the Tanakh?

The Tanakh is the complete Hebrew Bible, structured into three parts:

Torah (Law) – Genesis to Deuteronomy
The divine constitution of Israel and the seedbed of covenant theology.
Nevi’im (Prophets) – Joshua to Malachi
God’s voice through prophets, revealing His heart, justice, and messianic plan.
Ketuvim (Writings) – Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Daniel, etc.
Israel’s praise, wisdom, suffering, and eschatological hope.

Together, these 24 books (in Jewish tradition; 39 in Christian Old Testament arrangement) make up the authoritative, inspired foundation of all biblical revelation.

The Hebrew Bible: The Source Behind All Other Bibles

Every other major Bible translation, canon, or manuscript tradition is derived from or dependent upon the Hebrew Bible. Consider the lineage:

Septuagint (LXX)

A 3rd-century BCE Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.
Used extensively in the early church and quoted often in the New Testament.
But it originated from the Hebrew—it is a translation, not a replacement.

Latin Vulgate

Jerome’s 4th-century Latin translation.
Jerome went back to the Hebrew texts, saying: "Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ."
Though earlier Latin versions relied on the Greek Septuagint, Jerome insisted on Hebrew as the authentic source.

Syriac Peshitta

An early 2nd-century translation into Syriac (a dialect of Aramaic).
Old Testament portions were translated from Hebrew and sometimes influenced by the Septuagint.

Ethiopian Orthodox Bible

Contains unique books like Enoch and Jubilees.
Yet, its Old Testament canon stems from Hebrew roots, via Jewish influence in ancient Ethiopia.

Greek Orthodox Bible

Uses the Septuagint as the basis for the Old Testament.
But again, the Septuagint itself is a translation of the Hebrew Bible.

Modern Translations (KJV, ESV, NIV, etc.)

These all rely on the Masoretic Text—the preserved Hebrew tradition compiled by Jewish scribes (6th–10th century CE).

🛑 Bottom line:
Without the Hebrew Bible, no other Bible exists.
It is the source, the root, and the standard from which all biblical canons, translations, and traditions derive.

The Tanakh: Foundation for Biblical Scholarship

The Hebrew Bible is not only the source text—it is also the working tool for serious biblical study.

Textual Criticism (Lower Criticism)

Compares ancient manuscripts to recover the original wording of the Bible.
The Hebrew Tanakh is central—all Old Testament textual criticism revolves around the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint comparisons, and more.

Historical-Critical Method (Higher Criticism)

Explores authorship, dating, source traditions, and socio-historical context.
The structure and transmission of the Tanakh are vital data points in understanding Scripture's human and divine composition.

Hermeneutics & Exegesis

Every responsible interpretation of the Bible, especially the New Testament, must engage the Tanakh first.
Typology, prophecy, covenant theology, wisdom literature, messianic expectation—none make sense apart from the Hebrew Bible.

Jewish-Christian Dialogue

The Tanakh is the shared Scripture of Jews and Christians.
It creates theological and historical continuity—bridging Old and New Covenant understanding.

Without the Tanakh, the New Testament Is Unreadable

Let’s be clear:

You cannot understand the Gospel of Matthew without knowing the Torah and Prophets.
You cannot appreciate Jesus as the Lamb without knowing the Passover and Leviticus.
You cannot grasp Romans or Hebrews without the Law, Abraham, and Melchizedek.
You cannot comprehend Revelation without the Psalms, Daniel, Ezekiel, and Zechariah.

“The New is in the Old concealed.
The Old is in the New revealed.”
— Augustine

Still Think It’s Outdated? Ask Yourself…

Can I fully know God’s justice and mercy if I don’t read the Prophets?
Can I claim God’s promises without knowing His covenants?
Can I honor Jesus as Messiah without seeing the road that led to Him?

The Hebrew Bible is not a prequel.
It’s the first act of the divine drama.

Why the Tanakh Matters More Than Ever

In a time when many believers are biblically shallow, the Tanakh roots us.

In a time of hermeneutical confusion, the Tanakh clarifies.

In a time of theological drift, the Tanakh anchors us.

It is not a relic—it is revelation.
It is not old—it is eternal.

Let us return to the root that supports the branches.
Let us recover the Hebrew heritage of our faith.
Let us read the Tanakh, not as legal code—but as living prophecy, divine poetry, covenantal history, and eternal truth.

Let’s journey from Eden to the Empty Tomb—guided by the Word that came first.
And never forget: Every Bible begins with the Hebrew Bible.

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