About the Book
This book will enable the reader to understand the Old Testament. It is an overview of the Old Testament books of the Bible. It presents a glimpse of the contents of each of the thirty-nine books that form the Old Testament and shows the overall plan and purpose of God. For more than three thousand years God was laying the foundation for people to learn about him through the patriarchs and prophets and thus discover how they could form a relationship with him. This book identifies the predictions that were made about the One who would make this relationship possible - the Messiah/Saviour/Christ. Details of his life and death are anticipated throughout the Old Testament - in numerous prophecies, theophanies and types. Over one hundred are explained in this book.
By reference to the New Testament record, the life, suffering and death of Jesus of Nazareth are clearly seen to fulfil these many Old Testament predictions.
When Jesus was challenged about his claims to being the Messiah/Christ he presented, as one of a number of proofs, the content of Old Testament Scripture. Indeed on the great day of his resurrection he refers to the Old Testament as the abiding proof of his Person and Work. This book identifies many of the Scriptures to which he would have referred.
Each chapter deals with an Old Testament book and follows this format: introduction, author, historical setting, outline of contents, predictions about Christ and his Church, application and conclusion. As the title makes evident, each chapter is carefully explained and then applied for today.
Over fifty maps, charts and illustrations are included showing for example the line of descent from Adam to Noah, Israel's journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land and the inter-relationship of kings and prophets.
The relevance of the Old Testament is brought out in over one hundred and thirty applications, for example, prayer in time of trouble, relying upon the promises of God, and repentance and its fruit.
To understand the Old Testament is to understand the meaning and purpose of life.
Table of Contents:
List of maps, illustrations and charts, Introduction, The inspiration of Scripture, The central theme of the Old Testament, Chart (Chronology of the Old Testament), Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Chart (Harmony of Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah), 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, Appendices (charts) Placing the prophets, The message of the writing prophets, Notes, Select Bibliography, Christ and his church: topical index, Index of application topics.
About the Author :
Since 2000 Dr Crossley has been engaged in a worldwide ministry lecturing in Old Testament studies and training church leaders, alongside pastoral responsibilities in the UK. Under the auspices of MERF, Carey Outreach Ministries and many church groupings he has spent two to six weeks lecturing in universities and colleges in: Cyprus, Egypt, Lebanon, Kenya, Sudan, Indonesia, the Far East, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and India. He continues this work through training videos on the internet.
Dr Crossley completed a five year engineering apprenticeship and at 21 entered full-time Christian work being accepted one year later for ministerial training at Hartley Victoria Methodist Theological College, Manchester.
Upon completion of three years’ study he took a one year post-graduate course in Detached Youth Work at Manchester University which included practical work in Manchester, Brooklyn and East Harlem, New York.
There followed forty-six years of church planting and pastoral ministry in the Midlands and Yorkshire.
Alongside his pastoral responsibilities he studied for the MA in (eclectic) Counselling at Keele University followed by research for a PhD (Theology) at Birmingham University.
He subsequently lectured part-time at the Evangelical Theological College of Wales teaching courses for the MA in pastoral studies: Psychology and Pastoral Care and Scripture and Pastoral Care.
He has authored: Everyday Evangelism, The Old Testament Explained and Applied, Growing Church Leaders and several articles including a contribution to the British Journal of Guidance and Counselling.
Gareth is married with four children and eight grandchildren and lives in Scarborough UK where he continues writing, preaching and training.
Review :
'The best of its kind. As one who has taught Old Testament for more than a decade, I have read more than my fair share of such books, looking for the one to use for classes and to recommend to others. This is that book’ Dr Benjamin Shaw, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Greenville Presbyterian Seminary, Indiana. US; 'I can say with no reservations, this is THE BEST REVIEW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT that I have ever come across! Every Bible Student and every Pastor should order this book and use it. There is nothing out there that is any better in my opinion!" D.J. Dickey, Pastor Emeritus, Glencullen Baptist Church, Portland, Oregon, US; 'This superb overview of the Old Testament is the best for the general reader that I have seen to date. Buy it, and you will not need another Old Testament Survey. John Brentnall, Editor, Peace and Truth Magazine, UK; ’Your book (Romanian translation) is very well appreciated. In fact it is the book which is used in all the theological schools in Romania. It is the OT Introduction manual for the students here in Emanuel University. Dinu Moga, General Manager, Faclia Publishing House, Romania; some reviews on Amazon -The hefty price tag is justified, even if the only feature was the "Christ and the Church" sections. I would not hesitate to spend 40 bucks to secure this, the finest all-around survey of the OT available; Using this for an Old Testament course. Love it!; Very good read. Still working my way thru it, but very helpful for understanding the old testament.
