The Old Testament is the first part of the Bible and contains the sacred Scriptures written before the coming of Christ. These books are traditionally divided into four main groups:
The Old Testament begins with the five Books of the Law, known as the Pentateuch, meaning “five books.” They are also called the Torah, meaning “the Law,” and are sometimes referred to as the Books of Moses because of their connection with the Exodus, the covenant, and the laws given through Moses.
The Old Testament also contains the Historical Books, which recount the history of the people of Israel; the Wisdom Books, such as Psalms, Proverbs, and Job, which offer instruction concerning faith and godly living; and the Prophetical Books, which bear the names of the prophets who proclaimed God’s Word to His people.
A prophet is one who speaks the Word of God through divine inspiration. Although prophets sometimes foretold future events, predicting the future is not the primary meaning of the word. Their central calling was to proclaim God’s will, call His people to repentance, and bear witness to His truth.
The Orthodox Church also receives as part of the Old Testament several books sometimes referred to as Apocrypha, a term meaning “hidden” or “secret writings.” These books are regarded within the Orthodox tradition as genuine and inspired Scripture. Other Christian traditions place these books in a secondary category or do not accept them as divinely inspired.