"Both the Old and the New Testaments are received by the Church through Jesus Christ, because they lead to Him, speak of Him, and find their fulfillment in Him" [50].

2.3.1. The Holy Books of the Old Testament

The Old Testament is "the ancient union of God with man," the essence of which consists of

"in the fact that God promised men a Divine Saviour and prepared them to receive Him through gradual revelations, through prophecies and transformations" [51].

Up. Paul testifies to the inspired dignity of the Old Testament books:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness"

(2 Tim. 3:16).

And Ap. Peter says that

"no prophecy in the Scriptures can be resolved by itself. For prophecy was never uttered by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke it, being moved by the Holy Spirit."

(2 Pt. 1:20-21).

The very name "Old Testament" was introduced into use by St. Ap. Paul (Heb. 8:13). The Canon of the Books of the Old Testament

"The Christian Church has accepted ... from the Old Testament Jewish Church" [52].

Although the canon of the books of the Old Testament was finally confirmed at the Council of Laodicea in 364 and the Council of Carthage in 397, in fact the Church has used the Old Testament canon in its present form since ancient times. Thus, St. Meliton of Sardis, in his Letter to Anesimius, dating from about 170 A.D., already gives a list of books of the Old Testament that almost exactly coincides with the one approved in the fourth century [53].

Книги Ветхого Завета «можно разделить на четыре следующие разряда»:

а) «Книги законоположительные , которые составляют главное основание Ветхого Завета».

К ним относятся книги: Бытие, Исход, Левит, Числа и Второзаконие.