Old Testament

The first major division of the Christian Bible, comprising the Hebrew scriptures (the Tanakh), which includes law, history, prophecy, and poetry texts. In the claims, it functions as a cultural and theological referent that Christian writers, polemicists, and colonial magistrates drew upon—often mistakenly or imposing it onto other peoples—to interpret, legitimate, or explain non-Christian traditions such as Hindu, Islamic, and Zulu practices.

Claims that use this term

• Medieval Christian writers equated Hindu and Old Testament paganism with Venus worship
• Medieval Christian polemicists knew Islamic Christology but falsely assumed Muslims accepted the Old Testament
• Colonial magistrates claimed the Old Testament explained Zulu law and customs
• Christian theology’s praise of work transvalued an Old Testament curse while despising the body