At some point in your journey in Faith you may well face some questions like 

•  What do the terms “The Old Testament” and “The New Testament” mean 
•  What relationship exists between the Hebrew Old Testament and the Christian New Testament?

It is very important that early on in a discussion of this sort that the statement is made;
The Bible is one complete Book consisting of Old and New Testaments. In other words, there is direct continuity of Divine revelation and authority running right through all  books of the Bible.

No one part contradicts another part, there is not the slightest hint in the Bible that the earlier revelations were to be contradicted or cancelled by the New Testament.

Without  careful study the casual reader might possibly find apparent contradictions. Serious study however makes it clear that the later parts of the Bible are not contradictory but complementary.

They are given as a further development of the earlier revelation in order to give a wider understanding of an important subject.

For instance, when a child commences school, they  learns the basic use of the alphabet and numerals. For the rest of that child’s  school life they  learn  additional facts about the use of letters and numbers until they  are acquainted with extensive literature and able to handle advanced mathematics. The things they  learn later do not ever contradict the beginning lessons; they simply add to the child’s  foundational  and inadequate understanding.

This integrated design was the method chosen by  God in revealing Himself to mankind and in its self the fact that the Bible is written though inspiration by over 40 authors spanning over 1500 years and still manages to be consistent means that it is a witness to its own validity and to the consistency and continuity of God 

If we look at these passages below we can see how they show that any theory of inconsistency  is unfounded; in fact it is quite the opposite…

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever.

Matthew 5:20  For verily I say unto you, heaven and earth must pass away, but one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, until all be fulfilled.

1 Peter 1:25  But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

As to the meaning of the word “Testament”  it can quite easily be described as a Covenant between God and Man.

comprehensive appreciation for the Old Testament and its understanding of the continuity between the old and new covenants is what draws many who study closer  to God.

Many people have a tendency to frown upon the old covenant Scriptures. As we approach the Bible, we must always remember that the same God gave us both Testaments, and so we cannot separate fully the old covenant Scriptures from the new.

Yet we must always consider each text through the lens of Christ.