testament

Everyday

1. (Bible) The Old Testament and the New Testament are the two main parts of the Christian Bible: the Old Testament has the Hebrew scriptures, and the New Testament tells of Jesus and the early Church. tree →
2. A testament to something is clear proof of it: «The bridge is a testament to their hard work». tree →
3. (law) A will, especially in the phrase «last will and testament». tree →

In the lessons

In religious education pupils learn which stories are in the Old Testament (Noah, Moses, David) and which in the New Testament (the Gospels, Paul's letters). In formal writing «a testament to» shows proof. Phrases: «Old Testament», «New Testament», «a testament to», «last will and testament».

Examples

• Noah's ark is a story from the Old Testament. tree →
• The New Testament begins with the four Gospels. tree →
• Her medal is a testament to years of practice. tree →
• The old castle stands as a testament to the builders' skill. tree →
• Grandad wrote his last will and testament. tree →
• Jews call their holy book the Tanakh, which Christians call the Old Testament. tree →
• Our class read a parable from the New Testament. tree →
• Then she would read in the Old Testament, that treasure and comfort to her people, and it was indeed the only Scriptures she could read. tree →

Note

Capitals for the parts of the Bible. «A testament to» (proof) is formal. Related: testimony (what a witness says), testify. Do not confuse «testament» with «test».

In Jewish tradition

In religious education pupils learn which stories are in the Old Testament (Noah, Moses, David) and which in the New Testament (the Gospels, Paul's letters). In formal writing «a testament to» shows proof. Phrases: «Old Testament», «New Testament», «a testament to», «last will and testament».

Examples

• The Hebrew grammarians under Arabic influence came to believe that tliose rules of ortho- graphy which the Arab grammarians invented for the language of the Koran hold good also for the language of the Old Testament. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Capitals for the parts of the Bible. «A testament to» (proof) is formal. Related: testimony (what a witness says), testify. Do not confuse «testament» with «test».