This work intends to allow the Church to more fully breathe with the two lungs of both Testaments. Starting with a brief exposition of some key principles of Catholic biblical interpretation (as set forth in Dei Verbum, IBC and elsewhere), it argues that a truly Catholic reading of the Old Testament demands more than just the typological and prophecy-fulfillment readings that predominate in liturgy and apologetics.The book engages in a fully "catholic" reading of the Old Testament both in its canonical, ecclesial, and Christological contexts, and in a way that lets the historical and literal sense of the texts be heard as primary.

Niskanen applies Catholic principles of biblical interpretation to Old Testament texts in order to highlight their contribution to Catholic theology. This work aims to unpack major themes of the Old Testament, showing how these are foundational for Christian faith and how they resonate with Christ and the New Testament.