My views aren’t very popular, but do listen to them and think about it.
Always keep a question in your mind “is this an idea of men’s interpretation or is it a word of God”. Don’t study men’s ideas, study to learn of God.
God first communicated his principles to us through the Hebrews to show them the pattern of how He works in our world. The Old Testament is the basis of the New Testament. Understanding it is like understanding grammar school before you go on to the high school of the New Testament.
The Hebrews had a different thought process than we do so the necessary Old testament is hard to understand if you don’t learn what that difference is. The computer will explain it to you, it is called Greek thinking and Hebrew thinking. The OT talks to people who thought with Hebrew thinking.
A lot of the New Testament has to do with Paul explaining Christ to the gentiles of that time. The Jews would have liked to have gentiles follow their traditions of worship, God does not require that of us. Be careful not to take this so far that you forget God our Father. Christ said “I and the Father are One”. Always keep in mind the people the New Testament was talking to so you understand why it says what it does. All scripture is God breathed, everything must fit together or we are misunderstanding.
What an exciting, satisfying journey you are starting on. It leads to beauty you have no conception of, yet, as you follow this path.