Final answer:
The Old Testament could originally have been understood by its audience with a perspective that did not include the New Testament, as the NT had not yet been written. However, after the emergence of early Christian texts, the OT would have been interpreted in the light of these new teachings, reflecting the start of Christianity as a distinct religion from Judaism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'Could the OT (Old Testament) be understood with the NT (New Testament) for OT audience?' touches on the early development of Christianity and its separation from Judaism. Christianity did not start as a separate religion; Jesus and his earliest followers were Jewish, and they saw their teachings as a fulfillment of Jewish prophecy. Therefore, initially, the OT was certainly understood through a lens that would later be reframed by NT teachings.
Early on in Christian history, practices and interpretations of Christianity were diverse and not formalized. It wasn’t until the 2nd century that Christianity was recognized as its own religion distinct from Judaism, which also consisted of different sects. The relationship between the OT and the NT was further complicated as Christianity became more widespread and theologically developed, particularly after it gained significant legal standing and eventually became the state religion of the Roman Empire under Emperor Theodosius.
For an audience from the OT times, understanding the New Testament would depend on the time period. Before the birth of Christ and the writing of the NT, obviously, the OT audience would not have the NT as a point of reference. However, once the early Christian texts began to circulate, Jewish individuals living at the time would have understood them in the context of their Jewish beliefs and scriptures.