How do you reconcile the God of OT and NT

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Lea101

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I have trouble in reconciling Jesus/Father in heaven and God in the OT.

I have heard really basic explanations about the difference, but I would like a more in depth explanation about it. It seems like God is the OT is the total opposite, or at least, only loves a group of people (the Jews), while the God of the NT is a very nurturing and loving God. Before the crucifixion, Jesus talks about God as a father, something that I really didn’t think about because I assumed the nature of the relationship with God changed because of Jesus’ death.
 
Lea101 said:
I have trouble in reconciling Jesus/Father in heaven and God in the OT.

I have heard really basic explanations about the difference, but I would like a more in depth explanation about it. It seems like God is the OT is the total opposite, or at least, only loves a group of people (the Jews), while the God of the NT is a very nurturing and loving God. Before the crucifixion, Jesus talks about God as a father, something that I really didn’t think about because I assumed the nature of the relationship with God changed because of Jesus’ death.
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As I have posted in a previous post, the issue is because over the centuries, the Jews misunderstood or lost the meaning of some scriptures of the OT.

The OT is filled with colorful literature, which is not always meant to be taken literally. It’s written using mystical language. It’s also not uncommon for historical events to be embellished in the OT because the point they were trying to make was spiritual not historical.

The key is to read the OT with the eyes of the Church and listen to what the Church says it means, not interpret it solely on your own.

This is ALSO how the Jews did it too (and still do). But the Jews often misunderstood the scriptures and got some teachings wrong … Hence the need for Jesus.

My pastor (who has a Ph.D. in theology) has said that when you think the NT and OT contradiction, you go with the NT because Jesus is the definitive Teacher and you need to read the OT with the NT in mind.
 
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I am going to respond based on the short courses i do through the Diocese.

God of the OT and NT is the same.
God , through the OT , gave us the information He wanted us to have for our salvation history. And very importantly, to prepare OT peoples for the incarnation of Jesus. And to prepare and inform us to. Because the Bible is a living set of books.

The Bible is God’s Word in human language , and written for the times and target audience. Culturally , Old Testament and even New Testament literature can be so foreign.

God chose Abraham and his descendants as His people. With the Incarnation of Jesus, and His Psssion and resurrection, we all became adopted children of Abraham.

Jesus was before creation, we were also in the plan of God before creation.

God gave His people a series of Covnants, Covenants of Love. These started in Old Testament times with Noah. The final Covenant is through Jesus in the New Testament.
 
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