The ECF and the early OT

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eliasaph99

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I’m sure that every Catholic and Christian has been confronted by an unbeliever who says that God was so cruel in the OT. Usually this is accompanied by citations from Deuteronomy, like 13:7-19 and other citations which relate to Israel invading the Promised land or wiping out those who hassled them as they wandered in the desert.

What do the ECF have to say about these events, if anything? Does anyone know?
 
eliasaph99 said:
I’m sure that every Catholic and Christian has been confronted by an unbeliever who says that God was so cruel in the OT. Usually this is accompanied by citations from Deuteronomy, like 13:7-19 and other citations which relate to Israel invading the Promised land or wiping out those who hassled them as they wandered in the desert.

What do the ECF have to say about these events, if anything? Does anyone know?
Click to expand...
1 What is “ECF”?

2 This confusion can be explained when
(a) we have a better understanding of the various Literary forms in the Bible and I recommend you read “And God said Wha?” - An Introduction to Biblical Literary Forms by Dr Margaret Nutting Ralph. paulistpress.com/4129-9.html

(b) we have a better understanding of “Salvation history”. I recommend reading “**Understanding the Scriptures-the Didache series: by Dr Scott Hahn. **ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/shop.axd/Search?keywords=Understanding+the+Scriptures

3 Inspiration -We must have a clear understanding of how God as the final Author of the Bible used human authors of ancient times to share their experiences of Him (God).

So the first experience of God is : ”A God who saves” – the exodus even.Then they began to reflect upon the universe and recognized Him (God) as “Creator and Lord of All”

God Lives His Creation
  • A Transendant,God creates all but choose and love Israel to save.is the early understanding of the ancient. (The fuller understanding that God is LOVE is taught by Jesus in the N.T.(Agape –Mt 5: 43-48)
  • There is no Salvation for those other than the Jewish people (the chosen people.
The idea of Hell-
In the O.T. the idea of hell is not understood until 300-400 years before the coming of Jesus

The After-life.
  • Also, They did not believe in an afterlife.
  • Later a few liberal Jewish people began to believe that ‘some’good Gentiles may be saved with the Jews.
  • About 200 years before Jesus, Jews began to believe that all will rise from the dead.
  • The question of Judgement & hell began to a question.to arise.To under ‘heaven’ one has to compare with ‘hell’.
  • That is how it all began. (e.g. To understand light, compare it with darkness, good, compare with evil etc)
If we can comprehend the above; we can understand why the Old Testament were written in the human experiences. As the Understanding of God by Man is a process over time.
 
eliasaph99 said:
I’m sure that every Catholic and Christian has been confronted by an unbeliever who says that God was so cruel in the OT. Usually this is accompanied by citations from Deuteronomy, like 13:7-19 and other citations which relate to Israel invading the Promised land or wiping out those who hassled them as they wandered in the desert.

What do the ECF have to say about these events, if anything?
Click to expand...
Quite a lot, because they were arguing against Gnostics and Manichees who rejected the OT. Augustine’s Reply to Faustus the Manichaean is probably the best place to start. (Click on “Next” to read it through, or click on “Table of Contents” in the sidebar to see a detailed list of the specific sections within this work and the other works contained in this volume of the NPNF series.) This section is particularly relevant.

Edwin
 
Dear all

My dream Project - I have always thought of developin g a Chart of all the 46 Books of the Old Testament showing the following
**
1 Book
2 Approx date of writing
3 Theology og God (Understanding of Who God Is) at time of Writing
4 Understanding of the After-Life (at time of Writing)
5 Understanding of Idea of Hell-Heaven (at time of Writing)**

Any takers?
More hands (in research) make light work.

If you can provide me with even pieces including (Source of the Information/reference); I shall attempt to develop a chart & when available - you are welcome to have a “soft copy” via Ms Word.

This chart will help to explain why the human authors (under Inspiration from God) wrote the Old Testament in the way they are. - Aluthough in Understanding Salvation History; God’s Plan of Salvation is achieved..

For example - It will explain to readers
  • If the understanding that God is only for the Israelites at a certain point in time; of writing - of course God commands His chosen people to slaughter the enemies to conquor the land…
  • If there is no after-life in the understanding at the period of writing, of course all Blessings from God must be enjoyed Now; because in death, everything ends).
Do you like this Idea?
Any comments"
We can then start a new thread sucha as "Collection of O.T. data for Chart)
 
Sorry everyone

Please reply of the Chart Project… cxomments etc to my Private-email, so as not to flood this thread.

Thanks
 
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