Understanding God's Love from Scripture

[regreib]

Why does the God of the Old Testament often seem to contradict the God of the New Testament?

 

[davidv]

Why does the God of the Old Testament often seem to contradict the God of the New Testament?

Because we misinterpret both the the OT and the NT to suit our own personal preferences.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

For the same reason that a child cannot ‘understand’ why Mom and Dad can hug him, let him have a toy he wants, and say “I love you”–yet can also make him be grounded, or deny him something he wants, and say “I love you” those times too.

Love does not mean that a child (indeed, any person) can have everything his way at all times. Love can often require that the child will have to be denied, either because what he wants can be harmful, or for any other good reason. Just because the second scenario makes the child unhappy --even if he is unhappy ‘the rest of his life’–does not mean that the child should GET something that will harm him.

 

[regreib]

Thanks Davidv, you apparently must not see any apparent contradiction! I would use your own reasoning “we misinterpret both the the OT and the NT to suit our own personal preferences.” to expain your answer. I wish you all God’s blessings and a very Merry Christmas.

 

[davidv]

Thanks Davidv, you apparently must not see any apparent contradiction! I would use your own reasoning “we misinterpret both the the OT and the NT to suit our own personal preferences.” to expain your answer. I wish you all God’s blessings and a very Merry Christmas.

I can see many “apparent” contradictions. But, with careful study and guidance from the Catholic Church, they turn out to by simply my misconceptions.

 

[ABiii]

With the given literal perspective you may even say that the God an Old Testament book contradicts his “character” in another Old Testament book. But is it really that different? Can we trace a coherent image of God by taking all of the descriptions and compiling it together? Yes… with personal interpretation aside.

examples:

One moment, Moses can say that God is a jealous God, yet in a future book, it would mention that God is a patient and loving God.

Perhaps the term for jealous that was referred to is not the definition of jealousy we currently use or imagine. Within the context of idolatry, it would simply imply that God finds it horrid that people have other gods. Why would a sufficient God even feel jealousy? Yet, if God is sufficient, then perhaps what does this message mean? Then we consider Who was Moses speaking to. Did Moses have the opportunity to teach theology to them? Would it then be simpler to tell them that God is jealous because people fail to remember the basic commandment against idolatry?

Even when God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, one can interpret that God is spiteful… but if we understand that these people had the opportunity to be saved, and that after their refusal to repent, it was necessary to destroy these cities for the benefit of everyone, then the perception changes. It would be like taking the weeds out of the yard, or stopping the improper proliferation of locusts that eat crops.

In any case, for your statement to be true, you have to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the God in the Old Testament is an evil God… otherwise, he stands to be the same as the God in the New Testament.

( of course, you will pull out some passages… but why not pull out all the passages about God in the Old Testament? That way you have a better sampling and not just selections. )

Many naysayers just stick to a few passages (especially those that go with their point), without even reading the rest. They don’t bother to study it further… that I just don’t know why.

 

[regreib]

I can see many “apparent” contradictions. But, with careful study and guidance from the Catholic Church, they turn out to by simply my misconceptions.

David thanks for your reply, how has your careful study and guidance from our Catholic Church answered the apparent contradictions regarding God in Scripture below. David, I am a life long Catholic but I never remember hearing an explanation. So I would be interested in your explanation.

You might also want to google Understanding God’s Love. Or go to geocities.com/ron_greib/

May God bless you.

Dt 32:39-41 “See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me…I will render vengeance on my adversaries, and repay those who hate me” (NIV)

Versus

Lk 6:27-36 “…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (NIV)

AND/OR

Dt 28:22 The Lord will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflamation, with scorching heat and DROUGHT, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish. (NIV)

Versus

Matt 5:44 “…your Father in heaven, He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and SENDS RAIN ON the righteous and THE UNRIGHTEOUS” or (Luke 6:35 NIV)"… He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (NIV)

 

[regreib]

With the given literal perspective you may even say that the God an Old Testament book contradicts his “character” in another Old Testament book. But is it really that different? Can we trace a coherent image of God by taking all of the descriptions and compiling it together? Yes… with personal interpretation aside.

examples:

One moment, Moses can say that God is a jealous God, yet in a future book, it would mention that God is a patient and loving God.

Perhaps the term for jealous that was referred to is not the definition of jealousy we currently use or imagine. Within the context of idolatry, it would simply imply that God finds it horrid that people have other gods. Why would a sufficient God even feel jealousy? Yet, if God is sufficient, then perhaps what does this message mean? Then we consider Who was Moses speaking to. Did Moses have the opportunity to teach theology to them? Would it then be simpler to tell them that God is jealous because people fail to remember the basic commandment against idolatry?

Even when God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, one can interpret that God is spiteful… but if we understand that these people had the opportunity to be saved, and that after their refusal to repent, it was necessary to destroy these cities for the benefit of everyone, then the perception changes. It would be like taking the weeds out of the yard, or stopping the improper proliferation of locusts that eat crops.

In any case, for your statement to be true, you have to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the God in the Old Testament is an evil God… otherwise, he stands to be the same as the God in the New Testament.

( of course, you will pull out some passages… but why not pull out all the passages about God in the Old Testament? That way you have a better sampling and not just selections. )

Many naysayers just stick to a few passages (especially those that go with their point), without even reading the rest. They don’t bother to study it further… that I just don’t know why.

Thanks ABiii for your reply. How do you square God supposedly destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with the Scripture below? You also may want to look at

geocities.com/ron_greib/

I wish you all God’s blessings.

Lk 6:27-36 “…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (NIV)

Lk 6:35"… He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (NIV)

 

[richardeekw]

Why does the God of the Old Testament often seem to contradict the God of the New Testament?

It is not easy to understand God’s love from only thje OT Books.

• The understanding of the “after-life” is only understood nearer to the coming of Jesus…
• :Retributive Theology" is common in the OT (i.e. When we do good, we will be rewarded; and punished when we do bad)
• Only with the NT can we understand the real meaning of God’s love (which is Unconditional)

To have a better appreciation of the OT to the NT, and to understand God’s love, I suggest you begin with “Savaltion History” You will realize the "wave of “sin and salvation” abound.

For free study go to www.salvationhistory.com

 

[regreib]

Thank you richardeekw for your reply. I prefer geocities.com/ron_greib/
for scriptural answers.
God bless you, Sir!

 

[richardeekw]

Thank you richardeekw for your reply. I prefer geocities.com/ron_greib/
for scriptural answers.
God bless you, Sir!

regeib,
You are most welcome.
Perfect or Unconditional Love of God is expressed in
Matthew Chapter 5 vs 43-48

43: "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44: But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45: so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46: For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47: And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48: You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I also recommend you read this book

**And God Said What?: **
An Introduction to Biblical Literary Forms

**Author: Margaret Nutting Ralph **is secretary of educational ministries for the Roman Catholic diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, and director of the masters degree programs for Roman Catholics at Lexington Theological Seminary. She is the author of books on Scripture and has given workshops on Scripture throughout the U.S. and in Canada.