When I read the Hebrew Scriptures I read about a God who at times is vengeful and willing to punish. Since Jesus showed up, one never reads about a vengeful God in the New Testament until we get to Revelations. We may wonder why bad things happen to good people, but we never think of God in anything but loving and comforting terms.
Do you ever wonder why? I did a little research, and discovered I’m not the first person to ask. The question of why God seems to be portrayed differently in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) compared to the New Testament has been pondered by theologians and philosophers for centuries.
Some scholars argue that the different portrayals of God reflect the evolving understanding of God’s nature throughout history. Others suggest that the apparent differences can be reconciled by understanding the historical and cultural context in which the scriptures were written.
Ultimately, the question of why God seems to be portrayed differently in the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament is a matter of interpretation and personal faith. There is no single answer that will satisfy everyone, but my gut tells me that a loving and compassionate God comes closer to the real thing.
My thought has always been that Jesus was sent by God to tell us: “You’re doing it wrong”
Probably spot on. W.