This podcast explores the violence in the Bible, especially the Old Testament, and how it relates to the peaceful Jesus. It delves into controversial commands, discusses violence in Genesis and the flood and conquest as acts of de-creation and re-creation. It also explores the treatment of captive women in war, the misinterpretation of the book of Joshua, and foreshadowing of Jesus in the Old Testament. Emphasizing the importance of understanding Scripture through Jesus, it invites listener questions.
Understanding the violence in the Old Testament requires knowledge of historical and rhetorical context.
Jesus' teachings promote love, forgiveness, and non-violence as an alternative to the violent aspects of the Old Testament.
The Old Testament should be read in light of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, refracting and intensifying values like love for neighbor and enemies.
Deep dives
The Nature of Violence in the Old Testament
The podcast episode discusses the nature of violence in the Old Testament. It explores how some passages, such as those depicting wars and conquests, can be challenging and have led some people to question their faith. The episode examines the conquest of Canaan as a special case of divine judgment on an incredibly wicked society. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical and rhetorical context of these passages. The podcast highlights that the Old Testament contains messages of love, compassion, and tenderness alongside the instances of violence.
Jesus' Teachings on Peace and Love
The podcast delves into Jesus' teachings on peace, love, and forgiveness. It contrasts the violent aspects of the Old Testament with Jesus' call to love and forgive enemies. The episode discusses Jesus' command to love one's enemies, his refusal to engage in violent resistance during his arrest, and his sacrificial death on the cross. It emphasizes that Jesus challenged the prevailing notions of violence by modeling a different way of responding to conflict and promoting love and compassion.
The Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments
The podcast explores the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. It discusses how the Old Testament serves as a foundation for understanding the New Testament and Jesus' teachings. The episode emphasizes the need to read the Old Testament through the lens of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. It explains that the Old Testament is refracted and interpreted in light of Jesus' teachings, leading to the intensification of certain values, such as love for one's neighbor and love for enemies. The podcast encourages listeners to hold onto the Old Testament as a gift while understanding its place in the context of Jesus' transformative message.
Joshua's Encounter with the Angel
Joshua encounters an angel and asks if he is a friend or foe, assuming that God is on his side. However, the angel responds by saying that he is the commander of the army of the Lord and does not explicitly side with Joshua. This encounter challenges Joshua's assumption that God is unequivocally on his side and establishes a critical perspective in the book of Joshua that God is not exclusively aligned with any human group.
The Story of Rahab
The story of Rahab, either an innkeeper or a prostitute in Jericho, highlights an alternative narrative in the book of Joshua. Rahab displays an extraordinary understanding of Yahweh, the God of the Israelites, and recognizes his power through the stories of the Red Sea and the defeat of the Amorite kings. She demonstrates her faith and seeks protection for herself and her family, which is granted. This incident challenges the expectation of tribalistic violence by emphasizing God's desire to save even non-Israelites like Rahab, which sets a pattern for the rest of the narrative.
"I love Jesus but I hate the God of the Old Testament. He's just so violent."
You might have heard this line before or thought it yourself.
In this episode, we're tackling this issue head-on.
We're taking a deep dive into the violence of the Bible - especially the Old Testament - and asking how is it that this God of judgement and war can be one and the same with the peace-loving Jesus Christ.
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