Expert: Edward Bode - 4/14/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I've been struggling for some time now with what to take literal because God seems so angry in the old testament.  It just seems as thought the God of the new and old testament are so different.  
Thanks,
Maria

ANSWER: Maria, you correctly recognize that the New Testament places great emphasis on the positive aspects of God's love.
In the Old Testament, the multiple instances of emphasis on God's anger/wrath usually center on human sinfulness in response to God's love.  We think of God's anger as a negative response to God's will that we act morally right in all that we do.  On the other hand, some OT passages do recall the importance of God's love -- for example, God restrains His anger [Hos 14:5, Jer 18:20], He returns to those who return to Him [Is 63:17]. Also, the OT speaks of God's merciful love [Is 41:8, Amos 7:15] and He remains faithful [Hos 2:21ff, Jer 31:3,20, 22].
In short, one needs to look at the total picture in the OT as well as in the NT.
I hope these thoughts help.  If you would like more, please feel free to write again.
Best wishes, Maria.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I think where I struggle is that I think that God actually has "said" the things that the old testament says.  I have also believed that Noah's ark was real and there really was an "Adam and eve".   I just don't know what to believe and what take as a message trying to be portrayed?  Is there anywhere or anything that you would suggest to get more clarification on this because it really is detrimental to my relationship with God.  
Thanks,
Maria

ANSWER: The OT library contains many literary types -- historical accounts, poetry, parables, prayers, etc.  They all intend to teach religious truths and many report actual facts.  However, accounts do not always record researched, historical facts.  
Many early passages rely on various traditions that were handed on orally before being written.
For example, the Noah account combines two traditions to teach a distinctive Israelite understanding of God -- while God condemns sin He also allows forgiveness [Gen 8:20-28] and wants respect for human life [9:1-17]. While many mammmoth floods occured in the ancient Tigris-Euphrates valley, we need not think of a flood that actually covered the entire planet.  The literal truth of the account lies in its theology not its weather reports.
Most biblical commentaries and studies delve into the literary type of an account in order to find the literal truth that is being taught.
I would suggest as an excellent resource: Lawrence Boadt, Reading the Old Testament: an Introduction [New York, Paulist Press, 1984].  The book appeared as a paperback and is inexpensive.  It is probably available in libraries, at least through inter-library loan.
I hope these added thoughts help.  As always, I am available for further comments.
Best wishes, Maria.






---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for your help so far.  I did get the book you suggested.  So, my question is, is God angry and wanting to punish us when we sin (as He did in the old testament) or is He hurt that we've sinned and waiting for us to turn back to him (as in the pridigal son?)  This is really where my problem stems from.  My thinking goes something like this... If we as humans are always sinning (even the righteous man sins seven times a day) then God must always be angry with the world.  And if He's always angry with us for sinning then how can He love us?  Now when Jesus came across sinners He had compassion on them, befriended them and wanted them to change.  So why the stark contrast between how Jesus treated sinners and how "God" treated sinners?  Thank you so much for your time, I really appreciate it.
Maria

Answer
I hope that you find the book helpful.
Human difficulty with understanding the attributes of God comes from [1]our limited capability of knowing and understanding [we speak of God in human terms whereas God is infinite perfection] and [2]the fact that God revealed Himself gradually from the beginnings of Old Testament times until the final revelation through His Word, Jesus Christ.  
As you have noted, [1]Jesus did place great emphasis on God's merciful forgiveness of repented sins, and [2] that attitude is much more apparent in the New Testament than in the Old.
Jesus did transform basic elements of the OT notion of divine wrath/anger in the process of fulfilling these elements.  The NT vision of God's wrath has been changed by the salvific work of Jesus.
Dictionary of Biblical Theology [by Xavier Leon-Dufour; New York: Desclee, 1967] has an extended article on WRATH [of God].  Reading the article would be enlightening.  The book should be available in a library or through inter-library loan.  I think that you would find many other  articles interesting.
In regard to the mercy and justice of God, might I refer you to St. Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica [English translations available], Part 1, Question 21, article 4.
I hope these added thoughts are of help.
I hope that you continue to pray for God's help in understanding His love.
As before, I am available for further comments.
Best wishes, Maria.