Who's Afraid of the Old Testament God?

By Alden L Thompson

The Old Testament God generally has a rather poor reputation, even in Christian circles. But as the author points out, The Old Testament Scriptures can remain alive and will lead us to a fresh appreciation of all that God has done for us.

Targeted to thoughtful readers, this book addresses a cluster of issues often troubling for the person who seeks to understand the Old Testament. Who's Afraid of the Old Testament God? speaks very frankly about some of these "problems," things like sin and the fall, Satan, "moral blemish" passages, strange laws, etc.

The chapter titles follow:

Don't let your New Testament get in the way of your Old Testament
Behold it was very good and then it all turned sour
Whatever happened to Satan in the Old Testament
Strange people need strange laws
Could you invite a Canaanite home to lunch?
The worst story in the Old Testament - Judges 19-21
The best story in the Old Testament - the Messiah
What kind of prayers would you publish if you were God?

This new, fifth edition leaves the text unchanged, but has larger type and wider margins.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Energion Publications
• Release date: Oct 27, 2011
• ISBN: 9781631995392

Book preview

Complete Endorsements

By the end of the nineteenth century, biblical scholars were posing so many important questions about the Old Testament that most conservative Christians were retreating from effective dialogue. By the 1970s the questions were still there, and too important to ignore. Alden Thompson undertook Old Testament and Judaic Studies at St. Andrews in Scotland and then, with a newly-minted PhD, committed himself to offering answers that ordinary Christians could appreciate.

The outcome has been a fascinating, fruitful career. Since 1988, Thompson’s early book, Who’s Afraid of the Old Testament God? has been a reliable reference for Christians who are determined to understand the best insights of biblical scholarship and cherish a high view of Scripture. Yes, there is a dark side to Scripture, but with Thompson's searchlight we discern the grandeur and the nearness of God, his holiness and his friendliness (chapter 8).

In nearly forty years of ministry and teaching, I have been trying to listen to congregants and students, and hear the Word of God. What I had thought was a gap in between pew and academy was actually a chasm. Thompson’s book helps bridge that chasm. His writing is reliably informed, honest, and accessible. A new edition will win another generation of readers by reason of Thompson’s deep understanding of Scripture, his transparency, and his winsomeness.

Arthur Patrick, Honorary Senior Research Fellow Avondale College, Australia

I still remember where I was sitting, reading Dr. Thompson's book Who's Afraid? when I realized that God cared enough about me to individualize his plan to save me.  The book fills in surprising details about ancient times and cultures. I wanted to read on, in both the book and in Scripture, to learn more of God’s saving work.

I read with fresh eyes Bible stories I thought I knew. I see again how much there is to learn of God. Thanks for helping me see more of this gracious God.

Peggy Corbett, teacher British Columbia, Canada

When Martin Luther read the Book of Romans, his discovery of a loving God turned the world upside down. Love like that is powerful and life changing. But how did Paul come to know the God that captured Luther's heart? On what Scriptures did he base his interpretations? None other than the Old Testament, the only Scriptures available at the time.

For many contemporary believers, however, the God of the Hebrew Scriptures is the persona non grata of the Christian faith. We know he exists, but few delight in a relationship with him. The blood, death, and slaughter found in the Old Testament narratives baffle us. Who’s Afraid of the Old Testament God? guides us through some of the most difficult passages, and points us to the gracious God Paul discovered following his life-changing experience on the road to Damascus. Thompson is a good tour guide for this journey through the Old Testament. He writes with the mind of an informed scholar, but with the heart of a pastor carefully guiding God’s sheep toward the good news about God. This book is a tour de force that will challenge what you thought about the Old Testament, and introduces you to a loving savior.

Tito Correa, pastor, Oslo, Norway Doctoral candidate, University of Cambridge, UK

For nearly 2000 years, Christians have struggled with much of the Old Testament because its portrayal of God seems to contrast so drastically with the gentle, loving, compassionate Jesus of the New Testament. Thus we read the first testament selectively, ignoring or misinterpreting the challenging portions in order to make sense of our belief that Scripture in its totality is the Word of God. Thompson helps us out of this quandary by giving us a glimpse into the world of the Hebrew scripture as well as into the minds of the recipients and authors. He helps us to see a God who works in context and yet who is at the same time just, loving and kind. One cannot help but not be afraid of the Old Testament God after reading this work.

Pedrito U. Maynard-Reid, Walla Walla University author of Complete Evangelism: The Luke-Acts Model (Herald Press); Diverse Worship: African-American, Caribbean and Hispanic Perspectives  (InterVarsity); Poverty and Wealth in James (Orbis; Wipf & Stock).

It is well known that many Christians never or seldom read the Old Testament. Many of the stories remind them too much of values that are the direct opposite of those presented by Jesus in The New Testament. How can one harmonize the avenging God in the Old Testament who bade his followers kill unbelievers, with the words of Jesus who commends everyone to love their enemies? How is it possible to construct such opposing statements, and still attribute them to the same God? What greater justification does one need for simply discarding the whole idea of the Christian God and all of Christianity?

Before those valid questions can be fully answered, however, some basic questions need to be addressed: What kind of book is the Bible? Who were the writers? What was their background and why did they write? These and many other questions are answered in Who’s Afraid of the Old Testament God? For me the book was a real eye-opener, the best book I know on the topic. I always recommend it to others when discussions of God in the Old Testament occur.

In my own experience the book came as a rescue to me. I grew up as a Christian, became a pastor and later worked in Christian radio and TV in Norway. I had, of course, read my Bible. But when I started hearing what the Old Testament actually said, I was appalled. In many of the stories God appeared to me as a primitive Viking god, like the mythical Tor and Odin, in no way similar to the much more thought-provoking and reflective Jesus. And to make matters worse, this Jesus claimed to be the god of the Old Testament.

Suddenly I confronted a scary thought: It doesn’t matter at all what the book says, because religious people will always be clever enough to interpret it to fit their own views, or they’ll just take the stand that God is God and can do whatever he wants without questions from humans. Both views scared the wits out of me. Could the atheists be right when they say that if you want to prevent people from becoming Christians, just give them the Old Testament and let them read it alone?

Yes, I also read the beautiful stories that describe God as full of love and patience. But I would then suddenly confront him as a blood-thirsty, avenging being, a God to fear for the wrong reasons, as one fears a psychopath. One moment he is the most loving and sympathetic person, but in the next he is mercilessly cruel.

To some degree I can understand those who have grown up as Christians who simply say that they trust God and will wait until they get to heaven to get answers to these hard questions. But what about people who do not have the same natural ties to Christianity and who view that faith as only one of many options on the religious market?

Who’s Afraid of the Old Testament God? is an important book. For some it might be crucial reading. To me it was an answer to my prayers when I needed it the most.

Yngvar Børresen, pastor, Norway

Who’s Afraid of the Old Testament God? squarely and honestly confronts the particular problems which conservative Christians will face if they wish to actually read and understand the Old Testament, rather than to simply be content with the toned-down version too often prevalent in this community. Thompson certainly succeeds in his aim to show that it is possible to stand within a conservative Christian tradition and still be able to read the Old Testament for the purpose of discovering its most likely original meaning.

It is unlikely that the argument of the book will be convincing to non-Christians, but this is not the audience addressed. Nevertheless, the book would be of considerable value to first-year undergraduate students of theology and religious studies whatever their own religious or non-religious background. The problems dealt with are real ones for any serious reader of the Old Testament.

Peter Hayman, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh

A helpful resource for me as I wrestled with the theological issues when ministering in an ‘Old Testament,’ cross-cultural situation. An important book for all who take seriously the authority of Scripture and God’s reputation.

Ray Roennfeldt, President, Avondale College, Australia

For two decades, my copy has been used, referenced, loaned out and given away time and time again. It’s the most helpful book I have for helping people understand the God of the Old Testament.

Llewellyn Edwards, Seventh-day Adventist pastor, church administrator, Egypt

I could not solve some heavy biblical passages until this book found me. Now I know that God is my personal Friend who will use a radical touch to reach those far from him.

Alin Apostol, former student of Thompson’s, pastor and leader of a 100-voice male chorus, Romania

Thompson finds God’s compassion and wisdom in the most perplexing Old Testament stories. He teaches us to be faithful to the Bible ‘as it reads’ and to be confident in the God who inspired it.

John McLarty, pastor, author, editor, Washington State, USA

In simple language, the book addresses the question: Why is the Old Testament God so different from the God revealed in Jesus Christ? Thompson shows that God has never changed – and that’s why he goes to such great lengths to reach people who do.

Kristen Falch Jakobsen, translator of the Norwegian edition, Norway

With openness, honesty and without glossing over the troubling parts, the author addresses the sharp contrast between the story of Jesus and the stories in Jesus’ Bible. The reader will be richly rewarded with an entirely new view of the God of the Old Testament.

Nils Detlefsen, high school teacher, Switzerland

Thompson leads his readers into the very heart of difficult terrain.  His balanced, faithful, and courageous exploration ultimately makes it possible for us to read all of the Old Testament with anticipation rather than fear.

Paul Dybdahl, Biblical Studies, Walla Walla University

This book was published in Russia at just the right moment and has attracted both atheists and believers. The question of extremism in Scripture has triggered heated discussions and awkward silence at the same time and we had no good answers. Thompson’s book brings us back to the Bible’s message.

Andrei Bogoslovsky, EXMO Publishers, Russia

I’ve appreciated how this book deals openly and frankly with those situations and stories which, to our New Testament mind, appear most objectionable. Especially helpful were the discussions of how God meets people at the level of their barbaric customs, but always in order to lead them to higher ground.

Fred Thomas, retired church administrator, Texas, USA

It is an extremely important book and has helped me a lot in regard to my view of God.

Lasse Stølen, pastor, publisher of Norwegian edition, Norway

The book helps us understand the Old Testament within the context of its own culture. The author’s clear style will be appreciated not only by serious Bible students, but also by those who may have dismissed the Old Testament for the New. This work brings the testaments together.

Alan Hodges, pastor, church administrator, England

Finished reading Alden’s books. The one on the prophet was interesting but the one on the OT God is just superb. Plan to read it once more on the flight to Delhi. I see that a non-SDA publisher published it. Nice that he was not discriminated against just because he is SDA. Also shows that his scholarship is respected outside his church.

Already 8 people, all pastors, borrowed and read the OT God book. The same people who read the book on inspiration. They are becoming more educated in the process.

Hope Alden and others like him can get together and write a commentary on the entire Bible. It would be a great work. I will be the first person to purchase it.

Meera Gargi, Ph.D, Department of Economics Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India (Hindu convert to Christianity, Dec. 2007 [from her journal])

Who's Afraid of the Old Testament God?

Alden Thompson

Energion Publications

www.energionpubs.com

Copyright © 1989 by Alden Thompson

Unless otherwise stated, the Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted 1946, 1952, © 1971, 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and used by permission

Previous editions:

Paternoster, 1988

Zondervan, 1989

Pacesetters Bible School, 2000

4th Revised Edition, 2003

Cover Photograph: Copyright © Martin Fischer| Dreamstime.com Used by Permission.

Electronic Edition: 978-1-63199-539-2

Kobo Edition: 978-1-63199-658-0

Print edition ISBNs:

ISBN10: 1-893729-90-7

ISBN13: 978-1-893729-90-2

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011938661

Dedicated

To my gentle wife

WANDA

Who still does not enjoy reading the Old Testament —in spite of all my urgings and explanations

Author’s Preface

For some time this book has been threatening to find its way onto paper. The urging of friends, the needs of the college classroom, and my concern for the life of the Christian community, are all significant arguments as to why the task should have been completed long before now. Every chapter contains material that has proved to be a real blessing in my own Christian experience. In the end, the urge to share that experience provided the motivation that has finally brought the work to completion.

I write as a conservative Christian with a deep concern for the life of the conservative Christian community. My hope is that the book will appeal both to those who have been part of such a community all their lives, and to those who find themselves attracted for one reason or another to the kind of life and experience offered by a conservative approach to the Christian tradition.

On the basis of my own observations, I am convinced that within this approach to Christianity lies great potential for good or for evil. The strong religious convictions which are generally a part of conservative Christianity can lead to a beautiful and liberating experience, but gone awry, can result in bitterness, hostility or despair. Ultimately, whether our experience blossoms or withers depends on the kind of God we serve and the kind of God we find revealed through Scripture.

You may find it surprising that it was actually the Old Testament that brought my Christian experience to life. The Old Testament God generally has a rather poor reputation, even in Christian circles. But it was indeed my study of the Old Testament which has forced me to reexamine my understanding of God and has led me to a much clearer grasp of how he would have me live and what he would have me believe about him.

vii

Throughout the book you will recognize an active dialogue with the New Testament, with traditional Christian positions, with modern scholarship and with Christian experience. The book is not really designed to be scholarly, but it does attempt to show how modern scholarship can often shed fresh light on biblical interpretation. I have discovered that taking a fresh look at Scripture in the light of modern scholarship can lead to very worthwhile gains in the understanding of Scripture, and thus for Christian experience.

Conservatives have often been quite hostile to modern scholarship; part of the reason for that hostility no doubt stems from the rough treatment that their approach has sometimes received at the hands of biblical scholars. In any event, more heat than light has often been generated, and that has been most unfortunate. My own serious exposure to modern biblical scholarship came from the faculty of New College at the University of Edinburgh, under the direction of men who were extremely helpful even though they did not always share my convictions. They asked the questions that I needed to face, questions that conservatives have often avoided. The experience forced me to confront God and his word in a way that ultimately has led to this book.

Fundamental to the approach I have taken is the position that All Scripture is inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16). That means Old Testament as well as New. Furthermore, I am convinced that we should never let Christian tradition or even another passage of Scripture rob us of the opportunity of coming afresh to each passage of Scripture as God’s word to us. The Bible is normative, but we must not impose upon it a false unity which would have the practical effect of denying canonical status to certain parts of Scripture. Conservatives have often overlooked that canonical principle, if not in theory, at least in practice, for we have often assumed that the New Testament must always have the last word even in the interpretation of Old Testament passages. I develop this argument in the first chapter, probably the most crucial one in the book, though others may be more helpful in other ways.

The discovery that I want to share above all else is that the Scriptures of the Old Testament can remain alive and can lead us to a fresh appreciation of all that God has done for us. That really is what the gospel is all about.

Alden Thompson Walla Walla College College Place, WA 99324 1988

1

Don’t let your New Testament get in the way of your Old Testament

In many and various ways God spoke of old by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Some day I am going to write a book about all the unchristian sayings in the New Testament! Thus, in a tone at least partially serious, a well-known Old Testament scholar revealed his unhappiness with the sometimes less-than-subtle claim of his New Testament colleagues that theirs was the superior Testament. According to the common generalization, the New Testament is the source of all that is good, kind, and loving, embodied most of all in the person