Many atheists or skeptics tend to use the Old Testament’s overt “wrath of God” as an excuse for their unbelief or skepticism due to its portrayal of such “violent, vengeful God.” As well, many more liberal/progressive Christian churches have a tendency to disregard the Old Testament (OT) due to its “fire and brimstone” messages in the scriptures and feel that, since they believe that the message differs so much from the loving, forgiving, kind, gentle, Jesus Christ and His teachings in those regards, the Old Testament is irrelevant. Quoting from the OT during any theological discussion with these skeptics tend to be met with the cliché comment, “Well that’s Old Testament.” These individuals seem to forget the fact that this “wrathful, vengeful, judgmental” God of the Old Testament humbles himself and becomes a man as an example for all of us; A.K.A. Jesus Christ of the New Testament (NT) Who’s arrival was foretold in the OT. The two parts of the Bible cannot be separated; they are intimately linked.
First of all, I must point out that 85% of what Christ taught in the New Testament was from the Old Testament. Jesus says in Matthew 5:17 during His Sermon on the Mount that “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” The Law was established in the Old Testament in the form of the Ten Commandments and all of the laws God gave to Moses in the Book of Exodus. The very first words Christ speaks at the very start of His ministry while He was being tempted by Satan in the desert was “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” This is again from Matthew, verse 4:4. In Deuteronomy 8:3 (Old Testament) we find these words “man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.” This is one of just many examples of Jesus quoting the Old Testament.
Please allow me to provide several verses for comparison and contrasting:
- Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
- For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
- Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
- I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
- My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
- They will look at me whom they have pierced.
If you have any knowledge of Christianity or have at least attended a Christian church for any significant length of time, etc., you may notice to Whom these verses refer. Please allow me to point out this fact:
These scripture passages in order listed are, #1 is from Psalm 41:9, #2 from Psalm 22:16-18, #3 from Isaiah 53:12, #4 from Isaiah 50:6 and #5 (which is one of Jesus’ last words on the Cross) is actually found first in Psalm 22:1. All Old Testament and there are MANY other examples of this. In fact, it was a desire of all Rabbis of the time to be quoting Psalm 22 while on his deathbed. The last five of the seven last words of Jesus Christ on the Cross was paraphrased Psalm 22. #6 from Zechariah 12:10. Not to mention a very recognizable passage used in George Fredrick Handel’s Messiah, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” is found in Isaiah 9:6; written over 500 years BEFORE the birth of Jesus (of course that has more to do with prophecy in the Bible which is a completely different discussion all together, but I am certainly happy to oblige).
If you hold fast to the idea that the Judgement, fire and brimstone and that all of the “Wrath of God talk” is limited to the Old Testament, let us look at several passages from the New Testament starting with Jesus’ own words. Matthew 3:7, “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” the Apostle Paul’s letter to the people in Ephesus says, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” Luke 21:21-24, “Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Or John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Also understand, that the very last prophecies in the Bible written by the Apostle John in The Book of Revelation – also known as the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ – have not happened yet. Prepare yourself for some fire and brimstone, and the full wrath and judgement of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This aspect of Christianity seems like a really tough pill to swallow to be a true believer being required to fully accept the love and forgiveness of Jesus at the same time to prepare yourself for judgement. But as R.C. Sproul said, “A God who is all love, all grace, all mercy, no sovereignty, no justice, and no wrath is an idol.” Just remember what was said in John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life…” Just walk with the Lord. Study and meditate on His Word.
I write this not to be “doom and gloom” or to sound like an “end times” charismatic preacher, but there is a consistent objection regarding the separation of OT and NT as an argument to disregard Christianity or at least attempt to “re-interpret” the Bible. It seems that most skeptics and even some so-called Christians have a very limited knowledge of the Bible which seems to be nothing before nor anything after Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. There is enough fire, brimstone and wrath of God in both books as well as God’s love, grace and mercy.
The 66 books of the Bible (yes, I know about the Apocrypha but we won’t get into that in this discussion) were written over a period of over 1600 years and by 40 different authors; 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament with a 400-year break in between Malachi and Matthew. Yet somehow between Genesis and Revelation, the Bible tells a complete story. We cannot separate the two.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.