Old Testament
What about the violence in the Old Testament?
Some of the Old Testament is hard to read. Here is what it says, and how Christians make sense of it.
God waited
Centuries before the conquest, God told Abraham the time hadn't come, "for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full" (Genesis 15:16). The judgment came after a long wait.
“Not for your righteousness, or for the uprightness of your heart, do you go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations.
A judgment, not favoritism
Israel was told plainly it wasn't better than anyone. The same law warned that the land would "vomit" Israel out too if it did the same things (Leviticus 18:28). Later, it did.
The language of war
Ancient war reports routinely claimed total victory when it wasn't total. The Bible itself shows the same gap: the people it says were wiped out are still there a few chapters later.
- Love your enemiesMatthew 5:44
- Put away the swordMatthew 26:52
Then Jesus
Jesus never told His followers to take land or fight for the faith. Christians read the whole Bible in His light.
- Old Testament: judgment on certain nations, at one time.
- Jesus: love your enemies.
- The cross: God takes the judgment on Himself.
Where the story goes
The Bible moves from judgment on the guilty to God bearing it Himself for everyone.
These were judgments on particular nations at a particular time, told in the war language of the day. Jesus shows God's heart most clearly: He took the judgment on Himself.
But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you