Comments on: Disturbing Divine Behaviour

By: Edward T. Babinski

Edward T. Babinski — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:07:36 +0000

Am I the only one struck by the embarrassing oddity of Paul in 1st Cor. exclaiming that “many of you are sick and some have fallen asleep” as God’s judgment for improper celebration of the Lord’s supper? Paul explained many illnesses and even some untimely deaths in terms of God’s judgment on Christians who didn’t honor the Lord properly? That sounds extremely superstitious to me, and even a sign that preachers early one were attempting to wield control via implanting fears. Same goes for the married couple both struck dead for lying to Peter, and Paul’s anathemas and exiling people from the church “to hand them over to Satan” if they didn’t believe as Paul did.

By: clayboy » Biblical Studies Carnival XLVIII

clayboy » Biblical Studies Carnival XLVIII — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:23:44 +0000

[...] This could belong in the resources section as well – Tyler Wiliams ponders the disturbingly violent portrayals of God in the Hebrew Bible (with links to videos of conference talks on the subject) and he followed this up with a relevant book review. [...]

By: Joshua Blanchard

Joshua Blanchard — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:58:13 +0000

It is refreshing to have concentrated, serious, explicit, widespread scholarly attention given to this topic.

Probably we can attribute the awakening to this issue to the publicity of the “New Atheists.”

By: John Anderson

John Anderson — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:47:20 +0000

Thanks, Tyler. It isn’t a full-scale review but more of a challenge to one particular aspect (though the central aspect!) of Seibert’s volume.

By: Tyler F. Williams

Tyler F. Williams — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:17:33 +0000

I totally agree Jim, especially if you compare the apocalyptic visions of Revelation. I will have to look at your review John. For those who want to take a gander at it, click here.

By: Jim Getz

Jim Getz — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:03:01 +0000

The whole “Angry God of the Old Testament versus the Loving God of the New Testament” debate seems quite mistaken to me. When, on rare occasions, I have taught intro to the New Testament I flip the dynamic around. I think the loving and caring God of the Hebrew Bible gives way to a more angry and vengeful God in the New Testament. After all, I don’t see YHWH dishing out eternal damnation or sending souls to Hades.

By: John Anderson

John Anderson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:24:04 +0000

Check out my blog for a brief review/critique of Seibert’s volume. At bottom, I find his methodology and assumptions quite problematic (and not that novel).

I’d be curious as to your thoughts. Please do weigh in there (I would cite the link here explicitly, but I don’t want to advertise so blatantly).