When new & old testaments portray such a different view of God, why didn't christians just ditch the old?

Question

The vengeful God versus the loving God portrays such different and incompatible ideals.

Why didn't they at least rewrite the old testament so it's believable as being the same God, or just leave it out altogether?

Answer 1

I can show you incredible acts of mercy in the old testament. Have you even READ Revelations? He's the same God in both testaments.

Old Testament
God forgive Manasseh, the second worst king (next to his father Ahab) to ever rule. Manasseh repented, and God forgave Him.
God forgave David after he repented of his murder of Uriah.
God forgave the entire city of Nineveh when they repented of their evil.
God interceded for Abimilech when he almost sinned with Abraham's wife, Sarah.

New Testament
God struck down Ananias and Sephira for cheating the Holy Spirit.
God killed King Herod and had him eaten by worms.
God sends Egypt-styled plagues in Revelation.

Answer 2

The Bible is a progressive revelation. If you skip the first half of any good book and try to finish it; you will have a hard time understanding the characters, the plot, and the ending. Even so, the New Testament is only completely understood when it is seen as being built upon the foundation of the events, characters, laws, sacrificial system, covenants, and promises of the Old Testament (OT). If we only had the New Testament (NT), we would come to the gospels and not know why the Jews were looking for a Messiah (a Savior King). Without the OT, we would not understand why this Messiah was coming (see Isaiah 53); we would not have been able to identify Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah through the many detailed prophecies that were given concerning Him (e.g.., His birth place (Micah 5:2); His manner of death (Psalm 22, especially vv. 1,7-8, 14-18; Psalm 69:21, etc.), His resurrection (Psalm 16:10), and many more details of His ministry (Isaiah 52:13f.; 9:2, etc.).

Answer 3

THey do not potray a different God - God can't change. He is and always has been the same. It is us that need to change. Old Testament portrays the reaction of God to fallen manhood and the New Testament portrays God who has been reconciled with manhood because of Christ's self-sacrifice. That's not so difficult to understand - we can be vengeful to people who hurt us and love them again when we reconcile. Only God does it in perfect justice, never sinning in the process. God and sin are incompatible concepts - not vengeance and love.

Answer 4

The Law of sin & death came by Moses, and Truth & Grace came by Jesus Christ.

Same God, two different covenents. Two priesthoods. One is the Levitical Priesthood, and everlasting priesthood. One is after the order of Melchizedec, an
Everlasting Priesthood with an everlasting High King & Priest, Jesus Christ the LORD.

It is a sin to rewrite the Word of God. It is written that these who do this will be found out a liar and some end up in the Lake of Fire. That is what the view of God is about false prophets. The Truth always comes out and the lies will be known for what they are. Lies.

Answer 5

The God of the New Testament is the same as the God of the Old Testament. The Bible says that He never changes. He is just as merciful in the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament. Read Nehemiah 9 for a summary of how God mercifully forgave Israel, again and again, after they repeatedly sinned and turned their back on Him. The psalms often speak of God’s mercy poured out on sinners.

He is also just as wrath-filled in the New Testament as He is in the Old. He killed a husband and wife in the Book of Acts, simply because they told one lie. Jesus warned that He was to be feared because He has the power to cast the body and soul into hell. The apostle Paul said that he persuaded men to come to the Savior because he knew the "terror of the Lord." Read the dreadful judgments of the New Testament’s Book of Revelation. That will put the "fear of God" in you, which incidentally is "the beginning of wisdom."

Perhaps the most fearful display of His wrath is seen in the cross of Jesus Christ. His fury so came upon the Messiah that it seems God enshrouded the face of Jesus in darkness so that creation couldn’t gaze upon His unspeakable agony. Whether we like it or not, our God is a consuming fire of holiness (Hebrews 12:29). He isn’t going to change, so we had better ...before the Day of Judgment. If we repent, God, in His mercy, will forgive us and grant us eternal life in heaven with Him.

Answer 6

I have been a serious studyier of the Bible for over 40 years and I'm sorry but I do not see the difference that you talk about. What God was in the OT Christ is in the NT and visa versa. The is love and kindness in the OT and there is wrath and judgment in the New. Christ was the exact representation of the God of the OT according to Hebrews.

Hebrews 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.

Answer 7

Some parts in the Bible make us realise how high God's standards are and how far we fall short. That is what drives us to Christ, who came to fill that huge gap between us and God. There are parts in the New Testament which also make me feel that way, e.g. Matthew 5. This is what makes us understand the true meaning of 'Jesus died for our sins'. It's a pity it has become a cliche, because it is the biggest of all miracles.

Answer 8

There was at least one early Christian writer who held the view that there were two Gods; that of the Old Testament and that of the New.

Answer 9

You and a lot of people are quite mistaken when you state that there is a difference in God's portrayal between the NT and OT.

It is a common misconception, but it is a misconception nonetheless!

Mr. Evolution force yourself to verify your own statements by reading a few scriptures. You'll get the picture without reading all of the material, I am sure. Wouldn't want to bore a non-believer, would I?
(KJV)
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Colossians 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Matthew 5:21-22 . . .' 22 However, I say to YOU that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; but whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, 'You despicable fool!' will be liable to the fiery Ge?hen?na.

(ACV) Matt 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said to them in old times, Thou shall not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to the judgment. 22But I say to you, that every man who is angry at his brother without cause will be liable to the judgment, and whoever speaks an insult to his brother will be liable to the council, and whoever says, Foolish man, will be liable to the hell of fire.

(RNKJV) 1 Thessalonians 4:6-8 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that יהוה is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7For יהוה hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but יהוה, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Answer 10

I know what you are talking about, but it doesn't hold up when examined. Jesus was very literal when it came to a lack of faith. And so was God in the Old Testament. God in the Old Testament was very loving to those who trusted Him, and so was Jesus in the New Testament.

Therefore, He's the same God in both testaments.