Who's Afraid of the Old Testament God?. Alden L Thompson

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      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

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