Have you ever read the Bible and felt like you were seeing two different versions of God—one angry and vengeful, the other kind and forgiving?
Some of the most common doubts expressed about Christianity have to do with what appear to be contradictions in the Bible, especially when comparing the Old and New Testaments.
Why does the Old Testament include violence like accounts of war, judgment, and harsh consequences, while Jesus in the New Testament teaches love, forgiveness, and turning the other cheek? Has God changed, or are we misunderstanding something?
Let’s dig into what’s actually going on, and why the tension might reveal more about God’s consistency than his contradiction.
Is It a Contradiction or a Bigger Story?
Some assume that Jesus came to cancel out the God of the Old Testament. But Jesus himself didn’t see it that way. He said plainly in Matthew 5:17:
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”
Jesus wasn’t introducing a different God. He was actually revealing more of the same God.
The Bible is a story of progressive revelation, meaning God reveals himself more fully over time. His character doesn’t change, but our understanding of him deepens. That’s why both the Old and New Testaments affirm this truth:
- “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
If God is consistent, then the apparent contradictions in the Bible aren’t proof of inconsistency. They’re invitations to take a deeper look at the story being told.
Why Is There Violence in the Bible?
One of the biggest challenges to understanding the Bible is its depiction of violence. God commands battles. Whole cities are destroyed. It feels harsh, and sometimes unjust.
Violence in the Old Testament often has to do with God's judgment on deeply broken cultures. These were societies engaging in child sacrifice, ritual abuse, and oppression—things that are clearly rooted in evil. So, God's wasn't randomly casting judgement and punishment on a random, innocent population. He was responding to evil.
And much of the war language in the Old Testament uses hyperbole, like how sports headlines say a team "destroyed" their opponent. Phrases like “left no survivors” were often used to communicate the impact rather than give us a literal account of what happened.
A specific term that often causes confusion is herem, a Hebrew word sometimes translated as “utter destruction.” But it can also mean “set apart to God” or “devoted.” In many cases, it referred to reclaiming what was sacred—not genocide.
Wrath and Love: Two Sides of the Same God
The most difficult tension of all is how the God who commands judgment in the Old Testament is the same God who, through Jesus, says to love our enemies. On the surface, this might look like a contradiction in God’s character. But it's actually a complete picture of his divine justice and mercy.
God introduces himself in Exodus 34:6–7 like this:
“The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, ‘Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness… But I do not excuse the guilty.’”
God’s character isn’t exclusively loving or exclusively just. It’s both. And that tension is ultimately resolved at the cross. Jesus didn’t come to cancel God’s wrath—he came to carry it. In Jesus, we see God's justice against sin and his love for people converge in a single, redemptive act.
Faith Isn’t About Easy Answers
There are parts of Scripture that are hard to understand. There are moments that make you stop and wrestle. But what we see as contradictions in the Bible aren't actually contradictions at all. They’re moments of complexity in a much bigger, unfolding story. The Bible is honest about humanity, bold about God’s justice, and beautiful in its offer of grace.
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There’s more to the Bible that can help us understand the violence we encounter in the Old Testament. This episode of The Evidence Podcast dives in and reveals more of the surprising truth.
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