The Old Testament

Overview

Christians have traditionally called the Hebrew Scriptures that are included in the canon of the Bible, the Old Testament. These Scriptures reflect a lengthy process of oral and written development, reflecting historical, cultural and religious contexts over a time period of 1500 years or more. Included in the process of textual development were oral traditions passed down from one generation to another, written texts and a process of editing and re-editing to form the texts of the Bible in its final form. In the Old Testament we have traditions from the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, when the ancestors of the Hebrews were wandering nomads worshipping a variety of Gods, through a time as an enslaved class in Egypt, to the nation-defining Exodus experience, entry into the promised land and gradual political, cultural and religious evolution into the people of Israel. The characteristic religious identity, form of worship and priesthood and kingship associated with King David and his successors and with Judaism at the time of Jesus, evolved gradually over time and in response to context.

Images of God

In the Old Testament, we see reflected both the idea of the One God, and a variety of other ideas about gods associated with earlier historical periods and with basic human life needs such as fertility, protection in war, productivity in agriculture and so on. Understandings about God developed slowly and in opposition to the gods of former times and the gods or baals of neighbouring peoples. Thus, it is not surprising that the Bible contains many images of God. God is portrayed as a warrior mercilessly smiting enemies, a God who punishes the infidelities of his people and a compassionate God who seeks to lure back his people into his loving embrace.

In the Old Testament, God creates humans in the divine image and likeness; but it is well to be aware of the human tendency to create a god in our own image and likeness and serving our own purposes. In using images of God, consideration needs to be given to which images support and challenge Christian living in our contemporary context; which images are appropriate for the age and maturity of children. Images such as God who gives courage, God who displays love, God who is compassionate, God who is gracious and giving and God who forgives and calls to conversion, are among images are meaningful for people in contemporary settings.