Holy War in the Bible: Christian Morality and an Old Testament

Holy War in the Bible: Christian Morality and an Old Testament Problem
The challenge of a seemingly genocidal God who commands ruthless warfare has bewildered Bible readers for generations. The theme of divine war is not limited to the Old Testament historical books, however. It is also prevalent in the prophets and wisdom literature as well. Still it doesnâ€™t stop. The New Testament book of Revelation, too, is full of such imagery. Our questions multiply.
- Why does God apparently tell Joshua to wipe out whole cities, tribes or nations?
- Is this yet another example of dogmatic religious conviction breeding violence?
- Did these texts help inspire or justify the Crusades?
- What impact do they have on Christian morality and just war theories today?
- How does divine warfare fit with Christâ€™s call to "turn the other cheek"?
- Why does Paul employ warfare imagery in his letters?
- Do these texts warrant questioning the overall trustworthiness of the Bible?
These controversial yet theologically vital issues call for thorough interpretation, especially given a long history of misinterpretation and misappropriaton of these texts. This book does more, however. A range of expert contributors engage in a multidisciplinary approach that considers the issue from a variety of perspectives: biblical, ethical, philosophical and theological. While the writers recognize that such a difficult and delicate topic cannot be resolved in a simplistic manner, the different threads of this book weave together a satisfying tapestry. Ultimately we find in the overarching biblical narrative a picture of divine redemption that shows the place of divine war in the salvific movement of God.
Country USA
Brand IVP Academic
Manufacturer IVP Academic
Binding Paperback
ItemPartNumber 34995X
ReleaseDate 2013-04-05
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780830839957

Country	USA
Brand	IVP Academic
Manufacturer	IVP Academic
Binding	Paperback
ItemPartNumber	34995X
ReleaseDate	2013-04-05
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780830839957

Holy War in the Bible: Christian Morality and an Old Testament Problem

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