Was God cruel and unreasonable in the Old Testament (OT)? (Joshua 8:24-26, 1Samuel 15:2-3, Deuteronomy 2:34, 2Samuel 6:6-7, and Job 2:3) It depends on how you define right and wrong. According to Humanism, a moral compass inside us defines right and wrong. In Confucianism, heaven places this compass (goodness) into us. This compass judges everything, including whether God is cruel. If so, this compass is above God. Note that the moral compass can differ, depending on race and historical time. Another doctrine is that God determines right and wrong. God reveals His nature to us generally and specifically. Generally, His nature is revealed by His creation (Roman 1:20). Specifically, God reveals His nature through Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3) and the Bible. Liberal theology accepts the parts of the Bible that can pass through their rationale. Catholics defer to their experts, with the infallible Pope at the top. As for Evangelists, what the Bible says is what God says. Evangelism accepts there are parts in the Bible we won’t understand (I Corinthians 13:12). Evangelism also accepts many Biblical descriptions as prophecies or precursors of things to come. Many passages in the OT predict and foreshadow Christ’s redeeming sacrifice (Luke 24:44), such as Abraham sacrificing Isaac. Another set of precursors refers to the end times, when God will establish a new heaven and earth (Eschatology). Technically speaking, such biblical events aren’t “historical” because they aren’t repeatable on earth, while historical events can happen again. Examples include God’s miracles and Christ’s resurrection. Other examples include certain catastrophic events in the OT that demonstrate God’s judgment in the end times. These parts of the Bible aren’t for teaching ethics for the current time but are about the world to come. In conclusion, if we are the ultimate arbiters of right and wrong, then we might consider some of God’s actions in the OT as cruel. But if God is the ultimate moral authority, then we need to accept God’s total sovereignty in all things—He is the one who decides; may His name be praised whether He gives or takes away (Job 1:21). 旧约中的上帝残酷吗?
旧约时代的上帝残酷无情的吗(约书亚记 8:24-26, 撒母耳记上 15:2-3, 申命记 2:34, 撒母耳记下 6:6-7, 约伯记 2:3)? 问题的答案取决于对与错的定义。 人文主义根据人内心的道德指南来定义是非。儒家思想认为上天把这善的指南放在人心中。 这个指南审判一切,包括上帝是否残酷。 如此它就凌驾于上帝之上。 请注意它可以根据种族和历史时间而变化。 另一个教义是上帝判断是非对错。 上帝普遍而又特别地显明祂的本性。普遍来说,祂在创造中显明祂的本性(罗马书 1:20); 特别来说,祂通过基督(希伯来书 1:1-3)和圣经显明祂的本性。 自由神学只接受通过其理论那部分的圣经。 天主教听从自己的专家,永远无误的教皇在其间居首。 福音派相信圣经所言就是上帝所言。 福音派接受圣经中有现在无法理解的部分(哥林多前书 13:12),也接受许多圣经的描述为未来事物的先兆。 旧约中的许多章节都预言和预示基督救赎之牺牲(路加福音 24:44),例如亚伯拉罕献以撒是父神牺牲基督的先兆。 另一组前兆针对末日,那时上帝要建立新天新地(末世论)。 这些事件本质上不是历史事件,因为它们在地上不会重复,而历史事件可以再次发生。相关的例子包括一些神迹和基督的复活,还包括旧约中某些灾难性事件 - 它们展示了上帝在末日的审判。圣经的这些部分并非为要教导当今时代的伦理,而是对未来的世界的前兆。 总而言之,如果是非对错的最终决定者是人,就可能认为上帝在旧约中的一些行为是残酷的。 但如果上帝是最终的道德权威,人就需要接受上帝对万物的完全主权--祂是一切的决定者; 无论祂给予还是夺走,祂的名是应当称颂的(约伯记 1:21)。
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