Reframing Old Testament Violence: Wrestling with Difficult Scriptures - w/ Joshua Ryan Butler (Understanding the Bible Series)

Episode • Jul 26, 2021 • 48m

Explore how understanding context, genre, and cultural background can transform our reading of difficult Bible passages, particularly Old Testament violence. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford are joined by pastor and author Joshua Ryan Butler, who sheds light on approaching challenging scriptures without compromising the goodness of God. Together, they discuss the importance of wrestling with these texts, recognizing our own biases, and reading the Bible in community to gain deeper insight into God's character.

Key Takeaways:

Viewing the Bible as a Library – Understanding the Bible as a collection of books written over thousands of years and cultures, and how that influences interpretation.
Context is Crucial – The importance of historical, cultural, and literary context when reading difficult passages, especially those involving Old Testament violence.
Ancient War Rhetoric and Hyperbole – How recognizing ancient Near Eastern literary devices can reshape our perception of violent scriptures.
God's Unchanging Goodness – Affirming God's wholly good nature while acknowledging that misunderstandings may stem from our own perspectives.
Reading the Bible in Community – The value of engaging with the global and historic church to gain a fuller understanding of scripture.

Guest Highlights: Joshua Ryan Butler – Pastor at Redemption Church in Arizona and author of The Skeletons in God's Closet and The Pursuing God. Josh shares his journey of grappling with difficult biblical texts and provides insights on approaching them thoughtfully and faithfully.

Resources Mentioned:

The Skeletons in God's Closet by Joshua Ryan Butler – Available Here
The Pursuing God by Joshua Ryan Butler – Available Here

Join the conversation as we delve into the complexities of scripture and seek to understand how to faithfully interpret challenging passages. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow Voxology Podcast on social media to stay connected.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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