God in the old vs new testament

A fascinating topic!

In the Old Testament (OT), God is often depicted as a God of justice, wrath, and covenant. Here are some key characteristics:

1. Jealous and wrathful: God is described as a jealous God who punishes those who disobey Him (Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 6:15).
2. Covenantal: God establishes covenants with His people, promising blessings if they obey and curses if they disobey (Genesis 12:1-3, Leviticus 26:3-45).
3. Transcendent: God is often depicted as distant and separate from humanity, with a sense of awe and reverence (Isaiah 6:1-5, Ezekiel 1:26-28).
4. Law-giver: God gives the Law to His people through Moses, emphasizing the importance of obedience (Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:1-33).
5. Redeemer: God is seen as a redeemer who delivers His people from slavery and oppression (Exodus 6:6-8, Psalm 78:35-39).

In the New Testament (NT), God is often depicted as a God of love, grace, and redemption. Here are some key characteristics:

1. Loving and merciful: Jesus teaches that God is a loving and merciful God who desires a personal relationship with each person (Matthew 5:48, Luke 15:11-32).
2. Redeemer: Jesus is seen as the ultimate redeemer who dies on the cross to save humanity from sin (John 3:16, Romans 5:8).
3. Immanent: God is depicted as being present and involved in human history, with a focus on individual salvation (Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:28).
4. Father: Jesus teaches that God is a loving Father who desires to have a personal relationship with each person (Matthew 5:9, Luke 11:2).
5. Spiritual: The NT emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, with a focus on spiritual growth and transformation (John 14:26, Romans 8:9-11).

Some key differences between the OT and NT depictions of God include:

• Tone: The OT often has a more severe and punitive tone, while the NT is more focused on love and redemption.
• Relationship: The OT emphasizes the covenantal relationship between God and His people, while the NT emphasizes the personal relationship between God and the individual believer.
• Salvation: The OT focuses on salvation through obedience to the Law, while the NT emphasizes salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Overall, while there are certainly similarities between the OT and NT depictions of God, there are also significant differences that reflect the unique historical and theological contexts of each period.