Divine Violence and the Character of God

“In this extraordinary book, Mariottini shows how the warrior God of Mount Sinai is consistent with the grace and mercy revealed in Jesus Christ. Instead of avoiding or excusing Old Testament stories of violence and multigenerational suffering, Mariottini explains difficult passages and corrects popular English translations. . . . This volume is a valuable resource to any pastor or teacher wrestling with suffering in the Bible and the world today.”


—William D. Shiell, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary





“A deeply held conviction of the New Testament authors was that the God portrayed in the Old Testament is indeed the ‘God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ I am extremely grateful for this book, in which Mariottini eruditely and convincingly defends this most basic conviction . . . . What you will find here is a bold and faithful demonstration that the Old Testament God and the New Testament God are, indeed, one and the same God.”


—Jerry Shepherd, Taylor Seminary, emeritus





“Mariottini confronts the hermeneutical gymnastics which are so often employed to explain away the God of the Old Testament. With scholarly insight and intellectual integrity, he responds to other interpreters in a way that is helpful to anyone who has ever wrestled with this often-uncomfortable issue. A profoundly helpful book to scholars, pastors, and students of the Bible alike!”


—Charles Moore, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, emeritus