Andy Judd joined us in October 2020 to help us think through the challenging issue of Violence in the Old Testament. Whether you were able to join us then or not, we’re pleased to make the recording of the session available. The session goes for an hour, and includes some time for a few searching questions which we’re sure you’ll find helpful. Andy has also made available for us a 16 minute version of the same material if you’d like a shorter option.

Andy Judd from Ridley College goes through five approaches to the violence of the Old Testament in books like Joshua and Judges:

1. Reject the violent texts
2. Resign ourselves to mystery
3. Re-interpret the violence as hyperbole
4. Insist on God’s right to judge the world
5. Re-contextualise the violence as part of the bigger story