Brian Auten of Apologetics 315 interviews Old Testament scholar David T. Lamb on his new book “God Behaving Badly: Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist and Racist?“, a book which is intended for the lay Christians who want to reconcile the New Testament and Old Testament portraits of God.

The MP3 file is here.

About David T. Lamb’s academic credentials:

• Doctor of Philosophy, Theology (Old Testament)(2005), University of Oxford
• Master of Philosophy, Theology (Old Testament)(2002), University of Oxford
• Master of Divinity (2000), Fuller Theological Seminary
• Master of Science, Industrial Engineering (1985), Stanford University
• Bachelor of Arts, Economics (1984), Stanford University

Summary:

• Lamb’s testimony and experience in campus ministry
• Lamb’s decision to go to graduate school become a Christian scholar
• Lamb’s new book and its’ intended audience (it’s for beginners!)
• Why Christians should read more in the Old Testament
• Why we need to look at the positive and negative texts in the Old Testament
• Are the portraits of God in the Old Testament and the New Testament compatible?
• Is the Old Testament picture of God loving or harsh?
• What are some of the examples that people point to when they say God is angry?
• Are there general any guidelines for answering hard passages of the Bible?
• Is the Old Testament God sexist?
• What does the Old Testament say about women?
• Is the Old Testament God racist?
• What are some examples where other nations are treated well by God?
• Don’t the laws in the Old Testament make God look legalistic and strict?

This book is similar to Paul Copan’s “Is God a Moral Monster?“, but that book is less introductory than Lamb’s book. It also engages more directly with the New Atheists than Lamb’s book.

Brian also interviewed Paul Copan about his book, and you can listen to that interview on Brian’s site.