The God of the Old Testament: An Analysis of Wrath, Justice, Mercy, and Love

Understanding the Old Testament

By Paul V. Niskanen, Ph.D. · Published by TAN Books

Course Trailer

Overview

Many Catholics struggle with the Old Testament. Its laws, battles, poetry, covenants, and prophetic writings can feel distant, confusing, or even troubling when read without the guidance of the Church. Yet the Old Testament is not an optional or outdated part of the Christian faith. It is the inspired Word of God and an essential foundation for understanding Christ, the Church, and salvation history.

In Understanding the Old Testament, Professor Paul V. Niskanen helps students read these ancient Scriptures with clarity, reverence, and Catholic insight. Rather than treating the Old Testament as merely a history book or as a disconnected prelude to the New Testament, this course reveals its rich theology, literary depth, and enduring spiritual power.

Students will learn how to avoid common mistakes in biblical interpretation, understand the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, and discover how the God revealed in the Old Testament is the same loving and merciful God fully revealed in Jesus Christ.

• Rediscover the “Unpopular” Part of the Bible: Move beyond confusion or discomfort and see why the Church treasures the Old Testament.
• Understand the God of Both Testaments: Reject the false idea that the Old Testament God and New Testament God are different.
• Read Scripture with the Church: Learn the Catholic approach to interpreting difficult passages.
• See Christ in Salvation History: Understand how the covenants, promises, and prophecies of the Old Testament point toward fulfillment in Christ.
• Deepen Your Spiritual Life: Encounter the Old Testament as a living source of wisdom, prayer, and divine revelation.

Course Curriculum

• Ancient Wisdom within the Old Testament
• A Guide to Reading The Word of God
• The Rich Theology in the Book of Genesis
• The Name of God
• Understanding the Covenant Concept
• God’s Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant
• The Love of God within the Old Testament
• The Compassion of God within the Old Testament

Lecture Sample

From the Course

“The Old Testament is not opposed to the New. It is the inspired foundation of salvation history, revealing the same God who is fully manifested in Jesus Christ.”

Meet Your Professor

Professor Paul V. Niskanen received his Bachelor of Arts in French and Religious Studies from Seattle University, his S.T.B. from the Pontifical University Teresianum in Rome, and his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley, California. He has served as an assistant professor of Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

Professor Niskanen is a scholar of the Old Testament whose work explores Scripture through historical, theological, and literary lenses. His publications include studies on Daniel, Isaiah, Herodotus, the kingdom of God, and the relationship between the human and divine in history. He is also a professional member of the Catholic Biblical Association of America and the Society of Biblical Literature.

Intended Audience

This course is ideal for Catholics who want to understand the Old Testament more deeply, Bible study groups, homeschool families, catechists, students of Sacred Scripture, and anyone who has struggled with difficult Old Testament passages. It is especially helpful for those who want to see how the Old Testament prepares for and finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

FAQs

Is the Old Testament still important for Catholics?
Yes. The Church has always received the Old Testament as inspired Scripture and reads it as part of the one unified story of salvation fulfilled in Christ.

Does this course address difficult Old Testament passages?
Yes. Professor Niskanen helps students understand how to approach challenging passages with proper historical, literary, and theological context.

Is the “God of the Old Testament” different from the “God of the New Testament”?
No. This course directly addresses that misconception and shows the continuity of God’s love, covenant, mercy, and justice across both Testaments.