Scripture Difficultiesjehovahjesusyahwehgodhead

The God of the Old Testament

Is the God of the Old Testament a different, harsher being than Jesus, or is Jehovah the same Lord who was born at Bethlehem?

Bible

The Bible answers

Bible · Exodus 3:14

KJV + NRSVUE

King James Version
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

NRSVUE
God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, I am has sent me to you.”

Our explanation

I AM. The God of the burning bush.

Bible · John 8:58

KJV + NRSVUE

King James Version
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

NRSVUE
Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Our explanation

Before Abraham was, I am. Jesus claims the name.

Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon answers

3 Nephi 15:5
Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end.
Our explanation
I am he that gave the law.

Modern Revelation

Doctrine and Covenants 110:2–4
The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened. We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.
Our explanation
Jehovah, the first and the last, who was slain.

Ancient witnesses

Dead Sea Scrolls and related extra-biblical texts that illuminate the same pattern the Restoration restores.

Early Christian identification of the Son with the Lord of Israel

Paul can say of Israel, ‘they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ’ (1 Corinthians 10:4).

Before later creeds flattened the story into a simple ‘Old Testament Father, New Testament Son,’ the apostles already read Israel’s Lord as the Christ who was with them. The Dead Sea Scrolls do not teach a different God of Israel; they intensify allegiance to the same LORD. The Restoration’s Jehovah-as-Jesus is a return to that apostolic reading, not a novelty.

Faithful answers

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The harshness some readers feel in the Old Testament is not a second deity. It is the same Holy One dealing with a covenant people in history, later born in mercy as Mary’s son. The Father sent the Son. The Son revealed the Father. Kirtland’s vision names the risen Jesus ‘the voice of Jehovah.’ That is the Restoration’s Old Testament theology in one room.

I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.

John 8:58 is Jesus applying the I AM name to Himself.
3 Nephi 15:5 is the Lord of the Nephites claiming Sinai.
Judgment texts remain; they are not a different gospel, they are the same holiness.

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