Many people notice a stark contrast between how God is portrayed in the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament, God often appears wrathful and just, bringing judgment on evil; in the New Testament, He is frequently emphasized as loving and merciful through Jesus Christ. This raises a common question:
Is the God of the Old Testament different from the God of the New Testament?
The answer is a resounding no – God’s character is consistent and unchanging across both Testaments. In fact, the Bible itself declares God’s nature to be immutable:
“I the Lord do not change” ( Malachi 3:6 Explore this verse )
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” ( Hebrews 13:8 Explore this verse ).
What differs between the Testaments is not God’s character, but the context and manner in which he relates to humanity. In the discussion that follows, we’ll explore why God may appear different in the Old vs. New Testament, provide biblical examples of his consistent nature, and offer practical applications for understanding God’s unchanging character throughout Scripture.
The Similarities Between Old and New Testament
At first glance, the “New Testament vs Old Testament God” question arises because the two parts of the Bible can feel very different in tone and focus. The Old Testament contains stories of floods, plagues, and wars commanded by God, which can make Him seem harsh or solely wrathful. By contrast, the New Testament highlights Jesus’s teachings on love, forgiveness, and mercy, leading some to think God “softened” or changed. However, a closer look at Scripture reveals that God is not different from one testament to another. The same God acts in both Testaments, displaying both justice and love in each.
Also check out: Why Is the Old Testament Important for Christians?
God’s unchanging nature
The Bible is clear that God’s character does not change with time or circumstance. God by His very nature is immutable (unchanging). This means the attributes God possesses – His love, holiness, justice, mercy, etc. – remain constant.
What changes between the Old and New Testament is how God’s plan unfolds and the different contexts and perspectives we have on events, not who God is. The Old Testament lays the foundation with prophecies and the law, while the New Testament fulfils those prophecies in Christ. Throughout it all, God’s righteous standards and compassionate heart remain steadfast. As Psalm 102:27 says of God,
“You are the same, and Your years have no end.” ( Psalm 102:27 Explore this verse )
The apparent differences come from emphasis and context, not a change in God’s temperament.
Wrath and mercy in both Testaments
Love in the Old Testament
It’s a misconception that the Old Testament God is only about wrath and the New Testament God is only about love. In reality, God’s love and wrath are present in both Testaments. For example, the Old Testament frequently describes God as
“compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” ( Exodus 34:6 Explore this verse ), see also ( Nehemiah 9:17 Explore this verse ) and ( Psalm 103:8 Explore this verse ).
He forgives repentant people time and again in the Old Testament era.
The Old Testament overflows with God’s love: He tenderly cared for Israel like a father to a child (Hosea 11:1-4), showed mercy to repentant individuals and nations (as with Nineveh in the Book of Jonah), and declared enduring love for His people (Jeremiah 31:3). In the New Testament, God’s love is supremely displayed through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross (John 3:16), yet the same God who sent Jesus is still holy and just.
Judgement in the New Testament
Likewise, the New Testament contains strong warnings of God’s judgment against sin – Jesus Himself spoke about hell and future judgment (e.g. Matthew 25:31–46), and Revelation vividly depicts God’s wrath against evil. The Apostle Paul writes
“the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodlessness and wickedness” ( Romans 1:18 Explore this verse )
There is no split personality – God’s character is consistent, combining both justice and mercy in both eras.
Progressive revelation – different emphases, same God.
One reason God’s actions might seem different is the concept of progressive revelation. The Bible was written over ~1500 years, and God revealed Himself and His plan gradually through history. The Old Testament emphasizes the law (God’s commandments) and the history of Israel, showing the holiness of God and humanity’s need for redemption. The New Testament shifts focus to grace and redemption through Christ, because Jesus the Messiah had come. These different emphases can highlight certain attributes of God more in one testament than the other.
The Difference Between Old and New Testament
Different Covenants
The Old Testament primarily deals with the Old Covenant – God’s law given through Moses to the nation of Israel, with blessings for obedience and punishment for disobedience. The New Testament centers on the New Covenant – salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, open to all nations.
Under the Old Covenant, God’s relationship with people was often mediated through priests, sacrifices, and strict law codes to illustrate humanity’s need for holiness and atonement. Under the New Covenant, Jesus is our High Priest and final sacrifice (Hebrews 4:14-16), and we relate to God directly through Him.
This doesn’t mean the Old Covenant was bad and the New is good – both were initiated by the same gracious God for His purposes. The Old Covenant set the stage and pointed forward to the New (Hebrews 8-10 explains this).
Both Covenants Reflects His Love
God’s character in giving the law was love (teaching people how to live rightly) just as His character in giving Christ was love. The difference between Old and New Testament practices reflects God’s unfolding plan, not a change in His values.
Time Perspective
When comparing the Old and New Testaments, it’s essential to recognize that our perception of God’s actions can be heavily influenced by our own perspective on time. The Old Testament spans thousands of years, compressing vast historical periods into concise narratives. Because of this, we see God’s acts of judgment and grace condensed into a relatively brief record of centuries, making His justice appear more frequent or intense. In contrast, the New Testament covers a much shorter period – primarily the life of Christ and the early Church, approximately a century – focusing intensely on God’s redemptive grace through Jesus. However, when we look closely, we see God consistently showing grace and patience in both Testaments. For example, God waited centuries before bringing judgment upon nations like Canaan, giving ample opportunities for repentance (Genesis 15:16), just as He patiently extends grace to humanity today, waiting for people to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Understanding this time perspective helps us see that God’s grace has always been present – it’s simply our vantage point that can obscure His consistent mercy throughout history.
Israel and the Church
Israel
Much of the Old Testament is the story of ancient Israel as a nation under God’s covenant. God’s actions (like military deliverances or sending prophets to kings) often had to do with preserving Israel and the lineage of the Messiah. When Israel strayed into idolatry, God’s responses (droughts, defeats by enemies, exile to Babylon) were meant as both judgment and discipline to draw them back – similar to a loving father disciplining a child (see Hebrews 12:6 and Proverbs 3:12).
Also check out: The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament: The Story of the Holy Spirit
The Church
In the New Testament, God’s people are the multinational Church. God is no longer forming a theocratic nation with civil laws; instead, He is building a spiritual kingdom comprising people from “every tribe and tongue”. Thus, some actions God took specifically with Israel (like commanding wars or specific civic penalties) do not apply in the same way to the Church. But the principles behind them – God’s desire for faithfulness, purity from idolatry, care for the vulnerable, etc. – still very much apply. We must read those Old Testament stories through the lens of their context and see the consistent principles.
Attributes of God Revealed in the Old and New Testaments
One helpful way to see God’s consistency is to study the attributes of God as depicted throughout Scripture. The same divine attributes appear from Genesis to Revelation. Let’s look at a few key attributes and how they are revealed in both the Old and New Testaments.
Love and Compassion
God’s love is a central attribute in both Testaments.
Old Testament
In the Old Testament, God describes Himself as
“abounding in steadfast love” ( Exodus 34:6 Explore this verse )
and shows compassion by rescuing Israel from slavery, providing for them, and forgiving them time and again (Nehemiah 9:17-19). The book of Psalms repeatedly praises God’s unfailing love (Psalm 36:5, Psalm 103:8).
New Testament
In the New Testament, this same love is on full display:
“God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” ( John 3:16 Explore this verse ).
Jesus’ ministry is marked by compassion – healing the sick, comforting the brokenhearted, and ultimately laying down His life for sinners. The continuity is clear: the God who loved Israel is the God who loves all people in Christ. His compassionate character did not change.
Holiness and Justice
Old Testament
In Scripture, God is perfectly holy and just. The Old Testament emphasizes God’s holiness through the Law e.g. Leviticus repeatedly states,
“Be holy, for I am holy,” ( Leviticus 19:2 Explore this verse )
and through instances of judgment on persistent wickedness (such as the Flood in Genesis 6–7, or the destruction of idolatrous nations in Canaan). These accounts demonstrate that God cannot tolerate sin indefinitely – His justice will address evil.
New Testament
The New Testament continues this theme: God’s holiness and justice are seen when Jesus drives out the money-changers from the temple (John 2:15-17), and in warnings of judgment to come (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). The difference is that in the New Testament, Jesus Himself absorbs God’s justice on the cross for those who trust in Him – a fulfilment of God’s just requirement against sin, satisfied by God’s own sacrifice. Yet for those who reject Christ, the New Testament warns of a final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Thus, God’s justice and holiness remain consistent, tempered by mercy through the work of Jesus.
Mercy and Patience
Old Testament
God’s mercy is evident throughout the Old Testament. Despite Israel’s repeated failures, God patiently sent prophets to warn and call them back to Himself, rather than immediately abandoning them. He showed mercy to individuals as well. Lamentations 3:22 assures us that
“His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” ( Lamentations 3:22 Explore this verse )
New Testament
In the New Testament, God’s patience and mercy are a major theme, as He offers salvation to the entire world.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfil His promise… but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish” ( 2 Peter 3:9 Explore this verse ).
Paul calls God “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4), and we see Jesus mercifully restore sinners and even forgive His executioners from the cross.
Faithfulness and Truth
Old Testament
God’s faithfulness – His commitment to keep His promises – spans the entire Bible. In the Old Testament, God makes covenants (with Abraham, Moses, David) and keeps them. He preserved the line of Abraham as promised, brought Israel into the Promised Land, and sent the promised Messiah from David’s lineage. Joshua 21:45 notes that
“Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” ( Joshua 21:45 Explore this verse )
New Testament
In the New Testament, we see the ultimate fulfilment of God’s promises in Jesus,
“for all the promises of God find their Yes in Him” ( 2 Corinthians 1:20 Explore this verse ).
The same God who was faithful to Israel is faithful to the Church. Jesus promised to be with us
“to the end of the age” ( Matthew 28:20 Explore this verse ),
and we trust this because God’s character is truth.
Living in Light of God’s Unchanging Nature
Understanding that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever has practical implications for our daily faith. Here are some ways we can apply the truth of God’s consistent character in our lives:
Trust God’s consistency
Knowing that the God who cared for His people in ancient times is your God today should give you great confidence. You can trust His promises, because He doesn’t go back on His word. For example, when you read in the Old Testament how God was with Joseph in trials or brought Israel through the Red Sea, take heart that God will also be faithful to you in your trials. Different era, same God. He is still with you in the
“fire and the flood” ( Isaiah 43:2 Explore this verse ).
Approach God with a balanced view
Because God’s nature holds both justice and mercy together, we should approach Him with both reverence and love. The Old Testament’s portrayal of God’s holiness teaches us a reverent fear of the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 says “
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” ( Proverbs 9:10 Explore this verse )
The New Testament’s emphasis on God’s love invites us to draw near with confidence as children to a Father. Both aspects are true – God is infinitely loving and awe-inspiringly holy. In your worship and prayer, let the knowledge of God’s unchanging holiness keep you humble and obedient, and let His unchanging love make you secure and joyful. We don’t have a “new” God that is only lenient, so we still take sin seriously; but neither do we have a God who is unapproachable, so we rejoice in His grace.
Read all of Scripture to know God fully
Since God’s full counsel is revealed across both Testaments, commit to reading and studying both the Old and New Testament. Don’t shy away from the challenging passages in the Old Testament; instead, study them with the understanding that they reveal the same God who sent Jesus. When a story troubles you, ask what it shows about God’s justice, patience, or plan. When you see a law, consider what principle about God or life it taught Israel, and how Christ fulfills it. By embracing the whole Bible, you allow God to correct incomplete pictures you might have of Him.
Conclusion
In essence, the difference between the Old and New Testament is not a difference in God’s character, but in the stage of God’s redemptive plan. The Old Testament sets up the problem (sin) and promise (a coming Savior); the New Testament presents the solution (Jesus Christ) and the fulfillment of promises. The God who was at work in ancient times is the same God at work in our lives now, only now we have the fuller revelation of His plan. This is why Jesus said,
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” ( Matthew 5:17 Explore this verse ).
There is continuity from old to new. When we grasp the context, we appreciate how the Old and New Testaments complement each other in revealing God’s nature. It’s one story of a holy, loving God reaching out to humanity.
The idea that the God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New Testament is a misconception. When we study Scripture holistically, we discover a profound truth: God has been the same, from Genesis to Revelation. His methods and covenants have developed through history, reaching their fulfillment in Jesus, but His nature and heart have never changed.
The God who thunders on Sinai is also the God who heals the lepers; the God who commands justice is also the God who dies for the unjust to make them righteous.
For believers, this unity of God’s character is wonderfully reassuring. It means we serve an unchanging God – one we can know more deeply by engaging with all of His Word. By appreciating the continuity of God’s attributes and actions across the Old and New Testaments, we gain a richer understanding of who He is. This, in turn, strengthens our faith, sharpens our reverence, and fuels our love for a God who from beginning to end has been writing one grand story of redemption. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that truth is what enables us to trust Him with our today and tomorrow.
