Why would God tell Israel to kill its enemies? The Book of Acts and the missing end of Mark’s Gospel

How can the God revealed in Jesus command acts of violence in the Old Testament? And what should Christians do with some of the Bible’s most troubling passages? 

Tom Wright and Mike Bird tackle three major biblical puzzles in today’s episode. First, why does Mark’s Gospel appear to end so abruptly, with the women fleeing the empty tomb in fear? Tom explains why he believes Mark’s original ending — and perhaps even its original beginning — may have been lost.

Then, what is the book of Acts actually for? Is it simply a history of the early church or a manual for mission and church planting? Tom argues that its real hero is the gospel itself, as the message of Jesus travels from Jerusalem all the way to Rome.

Finally, they confront violence in the Old Testament. Tom considers divine judgment, Israel’s own failures and why these disturbing stories ultimately have to be read within the larger biblical story that reaches its climax in Jesus and the cross.