The “Gospel” of Divine Abuse: Redeeming the Gospel from Gruesome Popular Preaching of an Abusive and Violent God (Recovering the Original Gospel Series Book 2)

“For God so hated the world that He had to destroy it; yet instead He punished, tortured, and abused His one and only Son in our place…” (John 3:16, according to some)

In many fundamentalist circles—Calvinist, Evangelical, Baptist, and others—God is often portrayed as so consumed with wrath toward humanity that destruction becomes inevitable, even necessary, because His justice allegedly demands it. Yet, we are told, He chose to spare a few by unleashing that same wrath upon Christ, crushing, torturing, and killing Him in their place.
This framework, systematized by the sixteenth-century Reformer John Calvin, has shaped vast portions of modern Christianity, especially in the United States, where it is often treated not as one view among many, but as the very heart of the gospel.
But what if this picture is not only mistaken, but deeply misleading? What if the God revealed in Jesus looks nothing like this at all?
In this book, I will dismantle the view I call “Divine Abuse.” We will examine the key passages used to support it, uncover how they have been misunderstood, and expose the logic that holds it together.
This is not a dry academic study. It is a bold, eye-opening journey, written in clear, direct language, inviting every reader to look again, think deeply, and rediscover the beauty of the gospel for themselves.

March 2025: Third Edition (edited and revised).About the Author

Dr. Eitan Bar, a Jewish-Christian scholar with advanced degrees in Bible, apologetics, and theology, is a unique combination. As a native Hebrew speaker and Bible scholar, he combines his Jewish background with his Christian education and faith to offer an accessible guide to understanding the Bible.

From the Publisher

Deconstruct Christian Fundamentalism Without Deconstructing Your Faith in Jesus!

About Dr. Eitan Bar

Eitan Bar (1984) is a Jewish believer in Jesus and an uprising scholar and thinker with several advanced Bible and theology degrees living in Israel.

Eitan’s unique combination of Jewish background, Christian education, and faith offers a fresh view of various spiritual doctrines. As a native Hebrew speaker and a Bible scholar, he combines his Jewish heritage with his Christian education and faith to offer new and timely perspectives on Christianity.

Eitan has authored several books, including a few best-sellers.

Eitan frequently lectures worldwide, primarily in Europe and the US, and his videos (teachings and lectures) have garnered over 25 million views.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BXY2HJY7
Publisher ‏ : ‎ SHAMUS
Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 23, 2023
Edition ‏ : ‎ 3rd
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 954 KB
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 273 pages
Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Book 2 of 11 ‏ : ‎ Recovering the Original Gospel Series
Best Sellers Rank: #147,444 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store) #55 in Theology (Kindle Store) #450 in Christian Theology (Kindle Store) #884 in Christian Theology (Books)
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