The Bible is regarded as the word of God, as the "good news of God's mercy." However, what about the passages in the Bible that do not emphasize God's mercy but contain His command to exterminate entire nations—such as the Canaanites in the Old Testament? What should be said about anti-Judaism in the New Testament, and how should we deal with the verses that condemn non-believers? Gerd Lüdemann, a New Testament scholar from Göttingen, relentlessly and honestly investigates these questions, this other side of the Bible. Historical work has no purpose in itself but aims for change in the present. This book seeks to contribute to that goal. "This book ... summarizes observations and formulates questions that have been on my mind since I began reading and studying the Bible academically. The immediate reason for publishing this book now ...".