Old Testament scholar Helen Paynter sets out the contours for the study ahead by addressing the various definitions and theories of violence, then takes us to the Bible for answers. Starting with the creation narratives considered in comparison with the ancient Near Eastern myths and more, she investigates how these deep myths speak to the origins of human violence and its consequences. Paynter considers other relevant biblical themes, including the apocalypse, and the concept of divine vengeance. The book discusses what this means for Christians today. With attention to the concealed structures of violence in our own Western society, Paynter challenges readers to consider their own, perhaps inherited, privilege and complicity.