The Big Picture

The Meaning of Biblical Theology

A Definition

Biblical theology is an approach to the Bible that recognizes it is a collection of writings that unfolds a unified narrative and therefore seeks to understand what it teaches within its own progressively revealed and progressively developed timeline.

Biblical Declarations

God has revealed Himself to mankind through His world and His word

Psalm 19:1-11.

Psalm 19:1–11 ESV

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

The Bible tells man how he can know God.

2 Tim 3:15.

2 Timothy 3:15 ESV

15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

The redemptive work of Christ is the central theme of the Bible.

Heb 1:1-4.

Hebrews 1:1–4 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

When God decided to definitively reveal Himself to once for all, He became a man and spoke to man in a way we could understand.

The pinnacle of history was the redemptive work of Christ (prophets before Christ, the ministry of the redeemed after Christ). The purpose for which Jesus came to the world was to atone for the sins of His people. He accomplished this mission.

And God spoke from heaven two times from heaven to make clear that Jesus should be listened to. The first time was at His baptism and the second was at His transfiguration. This is Peter’s response:

2 Pet 1:16-19.

2 Peter 1:16–19 ESV

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

Peter and others heard the words of the Father which declared that the Son is worthy of all praise and majesty. The point here is that we can know the intent of the author by understanding his words.

Doing Biblical Theology

The Grammatical Historical Method

If our goal is to understand the intent of the biblical author’s words, we will employ a method of interpretation that pursues that end.

In the interpretation of the mind of anyone, it is necessary that the words he speaks or writes be rightly understood. - John Owen

Isolated words mean very little.

The chief concern of the grammatical historical method are not individual words but sentences and context.

This relates to Biblical Theology because the concern of Biblical Theology is to understand the bible in light of the overarching theme of redemption. The goal of the grammatical historical method of interpretation aims at understanding the broader context of the words of the Bible.

Grammatical Questions

How does the larger text break up into units?

Epistle: paragraphs

Poetry: stanzas

Narrative: event or story

What’s the general flow of argument of the text?

Is there an assertion supported by subordinate clauses?

Is a contrast being drawn, principle being illustrated, pattern being established, a response being encouraged?

i.e.: Phil. 2:12-13.

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

What’s the subject, verb, object of the sentence and how do they relate?

How are the sentences connected? (discourse analysis)

Historical Questions

How does the text fit within the larger argument of the book or sections of Scripture?

Does the historical context (author, date, audience) impact the meaning of the text?

Does the cultural context impact the meaning of the text? (Pharisees, role of women in the Roman world etc.)

Does geography, politics or history impact the meaning of the text? (Tarshish in relation to Nineveh)

Commentaries and Bible dictionaries help us answer these questions.

Understanding Covenants

The Ancient Near East

International relations were governed by treatises established between great kings and vassal (a king whose authority is contingent on conditions of homage and allegiance) kings.

The great king promised his protection and blessing in return for the vassal king’s loyalty and obedience.

The vassal kings obedience or disobedience affected, not only his but all those under his rule.

These treatises took the form of covenants.

Form of Covenants

preamble: identifies the great king who authors the covenant.

historical prologue: outlines what the great king has already done for the vassal king.

stipulations: outlines what is expected of the vassal

document clause: a paragraph requiring that copies of the covenant be placed in the temples of each king and that the vassal king regularly read the covenant publically and pass it on to his sons.

Witnesses: typically the gods of each king

List of covenant blessings and curses: both were connected to covenant obedience and disobedience.

Ratification: an oath that involved the shedding of blood

Covenant in the Bible

God used this structure to reveal Himself as the great king, and He used it to teach the people that they were His vassals (vice regents).

Consider the Decalogue

Ex 20:2-17.

Exodus 20:2–17 (ESV)

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. PREAMBLE and HISTORICAL PROLOGUE

STIPULATIONS

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

As the book of Exodus progresses, we see the stipulations spelled out in more detail in Ex. 21-23. Then in Exodus 24:1-11, the covenant is read publicly, with both God and the people serving as witnesses. Ex. 25:21 states that the covenant is to be placed in the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies which is God’s throne room and Israel’s temple.

Israel disobeyed the stipulations quickly, so we don’t finally get to the statement of the blessings and curses until Deut. 27-28.

Of Works & Grace

Covenants of works were standard. Obedience resulted in covenant blessings, disobedience resulted in curses.

Genesis 2:15-17 is an example

Genesis 2:15–17 ESV

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Covenants of grace were established by the great king. It was staked upon his word and resources and he was the guarantor. In the Ancient Near East, you might encounter a covenant of grace when a great king grants an inheritance to a valiant warrior or faithful servant.

The best example in Scripture we have is found in Gen 15:9-21.

Genesis 15:9–21 ESV

9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” 17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

The Covenants of Scripture

Covenant of Creation: Gen 2:15-17.

Covenant of Redemption: Gen. 3:15, Isa 49, Psalm 2 & 110, John 5, Rev. 5.

Noahic Covenant: Gen. 9:8-17.

Abrahamic Covenant: Gen 12:1-3, 15:1-21.

Mosaic Covenant: Exodus 20-25.

Davidic Covenant: 2 Sam. 7.

New Covenant: Jer. 31:27-34.

Prophecy

Promises made and promises kept

The promises of God in Scripture have been, are being or will one day be kept.

The promises of God together point to His divine plan of redemption.

All of history is pointing to something and prophecy displays this.

The initial theme of redemption that we see in Genesis is present through the rest of Scripture, but the theme is developed more fully as the story of redemption unfold from one section of Scripture to another.

The fulfillment of prophecy is not just chronological in nature but evolutionary.

The Exodus as an example

God promises that He will set His people free from their bondage in Egypt. (Ex. 6:6)

Exodus 6:6 ESV

6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.

God sets His people free from their bondage in Egypt (Ex 15:1-18)

The bondage of Israel in Egypt was meant to be a picture of our bondage to sin. (1 Cor. 10:1-11)

1 Corinthians 10:1–11 ESV

1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

Israel’s redemption from their slavery in Egypt was meant to picture our redemption in Christ. (Gal 5:1)

Galatians 5:1 ESV

1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Our freedom from sin will culminate at the second coming of Christ. (Heb. 9:28)

Hebrews 9:28 ESV

28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Typology

referring to patterns or examples

Referring to the fact that God orders events and individual lives to prefigure what is yet to come.

A biblical type is an actual person or event that God ordered in order to use them to point beyond him or itself.

Consider how Paul shows that Adam was a type of Christ - Romans 5:14.

Romans 5:14 ESV

14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

Paul is asserting that God set all this up. - Rom 5:15-17.

Romans 5:15–17 ESV

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Just as Adam represented the human race, and so brought the whole race into condemnation through his act of disobedience, Christ the second Adam, stood as a federal representative as well. Unlike the first Adam however, Christ obeyed the Father and His obedience now brings life and forgiveness for those who place their faith in Him.

So what Paul is doing is more than drawing a comparison between Adam and Christ. He is arguing for a historical correspondence in which the type, Adam, points forward to and finds its redemptive fulfillment in the antitype, Christ. The former helps us to understand and defines for us the work and meaning of the latter.

Some Takeaways

Though the Bible is a collection of books, it is meant to be understood as one, cohesive work that is joined together by the theme of the redemptive work of Christ.

God used the covenantal structure to reveal Himself to us as the Great King, that is, as God and us as His vassals. We should therefore seek to understand our bibles in light of its covenantal structure.

Prophecy fulfillment is both chronological and evolutionary.

Typology shows that God orders people and events in order to use them to point beyond themselves.