Just as a matter of clarity, the practice of Biblical Theology is to understand the “theology” of biblical books or their authors in original grammatical, cultural, and historical contexts. Without imposing any modern categories of thought on the text. There is an internal unity of the text interspersed throughout diverse scriptural genres (narratives, poetry, letters, wisdom literature, etc.). The biblical narratives are self-referentially coherent. The narratives between the Old and New Testaments correspond with various modes of authoritative meaning to derive principles, imperatives, and specific instructions concerning faith and practice.
Narrative stories approached theologically inform readers for pastoral utility or academic use to support doctrine and sound beliefs to satisfy covenant obligations of the church and individuals. Biblical theology helps us understand the narratives to yield the fruit of truth as God’s revelation to humanity. Where it becomes clear who abides by objective truth according to valid hermeneutical methods and who doesn’t (i.e., intertextuality, intended interpretation, etc.). Moreover, chronologically sequenced narratives establish presuppositions of biblical authors. Presuppositions in which readers rest upon God’s word as truth according to what authors actually meant without inferior social, religious, or academic interest.
Someone who might think Scripture, or the gospels are merely moral stories misses the larger scope and depth of God’s Word, the Bible.
- The gospels are a story about a new exodus. Deliverance from one type of slavery in the OT that later became deliverance and freedom from another in the NT
- Christ Jesus fulfilled expectations to satisfy God’s judgment over sin
- Christ Jesus came to fulfill the law as articulated in the gospel narratives
- Jesus performed many miracles
- Jesus saved many people from temporal and eternal judgment and condemnation
- Jesus gathered sinners to Him and gave them hope
- Jesus set the conditions for acceptance or rejection
- Jesus fulfilled prophecy in numerous recorded events in the gospels
- Jesus formed and incubated a Kingdom on Earth in the form of His Church
- Jesus called many to repentance
- Jesus demonstrated compassion to his followers and enemies
- Jesus was a model of Godly living
- Jesus warned of judgment and eternal permanent conscious misery to unbelievers
- Jesus introduced sacraments, instructions on prayer, and how to worship
- Jesus offered eternal life to those who would repent, trust, and follow Him.
Questions to highlight the interconnected nature of Scripture largely converge toward the gospels in the life and identity of Christ.
