BOOK SUMMARY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY? - A GUIDE TO THE BIBLE'S STORY, SYMBOLISM, AND PATTERNS - PART 3 - THE BIBLE'S LOVE STORY: THE CHURCH'S PLOT TENSION AND RESOLUTION

On the way to our Promised Land, life is not always as easy as we might think it would be. Afterall, we are connected to Christ and in union with one another, guaranteed victory in finality one day. Why does this path to that destination seem so rocky. This is the tension we have to live with for now.

The Psalmists constantly talk of danger in this world. Christ our Passover Lamb has delivered us from sin which means we are still surrounded by a world filled with sinners in need of redemption. The tension and adversarial nature of this world started in the garden with Satan's temptation and momentary victory over Adam and Eve.   He is defeated but has not yet surrendered. The battle between his seed and the woman's seed continues. Because we belong to Christ, Satan attempts to defeat and attack us like He has with Christ. He is the serpent and roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. But Christ is the greater Lion of Judah. We must arm ourselves to deal with trials and persecution so that Satan does not gain an advantage over us. The Lord's Word equips us mentally and spiritually for this battle that is not fleshly. 

Scripture teaches us reality. We are all living in the story of Jesus. Either we are in His kingdom or we are following Satan on the way to eternal destruction.  Through many tribulations we will enter the kingdom of Jesus. Let us remember that tension in life, in this way, shows that we are on the side of Jesus. 

BOOK SUMMARY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY? - A GUIDE TO THE BIBLE'S STORY, SYMBOLISM, AND PATTERNS - PART 3 - THE BIBLE'S LOVE STORY: THE CHURCH'S SETTING IN THE STORY

At creation God instructed Adam to be fruitful and multiply so that God's glory would fill this cosmic temple.  When Israel go into their land their task was to expand God's glory as was His desire to see the nations declare His greatness. While in the wilderness God gave Israel a construction project called the tabernacle, then later the temple. God's glory would fill up these places to show that God's intent was to fill up the cosmic temple of earth. The church is the new temple of the Spirit. Not only are we to be filled by Him, but as Christ's kingdom grows, God's glory is taken across the planet. We are a preview of what is to come in fulness and even greater glory. The specific allotment of land has returned to what God wanted in creation initially. In the OT, Israel subdued the world by military conquest. In the NT, the church subdues the world by preaching the gospel of Christ and calling sinners to submit to Christ in faith.  We no longer go to the temple. We worship in spirit and in truth. We are no longer slaves in "Egypt" but we are being led into our "Promised Land" by a greater Moses, namely, Jesus. 

BOOK SUMMARY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY? - A GUIDE TO THE BIBLE'S STORY, SYMBOLISM, AND PATTERNS - PART 3 - THE BIBLE'S LOVE STORY: THE CHURCH'S IDENTITY IN THE STORY

Metaphors are used both in OT and NT to speak of God's people. Metaphors are used of God as well. God is not a literal rock. But He is solid and dependable.

SHEEP OF THE SHEPHERD
Sheep are cared for and led by a shepherd. This shapes our identity in relation to Christ.

BRIDE OF CHRIST
The intimacy and union with have with Christ is typified in marriage. Headship and submission are also show in this living metaphor. This shapes our identity and love for our Lord.

BODY OF CHRIST
Christ is the head and we are many members. Christ is our leader and directs us. It also expressed the unity of the church. As we are in union with Christ so are we with one another. This also affects our identity and submission to Christ.

THE ADOPTED FAMILY OF GOD
We are born again into the family of God. We are members of His household. We are joint-heirs with Christ. This shapes our identity, our worship of God and relation to one another.

TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We are a spiritual building with Christ as the cornerstone with the foundation of apostolic and prophetic teaching. We are living stones. We are inhabited by God. We are to be filled with the Spirit and glory of God. 

BOOK SUMMARY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY? - A GUIDE TO THE BIBLE'S STORY, SYMBOLISM, AND PATTERNS - PART 2 - THE BIBLE'S SYMBOLIC UNIVERSE: PATTERNS

Patterns are different from types and images.  Yet patterns are typological in that they show how things typically happen. Israel's feasts and the righteous sufferer are patterns.

ISRAEL'S FEASTS

Deuteronomy 16:16 tells of 3 years feasts for Israel. They weren't the only feasts. Passover celebrated Israel's deliverance from Egypt. Pentecost is the Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:16)  Booths celebrated God's provision as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and lived in booths/tabernacles.  The constant celebration recounts salvation, provision and bounty. They pointed forward to a greater redemption, a greater provision and a greater harvest. See how God dealt with them in the past would give them confidence in their current sufferings and hope for future blessings.

THE RIGHTEOUS SUFFERER

Cain/Abel. Philistines/Abraham. Ishmael/Isaac. Esau/Jacob. Joseph's brothers/Joseph. The list goes on. Jerusalem stones the prophets. Jesus fulfilled this pattern as the righteous sufferer. When reviled he returned no threats but entrusted Himself to the Father.

WHAT DO SYMBOLS TEACH US?

Symbolically speaking we are liberated slaves that are moving toward a better Eden. Symbols shape our understanding of ourselves and of God. They tell us how the world really works. They shape how we are to live as we follow Jesus. 

BOOK SUMMARY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY? - A GUIDE TO THE BIBLE'S STORY, SYMBOLISM, AND PATTERNS - PART 2 - THE BIBLE'S SYMBOLIC UNIVERSE: TYPOLOGY

Two key features of biblical typology are historical correspondence and escalation.  

Historical correspondence has to do with the way people, events or institutions match or correlate to one another. For example, both Noah and Moses were preserved in an ark through waters in which people died.  

Escalation has to do with a progression from the initial instance (archetype) and how these patterns increase in intensity or find their fulfillment in an ultimate and final expression. 

FORESHADOWING FIGURES: PEOPLE, EVENTS & INSTITUTIONS  

These are real events that have real resemblance. 

(1).    People - Pharaoh trying to kill baby Moses corresponds to Herod trying to kill baby Jesus. Moses and His parents were strangers in Egypt just as Jesus and His parents were. God summoned Moses to lead his firstborn (Israel). God gave a dream to Joseph that led to Jesus (God's Son) being led out of Egypt.  Moses led Israel through the Red Sea into the wilderness where they were tempted and failed. Jesus was baptized in the Jordan and led by the Spirit in the wilderness to be tempted by Satan and did not fail. Moses went up on Mt. Sinai and received the Law and gave it to the people. Jesus went up on a mount ang gave the Law of Christ.  These are all historical events.  

The escalation occurs in that Moses led a people out of the slavery of Egypt while Jesus leads people out of the slavery of sin. Moses led people to the promised land which was a shadow of the new Eden while Jesus leads people to the new heaven on the new earth.

(2).    Events - At the Exodus Moses was attacked by the seed of the serpent, rejected by Israel, took a Gentile wife then returned to lead them out of Egypt. The 10th plague came upon Egypt and Israel was spared because of their participation in the Passover. Israel was baptized into Moses in the cloud and sea, then ate manna from heaven and drank water from a rock.  Israel entered into a covenant with Yahweh and the nation received instructions on how to build the tabernacle.

Jesus was preserved from an attack from Satan's seed, rejected by Israel, All Israel will be saved at Jesus' return. For now, Jesus has a predominantly Gentile bride. Jesus is our Passover Lamb, and we are baptized into Him. We eat the true bread from heaven and drink of Christ. We have His law in the better New Covenant. At His instruction, the church is being built into a larger temple through gospel proclamation. 

Jesus' death and resurrection point to a final cosmic death and renewal. The trumpet and bowl judgments correspond to the plagues in Egypt. 

(3).    Institutions - The priesthood and sacrificial system foreshadow and point towards the reality of Christ. Hebrews 5-7 lay out this teaching. He's a better Moses, David, Priest, Sacrifice. He has a better Law and Covenant. 

NOT ONE OF HIS BONES SHALL BE BROKEN

Sometimes people, events and institutions are interwoven.  

Most of us would assume that the OT predicted that none of Jesus’ bones would be broken based on John 19:36.  Exodus 12:46 is the passage that John cites. Yet it’s not a prediction. It’s regarding the Passover Lamb. John claims that Jesus is the fulfillment of that passage.

Like David, John may be using OT Scripture to describe the way God saves (Psalm 34:20). Psalm 18 & 34 are about how God has saved David and he uses the Exodus as a template for the salvation of God. Exodus is an archetype. That means that David’s deliverance is installment of the typological pattern that has an ultimate end in Christ (John 19:36). John is not saying that Exodus 12:46 predicts anything. He’s saying that Jesus fulfills the typological pattern set forth by God in the OT. Jesus is the anti-type of the Exodus events and Passover Lamb. 

BOOK SUMMARY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY? - A GUIDE TO THE BIBLE'S STORY, SYMBOLISM, AND PATTERNS - PART 2 - THE BIBLE'S SYMBOLIC UNIVERSE: IMAGERY

Scriptures uses real-world illustrations to help us understand abstract concepts. 

A TREE, A ROOT AND A BRANCH

God created Eden to help us understand redemption. He created trees to spring up out of the ground to produce food (Genesis 2:8-9). In Psalm 80:8, Asaph uses creation language to describe the redemption of Israel from Egypt. They were like vine planted by the Lord. The prophet Isaiah develops this imagery (Isaiah 5:5, 6:9-13). Because of Israel's rotten fruit they would eventually be driven into exile. Israel will be a tree stump which is then burned but it remains with a holy seed in it. Assyria will be the axe that chops Israel down (Isaiah 10:5-15). But shoot will come up and bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1-10). The shoot is a symbol of an individual to come and also the re-emerging of Israel. Isaiah then connects this shoot from the burnt stump of Jesse to the Suffering Servant who is a root out of dry ground (Isaiah 53:2). Treem imagery is all over the Bible. The example we looked at tells the story of Israel. They will be exiled for violating the Mosaic Covenant but God will keep His word to David. 

Psalm 1 speaks of the one that is like a tree flourishing because it is planted near streams of water. The life-giving streams are the Word  of God. The connections between Psalm 1 and 2 are that in Psalm 2 we see that the kings of the nations reject the counsel or the Word of God. This is not so with the Son who rules over the nations. The fate of the nation of Israel depends on this godly King to come. The fate of our salvation depends on the shoot from the stump of Jesse. He fully obeyed God's Word and suffered for our sins. In this way He is the ultimate One who flourishes, the one in whom we can take refuge and flourish as well. We must remain connected to the Vine of Jesus as we are the branches. In Him we flourish and only in Him. Those who aren't in Christ, those who rebel against God are chaff. The exact opposite imagery of the Flourishing One and those who are in Him.  

THE FLOOD
Creation and redemption are connected. But so are judgment and de-creation.  In creation water covered the whole earth and the Spirit of God was hovering over them. God then separated the waters from the land. In the flood, which was a judgment on the whole earth, creation went to de-creation. The waters covered the whole earth. God sent the wind to drive up the waters and once again separate the waters from the dry ground. The same command that Adam received was given to Noah (be fruitful and multiply). Noah was like a new Adam. But just as Adam sinned in the garden, Noah sinned in a vineyard and got wasted. Nakedness and shame followed both sins. Covering following both sins. Curses followed both sins. 

Moses wants us to see the connection between him and Noah. Noah was saved in an ark through waters. So Moses was saved in an "ark" through waters. Noah entered into covenant with God after the flood. So too, Moses entered into covenant with God after leaving the old world. Noah was leading his family into the new creation as Moses was leading Israel into a new creation--the promised land. Other Biblical others use the flood in ways that help us to see that a future judgment is coming. In Noah's and Moses' account both were saved through judgment. So, too, when Christ comes again, we shall be saved through judgment. In Mark 10:38-39 Jesus described His death as a baptism into the waters of God's judgment. This is the judgment through which God's people are saved. The flood explains the Bible's storyline: sin, salvation through judgment, new covenant, new creation. God purified the world by water the first time and will purify it by fire the next time (2 Peter 3:6-7). 

THE TEMPLE AND THE IMAGE WITHIN IT

The world is a cosmic temple reflecting the dwelling place of God (Psalm 78:69). Thus, the temple is meant to be a picture of the cosmos which is mean to be a picture of heaven. Yet God created the cosmos to dwell in and earth is His footstool. Revelation reminds us that God will dwell in the New Creation with us. The New Jerusalem is a Most Holy Place. There is no temple there, but God is the Temple. 

Idol worshippers put carved images of their gods in their temples. In the world-temple that God created, He placed His images in this temple. They are not wood, but walking and talking images called mankind. God's image represents Him in His temple. The temple summarizes the Bible's story: temple creation, God's glory filled the temple (not just in creation, but in the tabernacle, temple, new creation). 
Whenever we see God tearing down the temple it's a reminder of the judgment to come or a tearing down of the world. Destroying is deconstructing. 2 Peter 3:12 speaks of this.

Jesus, the temple, speaks of His death as God's judgment. Darkness and gloom surrounds the death of Jesus which reminds us of judgment/de-creation to come. 

SHADOWS AND SUBSTANCE

The things mentioned in this chapter are shadows and Christ is the substance (Colossians 2:17). Christ is the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15). As the rituals on the day of Atonement purified the Old Testament Temple, so too, the blood of Christ purifies the New Covenant Temple. 

BOOK SUMMARY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY? - A GUIDE TO THE BIBLE'S STORY, SYMBOLISM, AND PATTERNS - PART 2 - THE BIBLE'S SYMBOLIC UNIVERSE: WHAT DO SYMBOLS DO?

Symbolism is developed through the use of imagery and through the repetition of patterns and types.

If we don't understand a book's symbolism then we won't understand key parts of the story nor will we understand the author's point.

Symbols are used to summarize big ideas in pictures. For example, in Leviticus, Moses did not explain the rational behind the symbols acts as the sacrifices were offered. The people of Israel understood what these acts meant. 

We have to understand images, types and patterns in the Bible to understand the big story.  As we begin to think like the Biblical authors and take on their worldview we will understand the world as it really is, since symbols represent a greater reality. 

Donkeys and elephants are used to symbolize political parties. Those symbols conjure up particular ideologies and systems of belief in regards to a host of things. 

Biblical symbols remind us of what has come before, what is, and what is going to come to pass. 

We must understand imagery, typology and patterns which will be discussed in the coming chapters. 

BOOK SUMMARY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY? A GUIDE TO THE BIBLE'S STORY, SYMBOLISM, AND PATTERNS - PART 1 - THE BIBLE'S BIG STORY: THE MYSTERY

WHAT ARE THESE GOLD COINS ON THE PATH?

In Scripture there is a pathway of biblical promises that is littered with gold coins. The relationship between these treasures is definite which suggests design and intentionality.  Though the new coins are different, the newer coins contain similarities from previously minted coins. As you examine the coins on the pathway you can see that a story is being told. 

The story of the Redeemer is the pathway and the promises of God concerning the Redeemer are the gold coins.  The newer promises highlight and help recall previous promises while simultaneously shedding new light on the development of the story.

In this story, we readers begin to see that newer authors are telling of events and situations that have some similarity yet there is some difference. It becomes obvious that these events are tied to the promises God has made. This indicates that the biblical authors are seeing something important they want us to notice, even if they don't fully understand it (1 Peter 1:10-12).

These repeated patterns create a template for the type of things that God does or the type of things that God's people experience. In other words, we begin to see how things typically happen. This is typology. We begin to deduce that since this is how things operated in the past, such should be the expectation of the future and final fulfillment of those initial promises. 

This is what we call promise-shaped-typology. Promise are made by God then in Scripture we see events happen that remind us of that initial promise. As time goes on we see other events happen that mirror previous events based on that initial promise. But all of these events are pointing to a final reality that will fulfill that initial promise. Of course, there are many promises God makes and they find themselves being expressed in types that have been or will be fulfilled one day.

MINTED BY ONE MAKER

In Genesis 3:15 God pronounces judgment on the serpent for his deception of Eve.  Adam and Eve expected a judgment as well (Genesis 2:17). Yet in God's judgment on the serpent, they hear a glimpse of hope that lets them know they'll not die right away. God told them that there'd be an ongoing battle between her seed and the serpent's seed and that her seed would be victorious. This suggests they'll live for a while longer (since they have to have a child) and that hope is coming through her offspring. It wasn't until this point that Adam called his wife, Eve--the mother of all living. Adam believed God's word of promise. In Genesis 4:1, 25 Eve acknowledges that she's received these sons from God indicating she was keenly aware of God's initial promise of a victorious offspring to come. The lineage is traced further in Genesis 5 where Lamech is hopeful that his son Noah might be the one to bring the relief (Genesis 5:29) promised earlier. And so we read this account in light of Genesis 3:14-19.  At the end of Genesis 4 we begin to see people calling on the name of the Lord and it seems to be in connection with Seth being born and then his son. They appear to be looking for The Offspring!

Then in Genesis 12:1-3 the lineage continues to Abraham and the promise God made with him (land, seed, blessing). God would provide a place for Abraham and his seed to dwell. God will make a great nation out of Abraham. God then promises to bless Abraham so that He can be a blessing to all the families of the earth. God will bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse him. If you take careful note, you'll see how this 3-fold promise ties back to the account of Adam and Eve. A land where blessing is experienced is coming removing the curse in the garden. Through Abraham's seed the world will be blessed as the promise made to Eve has yet to be fulfilled. There are some coming who will have enmity for Abraham and his seed just as God promised to Eve and her seed. After Abraham dies, the promise is passed on to Isaac, then Jacob. The story is in motion in view of these promises concerning The Seed.

Moses seems to have picked up on this cosmic battle between Eve's seed and the serpents seed since he tells the struggles between Cain/Abel, Ham/Noah, Ishmael/Isaac, Esau/Jacob and Joseph's brothers/Joseph. Through the betrayal of Joseph, he is exalted to a place where he is able to provide blessing that rescues his family from the curse of the famine.  He is a type of the Seed to come. And while Jacob blesses the sons of Joseph (Genesis 48:15-16), a special blessing is reserved for Jacob's son, Judah (Genesis 49:8-12). A royal ruler would come from Judah's lineage and we see where promised Seed of Genesis 3:15 is going to come from. 

As we move to Numbers we see that Balaam's prophecy (24:9) borrows from the lion language from Jacob's blessing on Judah (Genesis 49:9) and the promises God made to Abraham concerning blessing (Genesis 12:3). Moses is connected the promise of Eve's Seed to the covenant God made with Abraham and the prophetic blessing Jacob bestowed on Judah. A king is coming from Jacob who will triumph over evil (Numbers 24:17-19) and grant victory to Israel.

Later we see a king arises from Judah as foretold. Prior to his kingship we see that a battle takes place between him and a giant where David crushes the head of this evil Philistine, Goliath. Israel is safe and blessed.  Then later we see David persecuted by King Saul. This harkens back to Genesis 3:15, Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 49:9 & Numbers 24:17-19.  Do you see the patterns being told by Moses. Do you see the types? 

THE PSALMIST AND PROPHETS INTERPRETED THESE COINS

The story and promises and typology continues. God made some amazing seed promises to David (2 Samuel 7). In Psalm 72, the battle continues between Eve's Seed and Satan's while David prays for his son, Solomon. The things he prays for are things that God promised to do through The Seed. Among other things, he prays that the righteous will be blessed while the oppressor be crushed (Psalm 72:4-9). These are all connected to earlier promises that we've just mentions. Read Psalm 72 in light of God's previous promises. 

Isaiah 11:8 speaks of the nursing child being able to put his hand in the snakes den. The battle between The Seed and the serpents seed will not last forever. It will come to an end through the eternal king promised through David's seed. Wickedness will be overcome. The earth will be restored to an Edenic state. The exiled will be no more.  See Isaiah 11.

DARK SAYINGS AND RIDDLES

So far we have this story pointing towards a restored Eden as suffering is conquered and Gentiles are blessed. How is this going to happen?  The OT seems to paint a picture of Israel's King conquering the world through strength leading them to submit to God's reign (Psalm 2:8-9, Isaiah 2:1-4).  The difficulty in seeing this in Scripture is Israel's constant failure to obey God themselves. Instead of Israel subjecting the nations to God, God subjects Israel to the nations because they despise God's name.  The other problems comes in when we take into account that the victorious Seed seems to be one who'll suffer (Psalm 22, 69).   Isaiah 53 speaks of the one who was going to be stricken, smitten and afflicted yet through his sufferings people would be healed.  The promises and patters point to conquest and suffering just as God said in Genesis 3:15.  See also Zechariah 12:10, 13:7.

PROMISE, PATTERN & MYSTERY

In summary, one from Eve's seed will have a struggle between the serpent's seed. The victory of The Seed will restore things to an Edenic state. Justice will be reestablished and God's glory will fill the earth.  Yet Israel's disobedience to God remains a huge problem since this Seed/King will come from them and Israel is bent on turning away from God's plan. Another problem arises in view of this King and Servant that will suffer. Continually we see the various pattern seeds persecuting and losing at times. Isaiah 66:21 speaks of foreigners being priests and Levites! How can this be since the Jews were not allowed to marry Gentiles (see Ezra, Nehemiah, Malachi)? How will the Gentile nations be blessed in Abraham? Mystery is all over the place in the OT even as it closes. 

WILL IT ALL FALL APART?
The mystery is resolved in the supposed defeat of the King and Seed who came.  Jesus' bruise on the heel was his death on the cross. This dealt a death blow to Satan and insured Satan's final defeat and God's blessing over all the nations as the Son of David, Jesus, rules forever on a restored creation. Jesus was the suffering Servant and Seed. The ruler from Judah. He was the Passover Lamb. The Great High Priest. The One who led us out of bondage, like Moses did for Egypt. As Moses led Israel into the wilderness to receive His law which also governed the building of the Tabernacle. So, too, Jesus' Exodus set us free to worship God as He builds us into a global tabernacle or Temple. Jesus sent Paul to the Gentiles to incorporate them into believing Israel. Thus God's promises to Abraham are fulfilled as well. 

NOT EVEN DEATH UNDOES IT

There is nothing that can undo this (Romans 8:28-39). 

BOOK SUMMARY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY? A GUIDE TO THE BIBLE'S STORY, SYMBOLISM, AND PATTERNS - PART 1 - THE BIBLE'S BIG STORY: THE PLOT - CONFLICT, EPISODES AND THEME

 

CONFLICT

Satan and his seed are at war with God in an attempt to unseat Him as Lord (Ephesians 6:12, 1 John 3:9-15).

God often picks weak and insignificant people as His own through whom He'll accomplish His plans (1 Corinthians 1:29). Abraham and David are examples. When the world needs salvation, God sends his Son to take on flesh as a baby boy. God always gives Satan, what seems to be, a head start and God always comes out on top. This scenario is replayed over and over in Scripture. 

PLOT EPISODES

The author draws attention to 5 episodes in the Bible's plot.

1.    Exile From Eden - Adam and Eve sinned and incurred God's judgment. A promise of hope was given to them.

2.    Exodus From Egypt - The firstborn of Egyptian households die in the 10th plague, while Israel, God's firstborn, was spared due to the Lamb's blood on the doorpost.  The crossing of the Red Sea takes place as they flee Pharaoh. This becomes a paradigm of God's salvation. Later God sustains Israel with manna and water from a rock which points to Christ (1 Corinthians 10:3-4). At Mt. Sinai they enter into a covenant with God that contains instructions for the temple (symbol for the universe). God's glory fills this microcosm which shows us that God's glory fills the temple of creation.

3.    Exile From The Land - Israel was like a new Adam in a new Eden--the promised land. Like Adam, they utterly failed as Moses prophesied (Deuteronomy 4:26-31). Like Adam they were driven out. Exile is like a de-creation. The temple, symbol of the world, was torn down. Sun dark. Moon blood. Mountains melted. Yet God's promise of hope to come was always reiterated (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 11:11-16, Hosea 3:5, Jeremiah 31:31, Joel 2:28-32). A restoration to an Edenic state is coming (Ezekiel 36:35).  Israel's prophets use the paradigm of Israel's past to predict Israel's future. 

4.    The Cross - The events of Israel's history function like templates to help us understand who Jesus is and what He accomplished.  Jesus recapitulates the history of Israel.  He was threatened in infancy, called out of Egypt, tempted in the wilderness, cursed to exile in His death, raised to bring restoration. The NT authors described Christians as those who are liberated from bondage, made alive, moving toward the Land of Promise, exiles returning to their true home.  

5.    The Promised Return - Daniel 7:13 speaks of the Son of Man coming on the clouds to receive everlasting dominion. Genesis 1:28 speaks of the dominion that God's image bearers were to have. Adam failed. Jesus came in likeness of mankind, as the 2nd Adam to rule and have the dominion that Adam failed at. Jesus is the slain Lamb who is the conquering Lion (Revelation 5:5-6).

THEME

The central theme of Scripture is God demonstrating His glory by saving His people through judgment. This was the case in the Garden of Eden, in the Exodus, in the account of Noah, in Judges and so on. They illustrate and foreshadow the work of Christ who saved us through His substitutionary judgment. God will fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory. And God will fill the earth with image bearers that show of His glory. This is accomplished through Christ who restores our former glory by demonstrating His glory through His salvific work. God's glory is supreme and the end all (Numbers 14:21, Isaiah 6:3, Psalm 72:18-19, Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14).

BOOK SUMMARY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY? A GUIDE TO THE BIBLE'S STORY, SYMBOLISM, AND PATTERNS - PART 1 - THE BIBLE'S BIG STORY: THE NARRATIVE

 

A narrative is made up of a setting, characterization and plot. Plots are built out of episodes and conflict, and if successful they communicate themes. The next couple of chapters will define these terms and show how they are used in Scripture. 

SETTING

The Bible takes place on earth as we know it. It is the story of the world even those most of the events recorded in it take place in a distinct region of the world. The world is the theater where God shows of His glory. It's the "set" where He is revealed, served, worshiped and present. Places where gods are known, served and worshiped are called temples. The earth is God's temple and He placed His image or likeness in it. The characters of the drama rebelled. God issued judgment and promised a restoration. 

The tabernacle and temple were small-scale versions of the cosmos (Psalm 78:69). Humans are the real image of God in this cosmic temple. Idolaters are people who attempt to be like God by creating temples and placing images of their god in the temple.  God's real images are living and breathing not made of wood or stone. 

The plot thus begins with the creating of cosmic temple and that temple being defiled by sin. A restoration is hinted at and promised. The devastations that God brings upon the microcosm temples foreshadows the macrocosm judgment upon the world. The final restoration will be a new heaven and new earth or a new cosmic temple. 

CHARACTERS

We are not the main character in this story. God is. God is the protagonist. Satan is the antagonist. Each seek the allegiance of God's image. Each seek dominion over the cosmos. Satan is seriously outmatched. There are sides to take: the seed of Eve or the seed of the Serpent. 

Those who call upon the name of the Lord are those who have been born of God (Genesis 4:26, Romans 10:13). God's seed abides in them (1 John 3:9). There is the collective seed of the woman (Revelation 12:17) that has put faith in the singular seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15). 

The seed of the serpent rebel against the Lord (Psalm 2:1-3) and act like him (Romans 16:17-20). Satan was cursed from the onset (Genesis 3:14). Cain was cursed (Genesis 4:11). Canaan was cursed because of Ham's sin (Genesis 9:25). Jesus insisted that Satan was the father of some (John 8:44). John the Baptist called some a "brood of vipers" (Matthew 3:7). 

In Genesis 1:28 man and woman were to have dominion over the world. After they sinned, Satan became the prince of the power of heir with his sons of disobedience and children of wrath (Ephesians 2:2-3). One of David's son was coming fix this and rule (Psalm 110, Revelation 11:15-19). 

What part do you play in the drama?

PLOT

In summary the plot is creation, fall, redemption, restoration. 

Satan introduced the plot conflict that ends with his loss. Do not side with him. Don't envy those on his side. Satan's pride and rebellion were met with Jesus' humility and obedience.  

The hero arrives. The hero is killed. The hero rises victoriously from the dead to show He is the ruler of all. Those who trust in Christ to save them will be restored. The plot comes to a close with Jesus' return to judge His enemies and save His people who will live forever with him and serve Him in a new temple.

BOOK SUMMARY: WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY?: A GUIDE TO THE BIBLE'S STORY, SYMBOLISM, AND PATTERNS - INTRODUCTION - WHAT IS BIBLICAL THEOLOGY?

 

Biblical Theology - the interpretive perspective of the biblical authors

Interpretive Perspective - the framework of assumptions and presuppositions, associations and identifications, truths and symbols that are taken for granted as an author or speaker describes the world and the events that take place with in.

1.    Biblical authors interpret previously written Scripture or God's words and deeds passed on to them directly from God.  

2.    Biblical authors also interpret world history from creation to re-creation.

3.    Biblical authors interpret the events and statements they describe (ie. Moses' account of Balaam surely didn't record every detail, just the details that helped the audience to see what God wanted them to know). 

Biblical theology, then, is the perspective from which Biblical authors present their understanding of earlier Scripture, redemptive history, and the events they experienced. In their understanding they are describing, recounting, celebrating and addressing these situations in a variety of literary genres.  These genres include narrative, poems, proverbs, letter and apocalypses. 

It's their particular way of telling the acts of God in history based on their worldview.

The term biblical theology is not meant to convey the idea that our theology is biblical, that it is orthodox verse heretical or unorthodox. 

Jesus didn't write any books of the Bible but He did teach His disciples how to interpret Scripture, redemptive history and the events they experienced and narrated.  They all lived in the same thought-world and shared its assumptions. They did not live in a premodern, modern or postmodern world. A Darwinian worldview was not present then. So we must try to understand the perspective they used to interpret all the events God had inspired prophets to write about in the OT and inspired the apostles to write about in the NT. 

As we learn to understand the Bible from the biblical author's perspective then we will be able to understand the world from the Bible's perspective, rather than understanding the Bible from the world's perspective. 

BOOK SUMMARY: OLD MADE NEW - A GUIDE TO THE NEW TESTAMENT USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT - CHAPTER 4 - THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE CHURCH

OT WITNESS TO THE CHURCH'S IDENTITY

The church is the people of God not the building.    What is the church? What does it do? The OT helps us to understand. 

The Hebrew word qahal is often used in the OT for the gathering of the Israelites to worship God (Deut. 9:10, Nehemiah 13:1).  Greek-speaking Jews used the word ekklesia. Jesus used this word (Matthew 16:18, 18:17). It was used by the apostles as well (Acts 20:28, James 5:15). In Acts 7:38 then in Acts 8:1 the same Greek word is used to describe the congregation of Israel then the Christians. The church is a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5). The gates of heaven bear the names of the 12 tribes of Israel (Revelation 21:12). Gentiles are grafted into the Jewish olive tree (Romans 11:24). The patriarchs are called our fathers (Romans 9:10). It's clear that language about OT Israel is applied to the church. That is not to say that OT Israel is the NT church or that the church replaces Israel, but that a similar language is applied to us so that we may know our identity. Just as the OT helps us to know sin and the gospel, it helps us to know the church and thus ourselves.

1.    Offspring of Abraham - Galatians 3:29 tells us that if we are Christ's then we are Abraham's offspring.

a.    The Promised Nations - The church is not just made up of Jewish believers. It includes Gentile believers (Galatians 3:8/Genesis 12:3, Romans 4:18/Genesis 15:5, Romans 4:17/Genesis 17:4). Paul sees Abraham as the father of all who believe (Romans 4:11). So a fresh reading of Genesis 15 sees how God's promise extends beyond Abraham to all nations. 

b.    The Children of Promise - In Galatians 4:22-31 Paul quotes Genesis 16-21 and speaks of Sarah and Hagar. Hagar helps us see present Jerusalem which is a reference to the Judaizers seek to impose some sort of law-adherence on Gentiles. Sarah helps us to see Jerusalem above and those who by true faith are the true church. Sarah is our mother.  We are free by faith in Christ not slaves to works.

c.    The True Circumcision - In Colossians 2:11 Paul speaks of baptism as a circumcision made without hands. In other words, the physical act of baptism signifies spiritual circumcision of the heart--or the new birth, regeneration. This should take us back to Genesis 17 where God requires the sign of circumcision for Abraham and his descendants. In Philippians 3:3 Pauls says that "we", the church, are the circumcision. We have been consecrated unto God.  Indeed, those who are born again are children of Abraham.

2.    Exodus Generation - The NT draws upon to Exodus to help us see our identity as the church.

a.    Passover - Paul alludes to Exodus 12:1-8 in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8. We are recapitulating the story of Israel and have been delivered by Christ our Passover Lamb.

b.    Sinai - Israel and Moses feared the Lord at Mt. Sinai (Genesis 19:12-17/Hebrews 12:18-21) but the church has drawn near to a heavenly mountain (Hebrews 12:22-23). As Moses was transformed by the glory of God, so we, too are transformed into Christ-likeness by beholding Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18) and we too are ministers of the NC as Moses was of the OC. 

c.    Wilderness -  In 1 Corinthians 10:6-11 Paul warns Christians not to commit the same sins as Israel in the wilderness. Hebrews describes the church as longing to enter "rest" (Hebrews 4:1-10). 

3.    Spiritual Sacrifices

The sacrificial system was central to Israel's way of life. Christ brings it to an end as the ultimate priest and sacrifice. But this system shows us something about the church as well.  

a.    Sacrifices - Philippians 2:17 says that their faith was sacrificial offering. Philippians 4:18 speaks of their financial offerings as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice acceptable to God.   

b.    Temple - In 2 Corinthians 6:16 Paul cites Leviticus 26:12 to make his point that we are God's temple.

c.    Priesthood - Revelation 1:6 says that we were made "priests to...God."  1 Peter 2:5 says that the church offers "spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.

4.    Exiles - The NT employs exilic language to help us understand the present state of the church.  1 Peter 1:1 says that we are elect exiles.  Peter and John use Babylon as a label for Rome (1 Peter 5:13 Revelation 14:8, 16:19).  

5.    Summary - Sometimes the NT expresses continuity and sometimes discontinuity. The church does not replace Israel but neither is it entirely separate from Israel. 

OT WITNESS TO THE CHURCH'S MISSION

After opening their minds to understand Scripture, Jesus speaking in Luke 24:45-47 states the message of Scripture. That it was written to tell us that Christ should suffer and be raised on the third day.  He also says that the OT Scripture state the mission of the church: repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. The message and mission of the church go hand-in-hand with the OT Scriptures. Without citing any OT passage, this is Jesus' blanket statement regarding all the OT.  In Acts 13:46-47 Paul cites Isaiah 49:5-6 to show the church's mission. 

OT WITNESS TO THE CHURCH'S CONDUCT

1.    Two Great Laws - Romans 13:9, James 2:8, Galatians 5:14 all cite Leviticus 19:18 as the church's duty to love neighbor as yourself. In Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus says that all the law and prophets hang on the two commands to love God with your whole being and to love your neighbor as yourself (Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18). 

2.    Ten Commandments - The Decalogue (Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:6-21) are key to Christian living as cited in many NT passages. The Sabbath is the exception. 

3.    Principles - The NT authors sometimes provide rules for Christian conduct based on OT passages. Sometimes these passages are principles. Sometimes they are analogical. 

a.    Genesis - Christian norms for marriage and sexuality are taught to us in 1 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 5:31, Romans 1:26-27 and these principles are taken from Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:22-23.

b.    Exodus - To encourage financial giving (2 Corinthians 8:15) Paul cites Exodus 16:18. Paul uses analogy to help us understand this principle for living and giving. 

c.    Leviticus, Isaiah, 2 Samuel - To explain the concept of being unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:16-18) Paul cites Leviticus 26:11, Isaiah 52:11, 2 Samuel 7:8, 14.

d.    Deuteronomy - Matthew 18:16 speaks of church discipline and the principle of 2 or 3 witness concept taking from Deuteronomy 19:15.  Other principles in the NT are taken from the OT as well.

e.    Psalms - In 1 Corinthians 10:25-26 Paul cites Psalm 24:1 to help us understand how to know whether Christians can eat food sacrificed to idols.

f.    OT Examples - Hebrews 11 points back to a host of OT people to show us how to believe God at His Word and conduct our lives in sync with trust in God's Word.  

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

A more thorough reading of the OT will help our ecclesiology. 

1.    Read the OT as early Church History

2.    Applying the Wisdom of an Unchanging God to Today's New Context

BOOK SUMMARY: OLD MADE NEW - A GUIDE TO THE NEW TESTAMENT USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT - CHAPTER 3 - THE OLD TESTAMENT AND JESUS CHRIST

 

We should not understand the OT Scriptures as void of Christ. He is the summation of the OT Message.  

Without quoting a specific writer of the OT, Philipp and Andrew were convinced they found the Messiah based on their understanding of the OT (John 1:41, 1:45).  Jesus said that the Law and prophets were about Him (Luke 24:44-46). The Apostle Paul wrote that Christ's death and resurrection were according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).  

The gospel we hear of in the NT is grounded in the OT.  

OT WITNESS TO THE DIVINE SON

The Church did not create the notion that Jesus was divine. This doctrine is rooted in the OT and even Jesus' own words. 

1.    "Lord" and "Son of God" - Jesus' followers confess Him as Lord (Luke 2:11, John 20:28, Romans 10:9). Lord is kyrios in the Greek and is the word many Jews used for the Adonai which is Hebrew for Lord.  They are using a title reserved for Yahweh.  The title Son of God is an OT term as well (Psalm 2:7).  

2.    Preexistent One - The world was created through the Son (Genesis 1-2, Hebrews 1:2, Colossians 1:16).  The gospel of John chapter 1 also alludes back to Genesis 1-2 to disclose who the Word actually is--the eternal 2nd person of the Trinity. Jesus is said to have saved a people out of Egypt (Jude 5, Exodus 13-14). Jesus even uses the name of God to refer to Himself (John 8:58).  

You can use the 3 step processed previously outlined in "Tools of the Trade" summary to see how the apostle John uses the OT to help us see Christ (John 1/Genesis 1).

3.    God of Israel (as the Second Person of the Trinity)

a.    Recipient of Worship - In Philippians 2:10-11 Paul inserts Jesus into Isaiah 45:22-23 to make it known that Jesus is the only God to whom worship is due.

b.    The "Lord" of the Shema -  In 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 Paul reminds these Christians that idols do not exist and that there is one God, one Lord. This takes us back to the Shema (the Jewish confession of faith) in Deuteronomy 6:4. Paul is asserting the divinity of Jesus by using the OT.

c.    The Coming Lord -  Mark 1:2-3 affirms that Jesus is God incarnate by citing Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3.  Some manuscripts say "the prophets" and not "Isaiah" in Mark 1:2. 

d.    God to God - In Hebrews 1:8 we have the author referencing Psalm 45:6-7 and saying that the Father God says that His Son is God. 

OT WITNESS TO THE HUMAN SAVIOR

After His resurrection, Jesus snuck up on a couple of disciples (not those of the 12) and they were talking about the recent events that transpired. They are discouraged and Jesus calls them foolish for not believing what the prophets wrote about Christ (His sufferings and being glorified).  He then began with the writing of Moses and then went through the Prophets to explain how all the Scriptures were about Him. 

1.    Incarnate One - Jesus was born in the likeness of human flesh (Philippians 2:6-7, John 1:14).  

a.    Matthew 1 and Isaiah 7 - In Matthew 1:23, he quotes Isaiah 7:14 to show that the virgin birth was a sign of God's plan to save and redeem. 

b.    Hebrews 2 and Psalm 8 - Hebrews 2:9 cites Psalm 8:4-5 to show that it was God who took on flesh and was made lower than the angels in the act of the incarnation. 

c.    Hebrews 9-10 and Psalm 40 - Christ is the one who said the words of the Psalm and gives His body as the supreme sacrifice. 

d.    Revelation 12 and Genesis 3 - The boy born of a woman in Revelation 12 is Jesus who fights the dragon. This is an allusion to Genesis 3:15 where the serpent bruises the heel of the Seed of the woman while He crushes the head of the serpent. The physical birth of a Savior was always part of God's eternal plan.

2.    Prophet - Jesus used parables in a lot of His teaching. This was how the prophets often taught and applied the Law of God. Jesus cites Psalm 78:1:2 to show how He is a prophet and teaching as a mouthpiece not just "for God" but "as God." Matthew 5 shows Jesus dispensing the law on a mountain as Moses received the law of God on a mountain and gave it to Israel. The points to the prophetic ministry of Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of Deuteronomy 18:15. Jesus is the consummation of the prophets (Hebrews 1:1-2). 

3.    Messiah/King - Messiah means anointed one--Mashiach in Hebrew, Christos in Greek, Christ in English.  Sometimes priests were anointed as were kings (Exodus 30:30, 1 Samuel 2:10). Jesus is the anointed king of Israel.

a.    Heir of David - David was anointed King (1 Samuel 10:1). God makes a covenant with David to give him an heir and "to establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:13). The Davidic dynastic appeared to come to a halt because of the Babylonian exile.   In Isaiah 9:6-7 we see the prediction of a son who will rule on David's throne.  Matthew goes through great length to connect Jesus to David.  The angels declare that Isaiah 9:6-7 applies to Jesus, hence the title Son of David. The magi in Matthew 2:5-6 cite Micah 5:2-4 to show that it's not just the place of Jesus' birth that is predicted (Bethlehem) but that a David Ruler has arrived according to God's plan.

b.    Star/Scepter of Israel - Revelation 22:16 speaks of the bright and morning star. This is an allusion the prophecy of the pagan prophet Balaam. In Numbers 24:7 he spoke of a star rising from Jacob and a scepter coming out of Israel. These are synonymous ways of saying the same thing. The magi report that it was the rising star of the king of Israel that led them to come and worship. 

c.    Lion of Judah - The scepter that Balaam alludes to is first mentioned in Genesis 49:10.  It was from Judah that a scepter was predicted.  Judah is described as a lion (Genesis 49:9). Revelation says that Jesus is the Lion of Judah (5:5).  

4.    Priest and Sacrifice - Jesus is the Great High Priest (Hebrews 2:17).  Yet Jesus is from Judah, not Levi. How do the NT authors establish His priesthood. Hebrews tells us Jesus is from a different order of priests. He's after the order of Melchizedek not Levi (Hebrews 5:10).  This mysterious figure was King of Salem and a Priest of God. In Psalm 110:1,4 there is a ruler enthroned at God's right hand who is after the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5-7 pulls from Genesis 14 and Psalm 10 to show that this Great High Priest is Jesus.  

Jesus is not just priest but the sacrifice as well. Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:29), our Passover (1 Corinthians 5;7) and the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:12). Hebrews 9-10 makes it clear that Jesus fulfills these sacrificial rituals. Paul alludes to Leviticus 16:2 and Leviticus 5:6-7 in Romans 3:25 and Romans 8:3. 

Jesus lifts his hands to bless his disciples before His ascension (Luke 24:50). This evokes the image of the priestly benediction of Numbers 6:22-26. Then He entered the true heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 9:24). 

5.    Covenant Mediator - Hebrews 9:15 says Christ is the mediator of the new covenant which is discussed in Hebrews 8:8-13, Hebrews 10:15-18.  Jesus words at Passover (1 Corinthians 11:25) remind us of His shed blood that ratifies the New Covenant--an allusion to Exodus 24:8.  As Passover in Exodus led to the Covenant God made at Mt. Sinai, so Jesus' shed blood leads to the Covenant He makes with us.  At the climax of the covenant ceremony in Exodus, Moses serves as mediator by splashing blood on the people to bond them to the Lord.  The leaders ate and drank in the presence of the Lord. The Lord's supper recapitulates this event. In summary, in the OT we see Passover meal-->Exodus-->OC in blood-->Fellowship Meal.  The NT correlation then is Christ's death-->Our Salvation-->New Covenant-->Lord's Supper.

6.    Son of Man - Jesus uses this title of Himself to show his current authority on earth (Mark 2:28), his impending suffering (Mark 9:31) and his glorious return (Mark 8:38).  Jesus allusion to this title from Daniel 7:8-14 helps to veil his identity while revealing it to those who are attuned to the Word. Revelation 1;14 takes the attributes of the Ancient of Days described in Daniel 7:9 and applies them to the Son of Man mentioned in Daniel 7:13.  This lets us know that the Son of Man is more than Jesus human. He is also Divine.    

7.    Vindicated Sufferer - Jesus connects His identity as the Son of Man to the coming sufferings He'll undergo. But Daniel 7 does not speak of any suffering of the Son of Man. So where does this notion come from?

a.    Mistreated Prophets - Elijah suffered (1 Kings 19). Micaiah was imprisoned (1 Kings 22:26-27). Elisha was mocked (2 Kings 2:23-25). Jeremiah was beaten and imprisoned (Jeremiah 20:2). The list goes on. Jesus identifies Himself with prophetic suffering (Luke 13;33-34). 

b.    Isaiah's Servant - Isaiah 52:13-53:12 speaks of a suffering servant. This servant song is found in the gospels, Acts, Romans, Hebrews and 1 Peter. 

c.    Psalmist of Sorrows - In Luke 23:46 Jesus alludes to Psalm 31:5. In Matthew 26:38 Jesus alludes to Psalm 42:5-6.  There are other passages as well in the NT that show Jesus' connection to the suffering in the Psalms.

SUMMARY & CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

In each of the cases where the NT uses the OT, we need to see whether a text is being cited, quoted or alluded to. Then a word comparison must be done, followed by observations about the broader OT passage.  Then we can do a re-mix of the NT passage and see whether the NT authors are showing a prediction, pattern or prescription.  These all converge in Christ. What sort of human can accomplish all the ways the NT shows the OT speaking of Christ? Only a divine one!  Jesus is the thread of the OT and NT Scriptures. He brings newness to the OT Scripture and is the key to fully understanding them.