Biblical Theology

Metanarratives are in vogue. You can see this in TV series such as 24, Lost or The Wire.
Here we see that there are unique episodes which are held together by a common theme.

This is how we ought to read the Bible. We open to a particular passage and understand it in it's context, but we then relate this to the theme of the Bible.

Now this is important. The writers of the Bible assume you are reading the rest of the Bible (notice the constant quoting of the Old Testament by Paul and how Joshua,Ruth and Esther begin with "and"). So how do we tie the whole together?

There are features that help see the unity of the Bible story
1) Jesus is the key
Luke 24:25-29 and 1 Peter 1:10-12 see that the different authors wrote about a single subject: the Christ and the salvation He would bring.
This means that our reading of the Bible is to understand God's plan of salvation and how Jesus achieves it. It also means that rather than reading the Bible to make a decision about jobs or money I read the Bible to determine how I can take part in the salvation that Jesus offers.

This of course means that we notice types (patterns) which provide us with insight into what the Christ will achieve. Hebrews 7-10 provides a good example of what I mean.

What I've said is pretty straight foward, but it then applies to our understanding of who God is and we have acted so that we need to be saved. So the book of Judges shows God providing a saviour in the form of a judge, but also the sinfulness of God's people (and need for salvation), the rule of God (even when it seems chaotic) and the difficulties that Israel will encounter in the Promised Land.

2) You build on what came before
Ezekiel is a bizarre book if you don't have an understanding of the glory of God being with His people (cf Exodus 19-30, 34, Leviticus, Psalm 46, 48). It is also bizarre that God just ups and leave Jerusalem unless you have read 1 & 2 Kings.
Again the first five books of the Bible are held together by God's blessing in creation and then promise of blessings to Abraham (Gen 1:26-28, 12:1-3). The question is- can God deliver on what He has promised to do (particularly with the people He is working with)

Each write builds on what was written before. So be aware of what books are before the one you are reading.

3) Realise the different eras
We must not only notice how it all ties together but how it is unique. Let me give a quick outline of different eras
Genesis 1-11- The patterns of how God designed the world and also the pattern of rebellion
Gen 12- Deut 34- The promise of restoration and the threats to this promise
Joshua-2 Samuel- Life in the land under the rule of God
1 Kings- Malachi- Desolation and hope of a new covenant in the last days
New Testament- The last days and the fulfillment of all things in the kingdom of God

Now, I have never lived in Palestine and I am not Jewish (nor am I 3000 years old). So when I open 1 Samuel as I currently am with my daughters I understand which era this belongs to and then how it point to the Christ.

4) Look at how the writers tie the Bible together
The great thing about all the quotations of the Old Testament in the New is that it gives you an insight into how to read it. For example, why is Cain's sacrifice unacceptable? Or why does Abraham appear so at ease with killing his son? The answer is given in Hebrews 11.

Sometimes we are not told the full significance of an event. It's only later that another writer brings out it's full significance to the story of the Bible as a whole.

Well, here is an outline of how to work at Biblical Theology.