Are we all writing the unimportant drama of our lives, or is there one overarching narrative in which we are all players? This is probably the great question of postmodernity, and this text comes down clearly on the latter. This text is an unflinching refutation of the predominant secular and pluralist narrative of the former and provides an overview of the Bible from a reformed evangelical perspective - but there is much more to it than just that.

We are given the overarching story of the Bible, with the text divided into acts as a play or a tv show, beginning at Genesis and ending with Revelation, with the promise and the coming of Christ as the central point. Obviously, there are certain parts of the Bible that are given more emphasis than others.

We begin (unsurprisingly) with Genesis, which I found fascinating. Here we learn of God as both creator and redeemer earlier on than we imagine. The text also points out that in the ancient world, the sun and moon were associated with divinities. Still, in the Genesis account, they are put in their place as merely part of the created order, and finding our place in this divinely created order is the remarkable story of which the book is made. The authors write convincingly on what it means for us to be created in the image of God. But, of course, writing from the Reformed tradition, the Fall is taken seriously, that humanity is no longer in ‘continuity with our good beginning,’ and that we now by our nature seek our autonomy, with grave and tragic consequences. This, writ large, is sin. More than a failing, more than weakness, more than limitations or mistakes. (A notable example is given of the broken created order - Lamech is a poet, but his poetry is about a promise of vengeance.) In response, the Flood comes as an ‘uncreation,’ and Noah and Abraham as a new Adam(s). The authors emphasise the blessing of Abraham, his line and his land as that which undoes the brokenness of creation.

As the text moves through to Exodus, this blessing moves from a family to an entire nation. Then to the Book of Numbers - how are they to be holy in the midst of the world? Nevertheless, now it is not just God’s blessing, but his very presence that journey’s with them. Here we glimpse the great overall narrative of the book - “Jesus gathers and restores Israel, giving them his Spirit so they can be what they were called to be for the nations. Gathered and restored, Israel is sent to the nations to incorporate them into God’s restoration...We, too, have been redeemed from idolatry by a more powerful second exodus in the work of Jesus.”

Given the Old Testament’s repeated condemnation of idolatry, I had never considered that the Israelities being new to agriculture, might be especially tempted by the Canaanite religion, which promised fertility of both people and land. The text then takes us through the coming of the Judges, of Saul, of David, of the division of the Kingdom. I found the description of the divided Kingdom and the place of Jeroboam particularly illuminating, as also the suggestions that the miracles of Elijah and Elisha are mainly focused on mocking the specific claims of the authority of Baal. We are then taken through the Exile and the coming of the Prophets.

The text is especially good on the inter-testamental period, where many people are not so knowledgeable. For example, the explanation of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes, and how their theological views relate to the Gospels was superb. In 20 years of studying theology, I have never seen the issues laid out so clearly.

Obviously, we are well into the text before we come to the Gospels - “not only that God’s reign has come at last to Israel but also that it is embodied in himself.” Jesus leads us in a different direction to the Pharisees, Sadducees or the Essenes. In his baptism, the authors describe Jesus as “[taking] on the burden of their sinful failure and the vocation of their mission to become the channel of God’s salvation to the nations.” Jesus continues in his life and work to be a sign of God’s restoration of creation, especially the miracles of healing.

The text takes us through the Gospels and the Epistles and ends, of course, with the renewed creation at Revelation.

As they do not involve narrative, the Epistles was the only section that didn’t quite feel as full as the others. Throughout the text, there is the emphasis that it is entirely right and just for Evangelicals to be concerned about God’s promise to renew all creation and not just concern for the souls of humanity. There are questions at the end of each chapter, but these are obviously directed at Protestants in the USA, and so some of the concerns mentioned do not quite travel overseas.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would happily commend it to others. The section on the Old Testament is particularly good.

This was an interesting take on theology. Would recommend for those who are struggling with their faith in particular.