Biblical Theology
How the Church Faithfully Teaches the Gospel
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Pub Date Mar 31 2018 | Archive Date Mar 05 2018
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Description
In response to various kinds of false teaching around the world, this book is an exhortation for churches to use biblical theology to help guard the true gospel.
In response to various kinds of false teaching around the world, this book is an exhortation for churches to use biblical theology to help guard the true gospel.
A Note From the Publisher
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Advance Praise
“This little book packs a big punch. Absorb its contents, and feel its effect for years to come.”
—Constantine R. Campbell, Associate Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
“Faithful preaching and teaching not only zooms in on a particular text but also zooms out and considers the storyline of the whole Bible. Nick Roark and Robert Cline show how biblical theology is essential for the church, for preaching, and for living. They survey the big picture of the Scriptures and show us some wrong turns that are commonly made. A very helpful resource for pastors, teachers, and laypeople.”
—Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
“I love biblical theology, but I don’t always love biblical theology books. Too often, they are so technically written that they miss the majority of believers. This book is an exception. The authors not only define, defend, and describe biblical theology but also do so in a way that is accessible to all believers. This book is simple while addressing complex ideas, short but packed with information, and theoretical yet filled with practical examples of doing biblical theology. It is both a call to do biblical theology and a handbook for doing it well. I finished it with a deeper desire to see Jesus in the Word and to help my church members do the same.”
—Chuck Lawless, Dean of Doctoral Studies and Vice President for Spiritual Formation, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; author, Spiritual Warfare: Biblical Truth for Victoryand Putting on the Armor
“There is not a single effective biblical expositor today who does not employ biblical theology to make sense of his text and to deliver its Christ-centered message. Roark and Cline explain in a very clear and direct way how biblical theology helps the church and pastors to understand and proclaim the big story from Scriptures.”
—Augustus Lopes, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Goiânia, Brazil
“Wow—this short book bundles a library of wisdom for grasping God’s biblical storyline and faithfully teaching the Word! The authors have done us all a great favor by distilling heavy biblical concepts and making them simple, user-friendly, and transferable. This is the kind of book you want to hand out to a Sunday school teacher, an aspiring pastor, or a missionary candidate. Well-meaning Bible teachers often take the easy path of proof texting to make a ‘practical lesson,’ but miss the larger theme, the glorious centerpiece of the passage. A wonderful tool for keeping me on track as a missionary and for teaching new converts how to study and teach the Word, this small book should be translated into many languages!”
—David L. Frazier, Executive Director, Equipping Servants International; author, Mission Smart
“This brief book explains important theological concepts in a clear, faithful, simple way. It is perfect for those in the church who might find an in-depth academic book a challenge, but who want to understand sound theology and grasp the biblical concepts needed in order to teach the gospel well. This is an excellent resource, and I can’t wait to recommend it to my women’s ministry team.”
—Abi Byrd, former missionary to the Balkans; Bible Instructor, The Simeon Trust; Deacon of Women’s Ministry, Loudoun Valley Baptist Church, Purcellville, Virginia
“A believer is measured by faithfulness, and it is imperative that a believer know how to be faithful to the Word of God, our one timeless authority. Through explanation and example, Nick and Robert’s book simply and helpfully instructs believers on how to rightly understand individual biblical passages while always keeping in mind the big picture that Christ is the goal and end of all Scripture. I highly recommend it as an invaluable companion for any believer desiring to hear the words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”
—Ndagi Job Goshi, international bivocational church planter
“Biblical theology is a frequently ignored subject, despite being indispensable to understanding the entire Bible. The authors of this excellent book realize the importance of this topic for comprehending the storyline of redemptive history. If you are looking for a resource that explains and applies biblical theology well, this is your book. It is biblical, well written, easy to understand, practical, brief yet not superficial, full of information, and extremely helpful for preaching and pastoral ministry. I’m amazed at how much solid instruction was put into such a short book.”
—Miguel Núñez, Senior Pastor, International Baptist Church of Santo Domingo; President and Founder, Wisdom and Integrity Ministries
“As an elder of a church located in one of the major global crossroads of the world, I long to equip Christians who will return to challenging places where they often face persecution and false teaching. Biblical theology is a critical tool to help Christians protect and proclaim the gospel. I am immensely grateful for this book and excited to see it used to strengthen the global church. It strikes the perfect balance of breadth and depth, easily translates across cultural and language backgrounds, and will help all Christians better see, celebrate, and communicate the gospel.”
—Andrew Gizinski, Elder, RAK Evangelical Church, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
“Nick and Robert have accomplished something rare in a field this broad. They have succinctly clarified the core of biblical theology without oversimplifying the process. Every Christian will benefit from the numerous examples of how an informed biblical theology transforms how we read, apply, and teach the Bible. This is a trustworthy map down the Emmaus road, where the discovery of Christ in all the Scriptures delights the heart.”
—Chip Bugnar, author, Grace Beyond the Veil
“In this book full of powerful, illuminating illustrations, Roark and Cline argue convincingly that seeing how the storyline of the Bible is all about Jesus Christ equips every believer to serve him in line with the purpose of God. Read this book and see for yourself! The phrase biblical theology may give you the impression that this is a textbook only for Bible colleges or pastoral training. But here is a must-read book for every Christian because we are all meant to be stewards of the church of Christ.”
—Conrad Mbewe, Pastor, Kabwata Baptist Church; Chancellor, The African Christian University, Lusaka, Zambia
“Trying to put together the various historical epochs and literary genres of the sixty-six books of Scripture into one consistent whole can seem like a daunting task. In this eminently readable and practical book, Roark and Cline help us to see that this difficult task might not be so hard after all; for, as Jesus says, all Scripture points to him. The authors are to be commended for writing a book to help Bible teacher and student alike to understand the point of God’s Word and protect us from applying it in wrong ways to our lives and our churches.”
—Shawn D. Wright, Professor of Church History, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Pastor of Leadership Development, Clifton Baptist Church, Louisville
“As a pastor I’m often asked for a brief book that provides the Bible’s storyline and unity, centered on the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ. From now on, this book is my answer. But this work does more than describe biblical theology; it shows the reader how this often neglected discipline can guard us against numerous errors—in both our interpretation of Scripture and the practice of the church.”
—Lee Tankersley, Pastor, Cornerstone Community Church, Jackson, Tennessee
“I have been on the lookout for a book on biblical theology that I could confidently hand to any person in my church. I have finally found it. This book is an answer to prayer.”
—Jason C. Meyer, Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781433556067 |
| PRICE | $14.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Becky L, Reviewer
First sentence: When I (Nick) was in elementary school, one of my classmates gave a book report about a story written by C. S. Lewis featuring four children, a lion king, a white witch, and a hidden magical land accessed through a wardrobe. I was mesmerized. So I purchased The Chronicles of Narnia for myself and read them with pleasure. But years later, after my conversion to Christ, I realized I had been missing the author’s obvious intentions to point his readers to Jesus.
What is biblical theology? Why is it important? These questions--and others like it--are addressed and answered in one of the newest books in the 9Marks series published by Crossway.
The book begins by stressing the need for biblical theology. What are the dangers we--as the church, or even as individuals--face if our theology is unbiblical?! Does right theology matter in our day to day lives? What impact should our doctrine be having on our lives? The authors list at least four reasons WHY having biblical theology matters.
1) Biblical theology helps clarify the Bible’s main purpose. Some people approach God’s Word as if it were a collection of independent stories, or an assortment of advice and counsel, or even a universal cookbook with recipes for “the good life” scattered across its sixty-six books. But these approaches fail to bring to light the central purpose of Scripture. Simply put, you won’t understand the story of the Bible unless you see that it’s all about Jesus! From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is the Hero and the point of the story.
2) Biblical theology helps guard and guide the church. Reading Scripture rightly means knowing where each book fits into its overarching narrative. And knowing the overarching narrative helps us read and understand accurately each event, character, or lesson that’s been given to us as part of God’s progressively revealed Word.
3) Biblical theology helps us in our evangelistic outreach. Sharing the good news with those who are unfamiliar with Christianity requires explaining much more than “four spiritual laws” or the “Romans road.” People first need to grasp that the Christian worldview accompanies a total transformation of mind-set.
4) Biblical theology helps us read, understand, and teach the Bible the way Jesus said we should. Jesus himself says in Luke 24 that he is Scripture’s interpretive key. So if we fail to read and understand Scripture in a way that leads us to Jesus, then we will miss the point of the Bible, and as a result we will teach others to commit the same error.
The book then defines what biblical theology IS. They write,
"Biblical theology is a way of reading the Bible as one story by one divine author that culminates in who Jesus Christ is and what he has done, so that every part of Scripture is understood in relation to him. Biblical theology helps us understand the Bible as one big book with lots of little books that tell one big story. The Hero and centerpiece of that story, from cover to cover, is Jesus Christ. Biblical theology is for the church, begins with the Bible, and ends with King Jesus and his church."
There are two chapters on the big picture of the Bible. These chapters provide summary that could prove quite useful to those new to the Bible or new to the faith. They provide an outline for understanding what you read. The book seems to be written in part for pastors. Each section includes preaching and teaching tips.
The next chapter focuses on understanding and studying the Bible. It is packed with tips or "tools" on how to read and study the Bible.
The final chapter is on the mission of the church. This chapter ties back in with the first which stated that, "missing the point of the Bible’s story produces false gospels and false churches." The authors give four examples: the prosperity gospel church, the civic gospel church, the soup-kitchen church, and the immorality-affirming church.
The book is a quick, practical read. I think the main audience is pastors and teachers, but, I think it can be a beneficial read to any believer whether they "teach" the faith officially or not. Doctrine matters for every one of us. Nobody should allow another person to think for them and do all the work.
Venitra C, Reviewer
Highly recommend this book for all faiths. It’s a book that laymen can understand. It is well written, inspirational, insightful, spiritual. Theological text that “keeps it simple.”
Heath H, Media/Journalist
Biblical Theology
How the Church faithfully teaches the Gospel
By Nick Roark and Robert Cline.
This book explores Biblical Theology, its impact of the churches teaching and mission. Exhorting pastors and other church leaders to prioritise biblical theology in their own congregations, this book explains basic principles for reading the Bible that help pastors teach the big story of the Bible from every text.
The book flows and is easy to read, that is, it’s not a heavy text for Bible college students, rather a practical and usable text for pastors to apply in the church.
The book contains practical tips for preaching and teaching, that allows the application and sharing of the concepts covered.
A refreshing read for pastors to remind them of the purpose of the church, by returning to teaching and preaching Biblical Theology.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#BiblicalTheology #NetGalley
Reviewed by Heath Henwood
www.books-reviewed.weebly.com
Educator 443845
Biblical Theology is a book that made my heart cry out, “Yes!” Preaching and teaching Christ from all of Scripture is essential. It keeps us from interpreting passages and stories in an isolated manner. One of the greatest dangers I see, in kids ministry especially, is the temptation to deal with Bible stories strictly on a moral correction level. “Do this” or “Don’t do that!” can so easily become our message if we don’t connect each passage to the grand redemptive narrative of Scripture. This book not only sets forward the need for Biblical Theology, but the authors also give the study process that will guide each teacher and preacher to connect their passage with the original audience, the metanarrative of Scripture, and their current audience. I cannot wait to get my hands on this book to study with some of the teacher’s at our church!
Phil B, Educator
This is one of the best books on biblical theology that I have read. The book is concise, but gives a good explanation of and polemic for biblical theology. A major responsibility of my profession is to develop curriculum and materials that are centered on biblical theology, so this is an important topic for my career. This book communicates very clearly the advantages of understanding the Bible as one big narrative. I loved the last chapter with the examples of how to apply biblical theology to certain passages.
Sergiu P, Reviewer
I have yet to read something that is not interesting coming out of 9Marks. This is a condensed version of the Biblical storyline that you would find in more expansive courses/books. It runs you through the main themes of Scripture as they develop from Genesis to Revelation. The last part of the book also shows how Biblical Theology helps against mishandling bible verses, as is often done today by proof-texters. Overall great read, have found no issues.
Todd P, Reviewer
The 9 Marks series are excellent short books on needed topics for the health and growth of the local church. Biblical Theology is a wonderful addition to this series. It helps us see that Jesus is the point of the whole Bible and walks us through the story of Jesus in all of scripture. I highly recommend this as an introduction to biblical theology. You can't go wrong with these well-written little intro books.
Daniel L, Reviewer
Biblical Theology is an excellent, accessible introduction to the concept. Biblical theology is basically a narrative approach when compared to systematic theology's more topical composition. Systematic theology takes specific doctrines and then fleshes them out with numerous texts, while biblical theology focuses on the narrative flow of Scripture and the big picture of the gospel story across all of the Bible. Both are very useful approaches. Biblical theology is especially useful in that it helps a reader or preacher not to lose sight of the big idea of the Bible while going through individual passages. It keeps Christ and the gospel at the center of our faith.
Roark and Cline's book is not long, but it packs quite a punch. The first two chapters introduce the concept of biblical theology and explain its importance. The next two chapters are particularly helpful: they go through each part of the Bible in order and explain each part's connection to the whole. These chapters also include preaching tips for each of these different sections. Finally, the book concludes by addressing how biblical theology impacts a church's teaching and its mission. Many doctrinal and ecclesiological errors can be avoided by having a good grasp of biblical theology.
This book is an extremely helpful resource. I have already recommended it to several friends, and I will continue to do so! I received a digital copy of this book for free from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are entirely my own.
Jeanie S, Reviewer
Biblical theology is way of reading the bible as one story by one divine author that culminates in who Jesus Christ is and what he has done, so that every part of scripture is understood in relation to him. Biblical theology helps us understand the bible as one big book with lots of little books that tell one big story. Biblical theology is for the church, begins with the bible, and ends with King Jesus and his church.
The importance of biblical theology is important to anyone who follows Christ. A church on Sunday mornings can focus on the moral aspects of the bible characters with good intentions, however in doing so takes away the connection the people of the bible have to a God that desires to make himself known. What happens at church is we begin to live in despair instead of the hope that is found in biblical theology.
This short text teaches what biblical theology is and just as important what it is not. The mistakes a pastor can make but also it also directs on how a pastor can make a connection to his flock. Even pastors can undermine the gospel with good works and moralism. It is all in the motivation. Good biblical theology addresses our motivation to the gospel.
The five chapters are as follows:
The Need for Biblical Theology
What is Biblical Theology?
What is the Bible's Big Story Part 1
What Is the Bible's Big Story Part 2
Biblical Theology Shapes a Church's teaching
Biblical Theology Shapes a Church's Mission.
I highly recommend this not only to pastors but to members of the church. Biblical Theology is not only for pastors but for all of us as it motivates us to the gospel. Do we believe in the prosperity Gospel? What is the prosperity Gospel? A moral Gospel? A social gospel? The gospel addresses our biggest problem, our biggest need. The eternal wrath of a holy and good God. Jesus is the hero.
The connections of this text to exodus of the Old Testament to the cross of the New Testament is insightful to the gospel we have in Christ. I highly recommend.
A Special Thank You to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
David H, Reviewer
I have read almost all of the entries in the 9 Marks series of books on the nature of the healthy church, and this is quite possibly my favorite (although that is an admittedly tough call to make). Roark and Cline give a brief but extremely helpful summary of the story of the Bible, demonstrating both how biblical theological work is different from its systematic cousin, and how pastor's can integrate in into their ministries and teach it in their churches.
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