Welcome to the Mac Study podcast, a supplement to our sermon series "The Better Story." Today we're laying the groundwork by exploring what biblical theology is and why it matters for us as Christians at Menai Anglican Church.
What is Biblical Theology?
When we talk about biblical theology, we're not just referencing another academic discipline that scholars engage in. Rather, biblical theology is an approach to Scripture that helps us see the Bible as one unified story of God's redemptive work throughout history.
At its core, biblical theology is about tracing how the Bible progressively unfolds God's plan. It follows the historical development of themes across Scripture and shows how they ultimately find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Instead of viewing the Bible as a collection of disconnected stories, moral lessons, or doctrinal statements, biblical theology helps us see how everything fits together in God's grand narrative.
How Biblical Theology Differs from Other Approaches
Biblical theology is distinct from systematic theology, which organizes biblical teaching by topics or doctrines. While systematic theology might ask, "What does the whole Bible teach about salvation?" biblical theology asks, "How does God's plan of salvation unfold throughout the biblical story?"
Biblical theology is:
* Historical: It traces themes through their historical development
* Inductive: It draws conclusions from the biblical text itself
* Descriptive: It describes what the biblical authors believed and taught in their historical context
Why Biblical Theology Matters for Us
As we journey through "The Better Story" series together at Menai Anglican, understanding biblical theology will help us in several important ways:
* It honors the Bible's own structure The Bible isn't arranged like a systematic theology textbook; it's primarily historical narrative, interwoven with poetry, prophecy, and letters. Biblical theology respects this divinely inspired arrangement.
* It helps us avoid proof-texting Rather than isolating verses, we see how passages fit within their broader context and the flow of salvation history.
* It reveals the unity of Scripture We'll discover how the Old and New Testaments connect and how different biblical authors contribute to a coherent message.
* It centers on Christ Most importantly, biblical theology helps us see how all Scripture points to Jesus and how He fulfills the promises, patterns, and prophecies of the Old Testament.
Coming Up in "The Better Story" Series
In the episodes ahead, we'll explore major and minor themes that run through the biblical narrative and how they find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ. We'll look at themes like:
* Creation and new creation
* God's covenant relationships with His people
* The Kingdom of God
* God's presence with His people
* Exodus and redemption
* And many others
Each of these themes starts somewhere in Scripture, develops throughout the biblical story, and ultimately finds its fullest expression in Jesus Christ and His work.
How This Helps Us as Christians
Understanding biblical theology enriches our faith in several practical ways:
* It deepens our Bible reading by helping us see connections between different parts of Scripture
* It strengthens our confidence in the Bible as a unified, divinely inspired book
* It gives us a framework for understanding difficult or confusing passages
* It helps us locate ourselves within God's ongoing story
* It provides a richer understanding of who Jesus is and why He came
As we progress through this podcast series and our church's sermon series "The Better Story," I encourage you to see this as more than just gaining information. This is about better understanding the story we're part of – God's story – and our place within it as His people.
Next time, we'll start exploring our first major biblical theme. Until then, I encourage you to reflect on how understanding the Bible as one unified story might change the way you read and apply Scripture in your daily life.
