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Reading the Bible in Light of the Whole Story
Matthew S. Harmon
After his resurrection Jesus made it clear to his followers that we should read all of Scripture as in some way related to his death/resurrection, the call to repentance and the offer of forgiveness through Jesus' name to all the nations (Luke 24:13-27, 44-49). But do we practically do this? Reading each passage of Scripture in light of its place within the unfolding storyline of the Bible can seem like a daunting task. After all, it is easy to see how certain OT passages relate to the gospel of Jesus Christ because the NT authors specifically quote or allude to them. But what do we do when faced with the many OT passages to which the NT authors do not refer? While it is tempting to throw up one's hands in exasperation and pursue the familiar paths of moralizing, there are ways that are more faithful to Scripture itself.
Given the richness of the Bible, it should not be surprising that there are a number of different ways that we can see the points of connection between whatever passage we are reading and the larger biblical storyline. Two of the more significant are what we will call macro-typology and redemptive themes.
Matthew S. Harmon
After his resurrection Jesus made it clear to his followers that we should read all of Scripture as in some way related to his death/resurrection, the call to repentance and the offer of forgiveness through Jesus' name to all the nations (Luke 24:13-27, 44-49). But do we practically do this? Reading each passage of Scripture in light of its place within the unfolding storyline of the Bible can seem like a daunting task. After all, it is easy to see how certain OT passages relate to the gospel of Jesus Christ because the NT authors specifically quote or allude to them. But what do we do when faced with the many OT passages to which the NT authors do not refer? While it is tempting to throw up one's hands in exasperation and pursue the familiar paths of moralizing, there are ways that are more faithful to Scripture itself.
Given the richness of the Bible, it should not be surprising that there are a number of different ways that we can see the points of connection between whatever passage we are reading and the larger biblical storyline. Two of the more significant are what we will call macro-typology and redemptive themes.
Dr. Matt Harmon is Professor of New Testament studies at Grace College and Theological Seminary in Indiana. He blogs his notes and teaching about Biblical Theology.