OCF Bible Overview 2018 (Handout) Introduction Purpose To help us appreciate that the Bible is ONE consistent story of redemption To provide a framework for understanding and remembering the Bible story NOT to read the Bible in detail or to cover all the content o The Bible overview will hopefully enable us to do this independently What is the Bible? 66 books in total o Old Testament (39) Written between 1400 430 BC, in Hebrew with bits of Aramaic Law History Poetry Prophets o New Testament (27) Written between 45 90 AD in Greek Gospels Acts Epistles (letters) Revelation What is it about? Narrative storyline begins Genesis OT Narrative storyline continues Suspension of the storyline: Poetic commentary Exodus Deuteronomy, Joshua Kings Isaiah 12 minor prophets, Ruth, Job Song of Solomon, Lamentations Resumption of narrative storyline Daniel, Esther, Ezra Nehemiah, Chronicles NT Narrative storyline Commentary End of narrative storyline Gospels, Acts Epistles Revelation Double authorship o Although the Bible was written and transcribed by humans, it was also completely inspired by God All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 o This means that it is authoritative in every aspect of our lives
Guiding Principle for reading the Bible The Bible is a CONSISTENT BOOK with a unified, SINGLE SUBJECT - JESUS CHRIST, and the SALVATION that God offers through him Framework We can look at the Bible as 6 sequential sections (6 C s): 1. Creation 2. Curse 3. Covenant 4. Christ 5. Church 6. (New) Creation Within each section, we can look at the prevailing characteristics of God s Kingdom. God s Kingdom consists of: 1. People Who are God s people? 2. Place Where does God meet his people? 3. Rule and Blessing How is God s rule manifested among his people, and what are His blessings to them?
Summary Table People Place Rule and Blessing Creation Gen 2:7-17 Curse Gen 3:16-24 Covenant Adam and Eve Garden of Eden Perfect communication and direct interaction with God Abrahamic Abrahamic: Gen 17:7, 12:7, 17:8, 12:1-3, 15:5-6, 15:7-17, 22:17-18, 17:9-14 Mosaic: Ex 4:22-23 Ex 24:9-11, C25-31 Ex 19:5-6 Deut 28 Israelites Among Israel, in the Tabernacle Mosaic The Law, which helps them distinguish between right and wrong Material blessings and supremacy over the nations, Israel to be God s treasured possession, if they obey the Law - Curses and suffering if they disobey it Davidic: 2 Sam 7:12-16 King David and his descendants Davidic A promised eternal Unconditional blessing from God temple and kingdom An eternal King to come from David s line Christ John 3:16 Rom 5:17-19 John 2:21 John 18:37 Matt 5:17? Church Everyone who accepts Jesus as Lord and saviour Jesus body is the temple of God God s rule and blessing expressed through Jesus coming as the perfect king and the way to salvation Eph 2:11-22 (New) Creation Rev 7:9-17 Rev 21:1-8 Rev 21:9-27 Rev 22:1-5 Adapted from The Phillip Project (2014) and God s Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts
Application to Personal Bible Study Using these passages as examples, let us see how we can apply what we have learnt in our own Bible reading: Old Testament Judges 3:7-11 7 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. 8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 10 The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. 11 So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died. 1. Which episode does this passage fall into? (6Cs) 2. What is it looking back on? (Which Cs come before?) 3. What is it looking forward to? (Which Cs are coming up?) 4. What is it saying what are the big themes and ideas from the passage? [O] 5. What continues after this passage and what ends after this passage? [I] 6. Is there greater fulfilment in Jesus? How is it pointing towards the climax of the Bible story? [I] New Testament Ephesians 2:11-22 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 1. Which episode does this passage fall into? (6Cs) 2. What is it looking back to? (Which Cs come before?) 3. What is it looking forward to? (Which Cs are coming up?) 4. What is it saying? What are the big ideas/themes from the passage? [O] 5. What is it looking back to what promise has been fulfilled here? [O/I] 6. How does this passage teach us more about Jesus? How is it pointing towards the climax? [I] Application to our Lives/Worldview Discussion Questions 1. How does knowing the whole Bible story affect how we can look at our own lives today? 2. Where are we in the timeline? What can we look back on/look forward to? 3. In what ways is this challenging?
Appendix: How God saves in the OT and NT DISCUSS (10 min) Compare and contrast how God saves in the OT and NT Substitution Atonement Mediation Conquest Rest OT Blood sacrifices the blood speaks of the life that has been laid down for sin (Lev 17:11). Passover lamb God judges the Egyptians and the Pharaoh in the 10th plague. The firstborns of the Israelites deserve to die, but God passes over them by a substitutionary sacrifice of the Passover lamb No power to take away sin at-one-ment, reconciliation with God once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest is to kill two goats (Leviticus 16) and sprinkle the blood of the first goat on the atonement cover in the Holy of Holies. Needs to be repeated yearly Intercession on behalf of the Israelites (Lev 16-17), to draw near to God through the veil in the physical temples, and plead for mercy The priest does it once a year Defeat of enemies God delivers the Israelites from under the hands of the Egyptians at the Red Sea (Exodus 14) Prophecy of a future conqueror of sin A descendant of Adam will crush Satan and emerge victorious (Genesis 3:15) Temporary conquest Defeat over physical enemies Sabbath rest Leviticus 23:3 Man resting from work A glimpse of perfect restful communion with God And He said, My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest (Exodus 33:14). NT Romans 3:23-25; Hebrews 10:1-10 Hebrews 10:11-18 1 Timothy 2:5-6 1 Corinthians 15:55-57; Hebrews 2:14-15 Matthew 11:28-30