Discover the Bible’s Big Story, Its Symbolic Universe, and Its Love Story
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Discover the Bible’s Big Story, Its Symbolic Universe, and Its Love Story
Biblical Theology is a department of biblical studies that has become increasingly of interest in recent years, and this course is designed to introduce that discipline especially for those who are new to it.
The term “biblical theology” has been around for a long time, and it can be understood in various ways. On one level, biblical theology is, simply, the theology taught in the Bible—biblical teaching. But Biblical Theology as a specific department of biblical studies is so designated primarily to distinguish it from Systematic Theology. Systematic Theology approaches the teaching of the Bible as a whole, in its final, complete entirety, and asks the question, “What does the Bible teach about X?” And the job of Systematic Theology is to provide the answer—what the Bible teaches about God, about Christ, about salvation, the trinity, the church, and so on.
Biblical Theology, by contrast, approaches the Bible as a story and as unfolding revelation, and it does its work in tracking that developing story and revelation. Its work is not driven only by topic but also by time and chronology—how the story or a particular theme (like creation and new creation; promise and fulfillment; exile and return; rest, unrest, and final rest; the presence of God lost and returned) develops and unfolds. It watches and examines “the big story” and its progressive plotline and pays attention to how each book of the Bible contributes to it. It notices themes along the way that are picked up by later authors and developed further. It notices developing concepts, patterns of thought, and symbols or imagery that begin perhaps with some suggestive significance but are later filled with deeper significance.
In this course Dr. James Hamilton introduces Biblical Theology in a very simple way. His book, What Is Biblical Theology?, consists of three major parts:
Learners will profit by purchasing the book and reading along as they listen to the Dr. Hamilton’s explanations of Biblical Theology in the following audio series.
Before coming to Southern to serve as professor of biblical theology, Hamilton served as assistant professor of biblical studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Houston campus and was the preaching pastor at Baptist Church of the Redeemer. He has written God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment: A Biblical Theology and God’s Indwelling Presence: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments. He has contributed chapters to many other books, and has authored many scholarly articles. He currently serves as the preaching pastor at Kenwood Baptist Church.
Read one of the author interviews, above.
Read the introduction and chapters 1–2 of What is Biblical Theology?
This December 2013 issue of Credo Magazine included a series of high-quality articles on the topic of Biblical Theology.
A helpful and broad-ranging interview on the subject with T. Desmond Alexander.
This 58-minute podcast is an informative interview that covers the approach of biblical theology and methods for tracing themes throughout Scripture.
James M. Hamilton
Read What is Biblical Theology? chapters 3–5.
James M. Hamilton
Read What is Biblical Theology? chapters 6–9.
James M. Hamilton
Read What is Biblical Theology? chapters 10–13.
D. A. Carson delivers a 14-lecture series introducing each movement in redemptive history.
Jason S. DeRouchie provides a simple 9-part structure with graphics and short audio overviews for the entire Bible.
A seminary-level lecture series with Gerard Van Groningen including lecture audio and handouts.
G. K. Beale's seminary-level course on biblical theology focuses primarily on the New Testament, while drawing heavily on the use of the Old Testament in the New.