SBTC Class Handout

1. Saturday, 28 September 13

2. PROJECT
DATE LOCATION
30 SEP 2013 SBTC
INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL THEOLOGY
SESSION ONE: BIBLICAL THEOLOGY AND THE CHURCH
TUTOR
JON SWALES
Saturday, 28 September 13

3. ‘the history of ‘biblical theology’
is extraordinarily diverse.
Everyone does that which is
right in his or her own eyes, and
calls it biblical theology’.....
Biblical theology has become a
catchphrase, a wax nose that
can mean anything
What is Biblical Theology?
Saturday, 28 September 13

4. What is Biblical Theology?
Saturday, 28 September 13

5. Johann Philipp Gabler (1787 )
What is Biblical Theology?
Saturday, 28 September 13

6. Johann Philipp Gabler (1787 )
What is Biblical Theology?
Saturday, 28 September 13

7. Johann Philipp Gabler (1787 )
There is truly a biblical theology, of historical
origin, conveying what the holy writers felt
about divine matters; on the other hand there
is a dogmatic theology of didactic origin,
teaching what each theologian philosophizes
rationally about divine things, according to the
measure of his ability or of the times, age,
place, sect, school, and other similar factors.
What is Biblical Theology?
Saturday, 28 September 13

8. Johann Philipp Gabler (1787 )
There is truly a biblical theology, of historical
origin, conveying what the holy writers felt
about divine matters; on the other hand there
is a dogmatic theology of didactic origin,
teaching what each theologian philosophizes
rationally about divine things, according to the
measure of his ability or of the times, age,
place, sect, school, and other similar factors.TEXT
EXEGESIS
BIBLICAL THEOLOGY:
DOGMATIC/SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
What is Biblical Theology?
Saturday, 28 September 13

9. Johann Philipp Gabler (1787 )
There is truly a biblical theology, of historical
origin, conveying what the holy writers felt
about divine matters; on the other hand there
is a dogmatic theology of didactic origin,
teaching what each theologian philosophizes
rationally about divine things, according to the
measure of his ability or of the times, age,
place, sect, school, and other similar factors.
WHAT THE TEXT IS SAYING?
TEXT
EXEGESIS
BIBLICAL THEOLOGY:
DOGMATIC/SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
What is Biblical Theology?
Saturday, 28 September 13

10. Johann Philipp Gabler (1787 )
There is truly a biblical theology, of historical
origin, conveying what the holy writers felt
about divine matters; on the other hand there
is a dogmatic theology of didactic origin,
teaching what each theologian philosophizes
rationally about divine things, according to the
measure of his ability or of the times, age,
place, sect, school, and other similar factors.
WHAT THE TEXT IS SAYING?
WHAT DO WE COMMUNICATE TO
THE CHURCH/WORLD?
TEXT
EXEGESIS
BIBLICAL THEOLOGY:
DOGMATIC/SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
What is Biblical Theology?
Saturday, 28 September 13

11. Johann Philipp Gabler (1787 )
There is truly a biblical theology, of historical
origin, conveying what the holy writers felt
about divine matters; on the other hand there
is a dogmatic theology of didactic origin,
teaching what each theologian philosophizes
rationally about divine things, according to the
measure of his ability or of the times, age,
place, sect, school, and other similar factors.
WHAT THE TEXT IS SAYING?
WHAT DO WE COMMUNICATE TO
THE CHURCH/WORLD?
TEXT
EXEGESIS
BIBLICAL THEOLOGY:
DOGMATIC/SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
ENLIGHTENMENT FILTER
What is Biblical Theology?
Saturday, 28 September 13

12. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
Saturday, 28 September 13

13. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
Saturday, 28 September 13

14. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
3. FOCUSED AND BROAD
Saturday, 28 September 13

15. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
3. FOCUSED AND BROAD
Saturday, 28 September 13

16. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
3. FOCUSED AND BROAD
4. ECCLESIAL CONTEXT
Saturday, 28 September 13

17. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
3. FOCUSED AND BROAD
4. ECCLESIAL CONTEXT
5. OT/NT
Saturday, 28 September 13

18. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
3. FOCUSED AND BROAD
4. ECCLESIAL CONTEXT
5. OT/NT
6. USES LANGUAGE AND
CATEGORIES OF SCRIPTURE
Saturday, 28 September 13

19. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
3. FOCUSED AND BROAD
4. ECCLESIAL CONTEXT
5. OT/NT
6. USES LANGUAGE AND
CATEGORIES OF SCRIPTURE
7. PRESCRIPTIVE
Saturday, 28 September 13

20. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
3. FOCUSED AND BROAD
4. ECCLESIAL CONTEXT
5. OT/NT
6. USES LANGUAGE AND
CATEGORIES OF SCRIPTURE
7. PRESCRIPTIVE
8. THEOLOGICAL
Saturday, 28 September 13

21. Brevard Childs
(1923-2007)
‘The role of the Bible is not bring understood simply as
a cultural expression of ancient peoples, but as a
testimony pointing beyond itself to a divine reality to
which it bears witness... Such an approach to the Bible
is obviously confessional. Yet the Enlightenment’s
alternative proposal that was to confine the Bible
solely to the arena of human experience is just as
much a philosophical commitment.’ Biblical Theology:
A Proposal (2002, 12)
Saturday, 28 September 13

22. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
3. FOCUSED AND BROAD
4. ECCLESIAL CONTEXT
5. OT/NT
6. USES LANGUAGE AND
CATEGORIES OF SCRIPTURE
7. PRESCRIPTIVE
Saturday, 28 September 13

23. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
3. FOCUSED AND BROAD
4. ECCLESIAL CONTEXT
5. OT/NT
6. USES LANGUAGE AND
CATEGORIES OF SCRIPTURE
7. PRESCRIPTIVE
8. THEOLOGICAL
Saturday, 28 September 13

24. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
3. FOCUSED AND BROAD
4. ECCLESIAL CONTEXT
5. OT/NT
6. USES LANGUAGE AND
CATEGORIES OF SCRIPTURE
7. PRESCRIPTIVE
8. THEOLOGICAL
9. NARRATIVAL
Saturday, 28 September 13

25. Grahem Goldsworthy
From the evangelical preacher's point of
view, biblical theology involves the quest for
the big picture, or the overview of biblical
revelation. It is of the nature of biblical
theology that it tells a story rather than sets
out timeless principles in abstraction. It does
contain many timeless principles, but not in
abstract. They are given in an historical
context of progressive revelation. If we allow
the Bible to tell its own story, we find a
coherent and meaningful whole. G. L.
Goldsworthy, Preaching the Whole Bible as
Christian Scripture, (IVP, 2000)
Saturday, 28 September 13

26. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
3. FOCUSED AND BROAD
4. ECCLESIAL CONTEXT
5. OT/NT
6. USES LANGUAGE AND
CATEGORIES OF SCRIPTURE
7. PRESCRIPTIVE
8. THEOLOGICAL
9. NARRATIVAL
Saturday, 28 September 13

27. What is Biblical Theology?
“Biblical theology is principally concerned with the
overall theological message of the whole Bible. It seeks
to understand the parts in relation to the whole and, to
achieve this, it must work with the mutual interaction of
the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of the
various corpora, and with the inter-relationships of
these within the whole canon of Scripture Biblical
theology may be defined as theological interpretation of
Scripture in and for the church. It proceeds with
historical and literary sensitivity and seeks to analyse
and synthesize the Bible's teaching about God and his
relations to the world on its own terms, maintaining
sight of the Bible's overarching narrative and
Christocentric focus.”
B. S. Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, (IVP,
2000
1. UNITY AND DIVERSITY OF
SCRIPTURE
3. FOCUSED AND BROAD
4. ECCLESIAL CONTEXT
5. OT/NT
6. USES LANGUAGE AND
CATEGORIES OF SCRIPTURE
7. PRESCRIPTIVE
8. THEOLOGICAL
9. NARRATIVAL
10. CHRISTOCENTRIC
Saturday, 28 September 13

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30. Saturday, 28 September 13

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32. Saturday, 28 September 13

33. Suppose there exists a Shakespeare play whose fifth
act had been lost. The first four acts provide, let us
suppose, such a wealth of characterization, such a
crescendo of excitement within the plot, that it is
generally agreed that the play ought to be staged.
Nevertheless, it is felt inappropriate actually to write a
fifth act once and for all: it would freeze the play into
one form, and commit Shakespeare as it were to being
prospectively responsible for work not in fact his own.
Better, it might be felt, to give the key parts to highly
trained, sensitive and experienced Shakespearian
actors, who would immerse themselves in the first four
acts, and in the language and culture of Shakespeare
and his time, and who would then be told to work out a
fifth act for themselves.
ACT 1 CREATION
ACT 2 FALL
ACT 3 ISRAEL
ACT 4 JESUS
ACT 5 CHURCH
Saturday, 28 September 13