Hamilton James M jr - What is biblical theology? : a guide to the Bibles story, symbolism, and patterns

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What Is Biblical Theology? confirms Jim Hamiltons reputation as a top-shelf thinker and a wickedly good writer. This slim volume builds on the presupposition that the capacious biblical narrativesixty-six books written by numerous authors and including stories, poems, proverbs, letters, and apocalypsespossesses a deep inner unity. Its unity arises from its divine inspiration, and it is in fact the true story of the whole world. Hamilton teaches his readers to engage in biblical theology, allowing the biblical story to shape us and conform us to Gods will.

Bruce Riley Ashford, Provost, Dean of Faculty, and
Associate Professor of Theology and Culture, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Theology is a word that comes with baggage. Most people, like me, find their brains shutting down a little at its mention, mainly because it stirs up the same sort of feelings as words like calculus and dentist appointment . But from the outset of this book James Hamilton assures us hes not performing mental acrobatics (though Im sure he could if he wanted to). Rather, hes showing us that if the Bible is a story, and God is a storyteller, then biblical theology is less like math and more like literature; its less like a cold study of the chemical properties of paint and more like gazing at a Van Gogh. This is a book I wish I could have read a long time ago.

Andrew Peterson, singer/songwriter; author, The Wingfeather Saga

This short, accessible book shows how we can move away from making the Bible all about us, reducing it to just another self-help book. Anyone who reads What Is Biblical Theology? will begin to discover what the Bible is really about and will have more Now I get it! experiences as it equips readers to trace the thematic threads and story-line resolutions of the Bible from beginning to end.

Nancy Guthrie, author, Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament Bible study series

Disoriented Bible reading leads to disoriented living. Too often the Bible reader parachutes into a passage without understanding the immediate context or the overarching context of the entire Bible. Getting oriented to the whole story of the Bible is the only way to right interpretation and right living. Gaining this whole-Bible interpretive perspective is the burden of biblical theology, and Jim Hamilton has given us an outstanding introduction to this important yet neglected discipline. If the interpretive approach of Hamiltons book is applied, the reader will be able to better understand Gods Word, know the mind of Christ, and glorify God.

K. Erik Thoennes, Professor of Theology, Chair, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University; Pastor, Grace Evangelical Free Church, La Mirada, California

It is always a delight to read a book written by someone saturated in Scripture. This is one of those books.

Douglas Wilson, Senior Fellow of Theology, New St. Andrews College; Pastor, Christ Church, Moscow, Idaho

It is an exciting privilege to watch and benefit from the coming of age of the discipline of biblical theology in our generation. But in the explosion of literature we have needed a simple, brief, popular-level introductionsomeone to provide us with an aerial view of the forest before we begin making our way among all the trees. This is what Jim Hamilton has done for us here. What Is Biblical Theology? provides a very helpful jump start for beginning students, and students of all levels will be blessed in the reminder of the marvelous patterns and themes that make Scripture such a glorious book.

Fred G. Zaspel, Pastor, Reformed Baptist Church, Franconia, Pennsylvania

I am truly amazed at all that Jim Hamilton has packed into this little volume. What Is Biblical Theology? is an engagingly written distillation of years of both scholarly and devotional study of the Bible. The reader will find a succinct, clear, and compelling guide to the overarching story of Scripture. It will be at the top of my list of books to recommend for any who want to better understand the Bible, the world, and their place in Gods story. This is a gift for which I am exceedingly thankful.

Rob Lister, Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies, Talbot School of Theology

Want to know your Bible better? Of course you do! Jim Hamilton can help. What Is Biblical Theology? is a manual for seeing how the many books of the Bible tell the one story about Jesus Christ: who he is and what he has done. Dr. Hamilton will help you love Jesus more by understanding your Bible better.

C. J. Mahaney, Senior Pastor, Sovereign Grace Church, Louisville, Kentucky

W HAT I S B IBLICAL T HEOLOGY ?

What Is Biblical Theology? A Guide to the Bibles Story, Symbolism, and Patterns

Copyright 2014 by James M. Hamilton Jr.

Published by Crossway

1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Brandon Hill

Cover image: Brandon Hill Photos

First printing 2014

Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible ( The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway. 2011 Text Edition. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked at are the author's translation.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-3771-4
PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-3772-1
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-3773-8
ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-3774-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hamilton, James M., 1974

What is biblical theology? : a guide to the Bibles story,

symbolism, and patterns / James M. Hamilton Jr.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4335-3771-4 (tp)

1. BibleTheology. 2. BibleIntroductions. I. Title.

BS543.H3355 2014

2013022763

230'.04123

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Evie Caroline
our little girl

May it be granted you to clothe yourself
with fine linen, bright and pure,
for the wedding feast of the Lamb.

(Rev. 19:78)

CONTENTS

Sitting uneasily in his chair, straining for breath, he tilted his head toward his wife, nodded in the direction of my three sons, and said, Its good for them to be here.

Looking at me he continued, gasping out the words, We wanted to hide things like this. But its good for these boys to see me dying. Death is real.

Later that night, his wife of more than fifty years became a widow.

Knowing that life was leaving his body, he saw right through our medicated, sanitized, hedonistic culture. He could ignore death no longer, and he was convinced others shouldnt either. There was no avoiding it, so he looked it in the face and affirmed the goodness of the true story of the world. His approaching death was like a strong wind blowing away a fog of falsehood. A better understanding of the world broke through, as it had been doing since he was born again.