Voddie Baucham Jr. - Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors: Reading an Old Story in a New Way

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Here is a popular-level reading of the life of Joseph as it is found in Genesisan approach that reads the narrative both within the framework of Genesis and within the framework of the entire Bible. It avoids mere moralism, but does not overlook the morals implicit in the story; it avoids finding Jesus hiding behind every verse in some earnest but skewed and uncontrolled appeal to typology, yet it shows how the narrative prepares the way for Jesus. In many ways these chapters foster quiet, patient, faithful Bible reading, while driving readers toward the gospel.

D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Voddie Baucham has thrown a spanner in the works of those writers and preachers who see little more in the biblical narratives than unrelated moral and spiritual lessons that are ingeniously applied directly to us. By identifying vital theological dimensions that unite the whole Joseph story within Genesis, he steers us toward the christological significance of this much loved, and much misapplied, account of the sons of Jacob.

Graeme Goldsworthy, Former Lecturer in Old Testament, Biblical Theology, and Hermeneutics, Moore Theological College

During the final days with his followers, Jesus made an astonishing statement. He said, in essence, that he was the subject of all the Old Testament stories, laws, and prophecies. Following the lead of our infallible Interpreter, Voddie Baucham has taken the well-worn story of Joseph and consistently drawn a portrait of our Savior through it. With its meticulous care, warm affections, and deep theological acumen, this book will introduce you to the story of Jacobs son, Joseph, but also to the more important story of Josephs Savior, the Lord Jesus. I love the thought of using this book in a Sunday school class or for family or personal devotions. Seriously, buy it.

Elyse M. Fitzpatrick, counselor; speaker; author, Found in Him

You may have heard the story many times, but perhaps not quite as you will in this book. Voddie Baucham displays the brilliant colors of the gospel with uncommon richness.

Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California; author, Pilgrim Theology

Voddies emphasis on redemptive history seen in the life of Joseph helps shift our eyes from a focus on Joseph and the events in his life alone to the greater realitythe gospel on display through his life.

Sherrill Lanier, Womens Ministry Advisor for Christian Education and Publications, PCA

The story of Joseph is one of the most intriguing and instructive found in all the Old Testament. Deception, betrayal, deprivation, and injustice, as well as mercy, forgiveness, providence, and love are all prominently displayed in its telling. Undergirding, permeating, and guiding the events of Josephs life, however, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. With careful exegesis, theological precision, and pastoral sensitivity, Baucham explains Josephs story with a freshness that highlights the glorious grace of God in the gospel.

Thomas Ascol, Senior Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Cape Coral, Florida; Executive Director, Founders Ministries

Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors: Reading an Old Story in a New Way

Copyright 2013 by Voddie Baucham 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. Crossway is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Published in association with Yates & Yates, www.yates2.com.

Cover design and image: Brandon Hill Photos

First printing 2013

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, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 2011 Text Edition. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-2373-1
PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-2374-8
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-2385-4
ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-2386-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Baucham, Voddie.

Joseph and the gospel of many colors : reading an old story in a new way / Voddie Baucham, Jr.

1 online resource

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN 978-1-4335-2374-8 (pdf) ISBN 978-1-4335-2385-4 (mobi) ISBN 978-1-4335-2386-1 (epub) ISBN 978-1-4335-2373-1

1. Joseph (Son of Jacob) 2. Typology (Theology) 3. Bible.
O.T. Genesis XXXVII-LCriticism, interpretation, etc.
I. Title.

BS580.J6

222'.11092dc23

2013012666

At first glance, this book may seem incongruent with what Ive written in the past. I assure you it is not. This book is firmly rooted in two ideas that have always motivated my ministry and writing. First, this book is rooted in biblical exposition. Like my first two books, The Ever-Loving Truth and Family Driven Faith , this book is an extended exposition of a specific portion of Scripture. We serve a God who speaks. More specifically, God has spoken to us through his Word. There is no higher pursuit for those of us who love and serve God than to know and proclaim that which he has spoken. This is precisely what The Gospel of Many Colors is all about.

Another aspect of this book that is congruent with my previous work is that it was born out of the synergy between church and home. If Family Shepherds was a practical expansion of my previous works, then this book is an even more specific and practical expansion of Family Shepherds . Here I am answering the question, how do we teach the Bible in practical, meaningful ways? The journey that resulted in this work involved answering that question in both the church and the home.

LETS PREACH THROUGH GENESIS

First, the leaders of our church decided to teach through Genesis in our pulpit ministry. As Pastor of Preaching, it was my responsibility to do an analysis and overview of the book, divide it into teaching segments, and assign passages among the elders. In preparation for doing so, I read through the book of Genesis again in a single sitting. I was amazed at how much I gleaned just from doing this. I was familiar with the book; I had studied it, read it, quoted from it, even memorized from it. However, it is always eye-opening to read through a book of the Bible from front to back.