Introduction
Text: Acts 20:17-38
The “whole counsel of God” refers to the entirety of God’s redemptive plan unfolded in Scripture…In refusing to pass over teachings that might have offended some, Paul gave a courageous example that is a model for all those who would teach God’s word after him. –John Polhill
What is Biblical Theology?
Summary of Mark Dever: our doctrine and teaching is derived from the Word of God alone and is understood in light of the overarching metanarrative of Scripture.
- Biblical Theology is driven by a high view of revelation.
- Biblical Theology traces the historical development of doctrine.
- Biblical Theology is concerned with “what it meant” to the author and to the original audience. It seeks to understand the theological purposes of each writer.
- Biblical Theology is concerned with how all of the individual parts relate to the whole.
Biblical Theology Matters Because:
- God wrote the Bible – it is his revelation of himself.
- It prioritizes what the text meant and what it means over cultural distortions.
- It roots our doctrine in something bigger than ourselves and our immediate culture and helps me keep the big picture in view.
- It drives me to ultimate authority in a world that is increasingly relativistic.
- It helps me understand my place in his story
- It gives us a deeper and fuller example understanding of God. We don’t get topick and choose what we want to believe about God.
- The God of the Bible is a Creating God
- The God of the Bible is a Holy God
- The God of the Bible is a Faithful God
- The God of the Bible is a Loving God
- The God of the Bible is a Sovereign God
- It protects us from isegesis and and taking things out of context.
- It gives us a foundation and underpinnings that will enable us to discern truth, navigate the minefields of this world, and endure in our faith in spite of opposition.
- It equips us to accurately teach others.
- It changes me and makes me more like Christ.
Media
Listen to the Podcast
Sermon series: The Marks of a Healthy Church. See all sermons in this series »
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rykneethling/4542432287
Leave a Reply