The appeal of biblical theology to Christians is that it provides a 'big picture' that makes sense of the bulk and variety of the biblical literature. It seeks to view the whole scene of God's revelation of his one mighty plan of salvation. The Bible ceases to be a mass of unconnected texts, and begins to look like a unity that connects the narratives of Israel with those of the four Gospels; that shows up the progression from creation to new creation; and that highlights the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the prime focus of the whole Bible. If the Bible is indeed the one word of the one God about the one way of salvation through the one Saviour, Jesus Christ, it is biblical theology that reveals this to us.  
Over the last fifty years, Graeme Goldsworthy has refined his understanding of biblical theology that came about as a result of his experiences as a student, a pastor and a teacher in theological education. His approach was first presented in Gospel and Kingdom, and more comprehensively in According to Plan. It has been welcomed in some circles, but has also not been without its critics.  
In this valuable complement to his volume Gospel-Centred Hermeneutics, Goldsworthy defends and refines the rationale for his approach, which has drawn particularly on that developed by the Australian biblical scholar Donald Robinson. His conviction is that biblical theology is foundational for evangelical hermeneutics, indispensable in expository preaching, and the heartbeat of effective pastoral ministry.

Graeme Goldsworthy

PREFACE

ABBREVIATIONS

1. BIBLICAL THEOLOGY: LAME DUCK OR EAGLES’ WINGS?

Confessions of a biblical theology addict

The big questions about the big picture

The Robinson–Hebert schema

The role of Genesis 1 – 11

The question of reductionism

Why is biblical theology so neglected?

2. EVANGELICAL DEFINITIONS AND PRESUPPOSITIONS

Tentative steps towards a definition of biblical theology

Evangelical theological presuppositions in biblical theology

Evangelical hermeneutical presuppositions in biblical theology

3. SALVATION AND HISTORY

The idea of salvation history

The biblical history as salvation history

Salvation history within Scripture: Old Testament

Salvation history within Scripture: New Testament

Conclusions

4. EVANGELICAL PRACTICE

The lack of consensus among evangelicals

The shaping of a biblical theologian: my debt to Donald Robinson

Some leading evangelical biblical theologians

5. MULTIPLEX BIBLICAL THEOLOGY

The problem of unity and diversity in method

Proponents of the multiplex approach

6. LETTING THE OLD TESTAMENT SPEAK I: BIBLICAL HISTORY

What kind of epoch?

The main foci in Old Testament history

7. LETTING THE OLD TESTAMENT SPEAK II: PROPHETIC ESCHATOLOGY

The pattern of prophetic eschatology

The canonical shape

The main foci in prophetic eschatology

8. LETTING THE NEW TESTAMENT SPEAK

Is the New Testament normative in the interpretation of the Old Testament?

Does the New Testament exhibit a structure of revelation?

The Abraham–David/Solomon axis and the fulfilment of prophecy

A comparison of approaches

9. TYPOLOGY

Robinson's typology

Approaches to typology

Some issues in the debate

Macro-typology

10. THE ROBINSON LEGACY

Robinson's typology and method in biblical theology

Israel and the church

Eschatology

Baptism

Assessment

11. HOW TO DO BIBLICAL THEOLOGY332

Is there a future for biblical theology?

Possibilities for biblical theology

Epilogue

BIBLIOGRAPHY

__Preaching Survey of the Year's Best Books for Preachers__

The appeal of biblical theology is that it provides a "big picture" that makes sense of the diversity of biblical literature. Through the lens of biblical theology the Bible ceases to be a mass of unconnected texts, but takes shape as a unified metanarrative connecting the story of Israel with that of Jesus. It presents the whole scene of God's revelation as one mighty plan of salvation.

For fifty years Graeme Goldsworthy has been refining his understanding of biblical theology through his experiences as a student, pastor and teacher. In this valuable complement to his Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics, Goldsworthy defends and refines the rationale for his approach, drawing especially on the work of Australian biblical scholar Donald Robinson.

Christ-centered biblical theology

Navigation Bar

Header Default

Download the Christian360 App to read eBooks and listen to Audiobooks bought at Christian360

Download the App

Christ-centered biblical theology

Description

Need support?

Customer reviews

Download the App

Download the App