Biblical Theology

How does hell glorify God?

9Marks

Many people think that, if it even exists, hell must reflect some defect in God’s character. Yet as hard as it may be for us to grasp, the reality is just the opposite: hell displays God’s glory.

How does hell glorify God?

Why is hell integral to the gospel?

9Marks

Some people think that by rejecting or ignoring the doctrine of hell, they are making God more glorious and more loving. Far from it! The horrific nature of what we have been saved from only intensifies the glory of what we have been saved to. With that in mind, here are four reasons why the doctrine of hell is integral to the gospel.

Book Review: Natural Law and the Two Kingdoms, by David VanDrunen

Review by Jonathan Leeman | 9Marks Journal: Book Reviews on the Mission of the Church | 10.28.2010

This book provides the transcript for 2000 years of conversation about natural law and the doctrine of the two kingdoms.

Good Friday Meditation: A Fitting Crown

By Michael Lawrence | 9Marks Journal: The Gospel | 04.02.2010

In love, God decided that the story of thorns would end at the cross.

Leaving Home, Returning Home

By Michael Lawrence | 9Marks Journal: The Gospel | 04.02.2010

The consequences of Adam and Eve’s rebellion are even more profound than at first appeared.

How do we do good biblical theology in our preaching?

9Marks
Set each text within the overall narrative of Scripture. From the text, look backwards in the Bible and identify what covenantal promises may be relevant to the text at hand: promises to Abraham? Moses? David? Then look forward and consider how your text is fulfilled in the person and work of Christ.

How do we get from any given text to the gospel?

9Marks
Set the text within the context of the whole book it’s in. The unique themes of the book will point the way to Christ. The themes of creation and promise in Genesis, redemption in Exodus, holiness and sacrifice in Leviticus, and so on, all ultimately point to Christ, and individual passages within those books generally highlight those themes in some way.

Why should expositional preaching include biblical theology?

9Marks
Bibilical theology is necessary in order to understand the text. We can truly understand a text of Scripture only by situating it within the overall narrative of redemptive history.

Why should expositional preaching include systematic theology?

9Marks

Is there a contradiction between systematic theology and faithful preaching of the text? Can we faithfully do both?

9Marks
Recently, some people have begun to argue that systematic theology inherently distorts the meaning of scriptural texts. They argue that any “system” imposes foreign thought-structures onto biblical texts, necessarily tampering with their meaning.

How do we determine which doctrines are more important and which are less important?

9Marks

The answer to that question depends on how closely related to the gospel a doctrine is and how much practical impact it has on the Christian life.

Is systematic theology biblical?

9Marks

Certain academics argue that systematic theology inherently distorts the meaning of the Bible. They argue that any “system” imposes foreign thought structures that necessarily tamper with the meaning of biblical texts. Such scholars often argue that the biblical documents contain irreconcilable diversity, which is to say, contradictions. Hence, they argue that systematic theology is at best unbiblical, at worst impossible.

So is systematic theology biblical or not?

Why is expositional preaching that ignores biblical theology unsound?

9Marks

Expositional preaching that ignores biblical theology is unsound because:

Why should expositional preaching include biblical theology?

9Marks
Biblical theology is necessary in order to understand the text. We can truly understand a text of Scripture only by situating it within the overall narrative of redemptive history.

How can I grow in my understanding of biblical theology?

9Marks
Study the Scriptures thematically. While you should study all of Scripture both deeply and broadly, it can be especially helpful to read through the Scriptures in order to trace themes that run throughout the Bible. If you study how themes like creation and new creation, Sabbath rest, kingship, covenant, and God’s dwelling place with his people develop throughout Scripture you will gain a panoramic view of the glory of God and the wonder of salvation.
Share