Having a Biblical Theology

When you read the bible, do you consider the larger story that is woven throughout the whole of sacred scripture? Do you need help and tools on how to connect the Old Testament symbols and feasts with the New Testament? If so, James Hamilton has written a new book that Crossway Publishers has released called, "What is Biblical Theology: A Guide to the Bible's story, symbolism, and patterns." This book is brief, about 115 pages, but in this short volume quite a bit of helpful topics are addressed and packed in. You can probably read this book very easily in a weekend, at a leisurely pace.

Early on, Hamilton develops the point that we need to get into the authors mind and understand how they see their world, called in Chapter 2 'interpretive perspective'. The authors defines the term interpretive perspective as the framework of assumptions and presuppositions, associations and identifications, truths and symbols that are taken for granted as an author or speaker describes the world and the events that take place in it. This is an interesting thought that I hadn't considered very often previously. When I read the scriptures I instinctively read from my vantage point in from a 21 century American worldview.

Overall this book is divided up into three sections: the first covers the Bible's overall big-picture story, the second looks at the way the biblical authors use symbols to summarize and interpret that story, and the third considers the role the church plays in that story (page 22). The author cleverly opens the first section looking at the narrative of the story then proceeds to provide the setting, characters, plot, conflict, episodes, and themes, of that narrative. This approach helped me understand the inter-relationships involved. Chapter 6 begins the second concept of the book, dealing with symbolism, or what the biblical authors intended to communicate, on how they interpreted earlier Scripture and communicated its meaning through the symbols they employed (page 62). In the proceeding chapters Hamilton uses imagery, typology, patterns and types to make his point that understanding symbolism is at the heart of understanding the author's message. We, the church, step onto the set and take our part in the third section. I appreciated the following helpful identifications that Hamilton lists out as metaphors for the church: Sheep of the Shepherd, Bride of Christ, Body of Christ, Adopted Family of God, Temple of the Holy Spirit.

 I am thankful for Crossway providing an advanced copy of this book for my review.