Biblical Theology and How to Practice It

Introduction

Over the past fifty years, biblical academics have offered a new perspective on biblical theology. Scholars have used different evangelical approaches to accurately articulate the significance of Christ-themed biblical theology and its prospects¹. Biblical theology is known as the concept that regulates essential facts, comprehension, Jesus, and God’s likeness. Regarding biblical theology and how it applies to Believers on a personal level in Christian culture, there are several perspectives and levels of acceptance and understanding. Most believers now rely on the precepts of the Religious Texts, from Genesis to Revelation.

Most Christian faiths and factions are based on the doctrines of the Scripture as God’s infallible message, although there may seem to be variations in their approaches to education. Biblical theology requires a dual desire and commitment to attentively absorb and appreciate the word if the Holy Text is understood to be God’s sovereignty and God-inspired manifestation. This study aims to clarify biblical theology and how the church and specific followers execute and apply it. A Believer must be familiar with the Bible and understand how to present it in the framework in which it is intended to be studied to win over unbelievers.

Defining Biblical Theology

Studying the Bible as a cohesive doctrine is known as biblical theology. The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology positions that biblical theology is essential to implementing and recognizing biblical scripture². However, it acknowledges that biblical theism has been the origin of Biblical scholarship, noting the development of humans’ understanding of the significance of the correlation between the New and Old Scriptures. To interpret the Bible doctrinally, one must make an effort to understand its variety while still recognizing its coherence³. The foundation of scriptural interpretation is the conviction that Jesus fulfilled the purpose of God as revealed in the Old Testament, which was handed to the New Testament throughout the 40 ages. A complete comprehension of the New and Old Testaments must be encouraged by examining scriptural interpretation.

Biblical theology is crucial since it enables people to view, understand, and grasp the biblical account instead of selected passages. The biblical story offers an early glimpse of theology’s intended goal by telling the actual message of the universe and God and inviting Christians to participate by serving the Lord⁴. Several Believers view the Holy book as two separate texts, each containing innumerable distinctive portions. In order to locate the coherence of the scripture by considering its significance overall, biblical theism urges Christians to scale out and comprehend the Bible as a continuous, cohesive book⁵. While reading and discussing the Bible, they frequently refer back to 2 Timothy 3:16–17, which states that God inspires the Bible and thus helps guide, chastise, and educate in devotion such that the follower of God will be fully prepared for each great job. This passage highlights the need to understand the Bible, not only the New or Old Scriptural texts.

By zooming out and examining the inspired writings Paul addresses and the many connections that emerge among them, Christians can practice scriptural theology. As Paul recommends, the religious person is more equipped to instruct and instruct as a consequence. People must learn how to effectively integrate biblical theism after they have a solid understanding of its goal. Biblical theorists should know how challenging it is to understand sacred texts. They should also work to liberate the Modern Church from the restrictions placed on it by authors or translators reacting to demands and conceptions at various points in the development of theology⁶. According to Husni (2020), the best way to pursue biblical philosophy is to analyze the Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Prioritizing studying academic articles and scriptural commentary over memorization of the actual text might need to be corrected. Contrarily, contextualizing the Bible requires comprehending its chronological and religious background, which is not achieved simply by evaluating various Bible interpretations. Understanding the context, prophesies, aesthetics, and traditions of the scripture are the goal of biblical theology.

Biblical Theology and the Church

In the context of the churches, biblical theology is crucial since it may occasionally serve as a safeguard against errors in the methods of service used by Christians. Sometimes, biblical philosophy aids in establishing appropriate limits and objectives for people’s lives in addition to the Church’s cooperative efforts. To be anchored in Christ and not only the religious heritage, but Christians in the churches also have to comprehend what the church advocates, its purpose, vocation, goal, and the Church’s principles⁷. Teachings begin with an understanding of the Bible or information on whom God is in relation to humankind (Modise, 2018). Without obstacles, the scripture must be proclaimed so that it might lead to genuine atonement inside the Church. Evil thoughts and anything else that exalts itself from the wisdom of God must be euthanized by an understanding of the Bible.

Christians are filled with God as they accept the scripture, and the Holy Ghost serves as a mediator between them and Christ. The placement of the Church within the main biblical narrative relates to the notion that the Church is the Holy Ghost’s sanctuary⁸. Jesus founded the Church, and according to Matthew 16:18, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” God will not waste His time on anything useless since the Church is very vital to Him that He spent His time building it. He still accomplishes this now via specific individuals; He willingly offered His life to them in exchange for their lives. The Church and the globe’s faith are centered on the crucifixion of Jesus. He moved people so they may go forth and love the rest of creation. Believers are the Church, not simply the physical structure. Churchgoers become Christians’familiesy, and God’s temple becomes their permanent residence.

Biblical Theology and an Individual Believer

Studying Biblical theology is crucial for believers, regardless of how wealthy, poor, old, young, learned, or uneducated one is in life. An adversary is anything that prevents a Christian from reading the Bible. Every Believer is a theologian, although some theologists are more skilled than others. Christians are theologians through virtue of knowing God, reflecting on God, and expressing views about God⁹. When Christians give their lives to Christ, they must meditate on the Bible constantly. This will help them make wise decisions and will honor God.

The most crucial aspect of a person’s character is how they view God, which influences all of their decisions, interactions, and obligations. Theology is the foundation of life; Believers must thus take the Bible critically and adhere to what Joshua has stated¹⁰. Although it might be challenging at times, people must make an effort to study and comprehend the Bible so that it may influence each aspect of their life. According to 2 Timothy 2:15, believers should not skip over challenging passages when reading the Bible to learn everything God is trying to express via His revelation. The aim is that an individual will only partially comprehend some things. For a greater comprehension and knowledge of Jesus, one must read the Bible.

The serenity of the New and Old Testament

The connections between the different parts of the biblical narrative are made more apparent by the ancient and new testaments. Understanding that everything in the Bible has a purpose and that symbols are used frequently will help the people when reading it. One must comprehend that the Old and New Testaments merge into one another if they are enthusiastic about studying the scripture or communicating it with others. The New describes Jesus’ mission and its impetus as the early churches grew. A Believer or religious administrator will discover that Christ used references to the Old Scripture in his outreach to others.

People would need to master how to study the Bible to comprehend what is truly happening. According to Perry, it is necessary to study the scriptural passages to give them credit from the viewpoint of the entire Christian norm¹¹. God discloses himself to humans in two ways: New and Old Testament. God reveals himself generally via the established universe. God uniquely reveals himself via the uttered and printed utterances of preachers who have received supernatural inspiration. Both ways of receiving insight are significant, and the Bible teaches both. Anybody who considers himself to be a Believer must hold to the beliefs that are based on what God teaches and what He advocates for.

Application of Biblical Theology

Understanding biblical doctrine is, in a sense, halfway the fight won, but how a leader or regular Christian implements it in a church setting is not understood by many. A regular Christian may learn about scriptural interpretation by improving his comprehension of the Holy book and studying it the way it was intended¹². In a church environment, church authorities must strive to communicate the necessity of biblical theology since every single person should be inspired to study the topic being addressed rather than merely hearing the verse from the preacher throughout a sermon. This may be accomplished, for example, by having small teams or assigning individuals their own independent Bible studies that relate to the discourse. An average Believer can establish a reading routine through various means but would benefit massively from experiencing the Bible in its entirety and all its historical and cultural settings¹³. This would help the Christians be more at ease when sharing the gospel with those around them because they will have the perfect weapon known to man, the word of God.

Each Christian seeking must know the eventual objective or the account of the Bible to disseminate the Word of God or his views. Paul claims in Ephesians 1:9 that Christ revealed to mankind the secret of God’s will in accordance with His righteous deeds shown in Him. This is an excellent illustration of the concept in the Scriptures. Someone who seeks to comprehend the discourse may question the need to comprehend scriptural theology. A Believer or religious leader should refrain from sharing the gospel if he or she does not entirely comprehend the biblical narrative’s intended message¹⁴. Rather than sounding like he is only meandering, he would grasp the essential idea.

The nature of God as the primary player in biblical history must serve as the foundation for biblical theology. With this viewpoint, believers will see the type of character that drives the central Scriptural plot. Christians who lack a broader view will not understand how God operates in chronology, particularly biblical heritage. Along with leadership, understanding God’s narrative aids Believers in understanding their own stories. God originally intended for humans to be given jobs to do when they entered the earth, but because people became distracted by their wants, they found themselves at the receiving end of God’s anger. Biblical theology is mainly practiced today through nuptial covenant as well as in gender and identity.

Marriage Covenant

A clear illustration of the significance of biblical theology in a seemingly secular establishment is marriage, which serves as the tie. Believers frequently cite Adam and Eve as representing the initial marriage, yet this is incorrect because it is based on the erroneous notion that marriage only occurs between a man and a woman. The good and exegetically sound explanation is that marriage begins with God’s relationship with His followers; God’s relationship with humans is known as the covenant. Many Believers today have diverse ideas about marriage, but God created marriage in His likeness and according to His fidelity.

Whereas every marriage is unique and special, biblical theology emphasizes the common aspects of all unions. All marriages are governed by a common standard and constructed following a comparable agreement¹⁵. Separation is not a Divine construct but a response for men to their harsh attitudes toward their partners. Wedded Christians must view their unions as covenant representations of God’s connection with His followers instead of binding contracts¹⁶. God ordained marriage, which is essential; a lady and her spouse come with each other in marriage. The coupling of Adam and Eve symbolizes the bond between a man and a woman. A man is told in Genesis 2:24 to abandon his parents’ house, find a partner, and be faithful to her. Before being dependent on their parents, they would come together and become one body or soul.

Gender And Identity

God’s anthropological plan and structure for the reproduction connection between males and females and the sensation of sensual yearning in that plan are referred to as sexual identity. Gender is the genetic variations in how men and women embody themselves and the many cultural manifestations of the creational disparities amongst men and women. The fundamental principles underlying these contrasts are revealed to the Believer in the creational account of Genesis 1–2.

Man and woman were made in God’s likeness to serve each other. Denying any aspect of this doctrine would mean putting human preferences ahead of God’s deliberate creation¹⁷. Gender differentiation reaches its pinnacle in the Christ-Church connection, despite the inclination of a large portion of modern civilization to dismiss these differences and to separate gender from sexual identity. The New Testament, however, upholds the Old Testament’s teachings on this subject. A contemporary worldview that is promoted at the cost of Christian scriptural theology of reclamation, iniquity, and creation has replaced the Bible’s account of humanity. Biblical doctrine is the Church’s current line of protection and safety when the facts are being misrepresented, and depravity and depravity are getting embraced.

Conclusion

Biblical theology offers comfort and direction to Believers. Scriptural theology explains the ancient, artistic, and philosophical background of the precepts of the people’s Lord and God’s rule throughout the world and His bond with humanity two centuries following His existence and ministry. Scriptural theology unites the Church within the sovereignty of the Scriptures and enables a Believer to be a worthy disciple. By engaging in biblical theology, one deliberately contributes to the conversation amongst the Scriptures’ writers, allowing someone to receive God’s word in the right setting and with the appropriate authority. Therefore, putting biblical theology into practice helps believers gain a deeper understanding of God and whom He is as presented in His word. Every Believer is a student of the Bible. The ideal approach to better comprehending God and His message is to take time in His word.

Raising followers who generate more believers is a job that falls on each Christian. A believer would be more equipped to carry out the good deeds God has asked us to do and raise disciples if they understand how the Scriptures fit under a single tale. Christians typically need help comprehending and applying challenging and baffling texts. Instead of spending the effort to comprehend the use and context, individuals often disregard them. Biblical theology equips Christians to tackle challenging chapters head-on by examining what the scripture says, analyzing its meaning, and subsequently adopting that part based on how it connects to the more considerable teaching of the Bible. The solution to overcoming these challenges is to consider how the scripture operates as a cohesive text with a consistent word due to the nature of the Bible. Fundamentally, biblical theology examines the coherence of the Bible’s message.

Bibliography

Alexander, Desmond, and Brian Rosner. New Dictionary of Biblical Theology. IVP, 2020.

Belcher, Kimberly, Jennifer Budziak, Paul Covino, and Timone Davis. Catholic Marriage: A Pastoral and Liturgical Commentary. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 2019.

Blickle, Peter. “Social Protest and Reformation Theology.” Religion, Politics and Social Protest, 2021, 1–23. Web.

Cole-Turner, Ron. “Commodification and Transfiguration: Socially Mediated Identity in Technology and Theology.” HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 75, no. 1 (2019). Web.

Davies, Douglas, and Michael Thate. “Religion and the Individual: Belief, Practice, and Identity,” 2017, 1–206.

Feldt, Laura. “Total Devotion in the Ancient World: Emotions and Narrative in Radical Religion.” Religion, 2022, 1–23. Web.

Goldsworthy, Graeme. According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible. IVP, 2018.

Husni, Husni. “The Effect of Inquiry-Based Learning on Religious Subjects Learning Activities: An Experimental Study in High Schools.” Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Islam 8, no. 1 (2020): 43. Web.

Kavusa, Kivatsi J. “Ecological Hermeneutics and the Interpretation of Biblical Texts Yesterday, Today and Onwards: Critical Reflection and Assessment.” Old Testament Essays 32, no. 1 (2019). Web.

Modise, Leepo Johannes. “The Role of the Church in Socio-Economic Transformation: Reformation as a Transformation Process.” Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 44, no. 3 (2018). Web.

Perry, Samuel L. “The Bible as a Product of Cultural Power: The Case of Gender Ideology in the English Standard Version.” Sociology of Religion, 2019. Web.

Phillips, Peter. “The Pixelated Text: Reading the Bible within Digital Culture.” Theology 121, no. 6 (2018): 403–12. Web.

Elliott, Robert. “Quick-Start Guide to Sabbath Keeping.” Reclaiming Rest, 2021, 185–94. Web.

Stachowiak, Lech. “How We Should Interpret Bible Verses about Man.” Studia Theologica Varsaviensia, 2020, 191–201. Web.

“The Covenant of Marriage.” Precept Austin, 2022. Web.

Wood, William. “Philosophy and Christian Theology.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University, Web.

Footnotes

1. Graeme Goldsworthy, According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible (IVP, 2018).
2. Desmond Alexander and Brian Rosner, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology (IVP, 2020).
3. Kivatsi J. Kavusa, “Ecological Hermeneutics and the Interpretation of Biblical Texts Yesterday, Today and Onwards: Critical Reflection and Assessment,” Old Testament Essays 32, no. 1 (2019).
4. Robert Elliott, “Quick-Start Guide to Sabbath Keeping,” Reclaiming Rest, 2021, pp. 185-194.
5. Laura Feldt, “Total Devotion in the Ancient World: Emotions and Narrative in Radical Religion,” Religion, 2022, pp. 1-23.
6. Husni, Husni “The Effect of Inquiry-Based Learning on Religious Subjects Learning Activities: An Experimental Study in High Schools,” Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Islam 8, no. 1 (2020): p. 43.
7. Leepo Johannes Modise, “The Role of the Church in Socio-Economic Transformation: Reformation as a Transformation Process,” Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 44, no. 3 (2018).
8. Graeme Goldsworthy, According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible (IVP, 2018).
9. Peter Blickle, “Social Protest and Reformation Theology,” Religion, Politics and Social Protest, 2021, pp. 1-23.
10. Ron Cole-Turner, “Commodification and Transfiguration: Socially Mediated Identity in Technology and Theology,” HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies 75, no. 1 (2019).
11. Samuel L Perry, “The Bible as a Product of Cultural Power: The Case of Gender Ideology in the English Standard Version,” Sociology of Religion, 2019.
12. Lech Stachowiak, “How We Should Interpret Bible Verses about Man,” Studia Theologica Varsaviensia, 2020, pp. 191-201.
13. Peter Phillips, “The Pixelated Text: Reading the Bible within Digital Culture,” Theology 121, no. 6 (2018): pp. 403-412.
14. Douglas Davies and Michael Thate, “Religion and the Individual: Belief, Practice, and Identity,” 2017, pp. 1-206.
15. Kimberly Belcher et al., Catholic Marriage: A Pastoral and Liturgical Commentary (Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 2019).
16. “The Covenant of Marriage,” Precept Austin, 2022.
17. William Wood, “Philosophy and Christian Theology,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Stanford University, 2021).