We today living in the prosperous, technological West are blessed by ubiquitous access to GPS. With a 99+% success rate, Google Maps and its equivalents direct us digitally to our chosen destinations.
To the young whippersnappers out there, this was not nearly always so. Nearly four decades ago, I took youthful pride in my parents entrusting me with the big paper atlas and the unfolded AAA state maps, with the responsibility of navigating the station wagon on our family vacation from Michigan to Florida.
Of course, I lacked the advanced satellite data to help identify and maneuver us around accidents and other slowdowns. But I quickly took to mastering the maps’ legends and scales, as well as the clues of road signs we passed by. While there can be little doubt that I am plagued by weaknesses in multiple areas of life, the knack for physical navigation has long been mine.
That was true, even as I tended to transition from the old prefab atlas to printing out Mapquest directions from the desktop PC to bring along on trips to unfamiliar sites. That lasted for about a decade or so.
When GPS made its way into our lives, I didn’t celebrate as much as shrug. Even a curmudgeon like me has had to admit that the digital technology can plot the best route with greater speed and accuracy. Usually, the times when I read the clues and question the GPS’ guidance, my best-laid plans go awry. Yes, I surrender!
It’s been a lot harder to convince my offspring of the importance of learning some more traditional navigation strategies of self-reliance. Someday I fear the rare hypothetical behind “you never know when you’ll need it” emerges when least expected. I’m encouraged to learn that interest in and demand for paper maps has actually ticked up in recent years:
Over-reliance on digital maps can result in a lack of understanding of the overall surroundings. Paper maps allow users to have a full comprehension of their environment while navigating.
That’s a long lead-in with what I’m anticipating will be a modest payoff. But first, another childhood memory.
Does anyone else who grew up in the church remember attending a Walk Thru the Bible seminar (apparently, they still operate today)? I couldn’t tell you much about the actual content or curriculum, except that the facilitator offered up thumbnail descriptions and mnemonic devices to recall what’s recorded in different Old Testament books. It helped me distinguish some key events between Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
For whatever reason, my young brain ended up filing this experience as more of a novelty than truly helpful mental scaffolding around the big picture of the Bible. But seeds were planted for years later, long dormant until I’ve encountered in recent years the eye-opening and uplifting realm of biblical theology.
In a nutshell, biblical theology takes the Bible on its own terms and organizes the study of Scripture to see how God’s revelation unfolds to human eyes through its developing storyline. It’s a fantastic complement to its counterpart of systematic theology, which organizes around contemporary questions and builds a biblically informed framework around specific topics and doctrines.
To be 100% transparent, I adapted the concise definitions above from a recently concluded Sunday evening series of classes on biblical theology at our church. (Seriously, Tim and Pastor Mike, one of the best classes I’ve ever sat in.) I also recently completed the recommended book God’s Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts. The book is short and sweet - check it out! (Another recommended resource comes from my podcast feed: the trio from Knowing Faith regularly discuss and unpack themes from biblical theology.)
To come full circle, the Sunday evening class and Roberts’ tome have combined to help me see that a working knowledge of biblical theology is like a mental map of the story of Scripture. Not just a timeline or chronology, which my historically oriented mind already had a solid familiarity with. Now, when I dive into Deuteronomy or Psalms or the Prophets, though, I am more prone to make rich connections with other parts of the Bible story.
This has real value, not just intellectually but devotionally. As someone who has been embedded in evangelical church life in some form or fashion for almost all my half-century on earth, I have to ask: What took me so long to come face to face with biblical theology? Maybe you’re in the same boat.
When I kid myself about future book projects or essays that I should eventually write, one that comes to mind these days is a history of biblical theology in the Western church. Where did the renewed interest in the field come from? What are its origins and inspirations?
If someone out there has already done that work, I’d love to see it. Also, if you, dear Christian reader, have any other recommended resources related to biblical theology, please drop them in the comment box or email me directly. Whatever your previous level of familiarity, I hope this helps to deepen your appreciation for biblical theology.
Whether you’re using the equivalent of an old dog-eared paper atlas or the latest GPS app on your iPhone, taking serious stock of the big map of Scripture can only edify and enrich your walk with God.
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PS - Patient and faithful readers, my plan for the Substack is to publish a serialized work of fiction with some modest literary intent. The goal is to intersperse the fictional output with the kind of short-form essays like this one that you may have begun to accustom yourself to.
Also, my goal is to keep producing free content while adding some pieces behind the paywall, to add value for the generous few who have invested here. Your input on which content you’d like to keep free will be carefully considered. God bless!