Symphony of Scripture: Making Sense of the Bibles Many Themes

by Mark Strom

A beautiful symphony, but sometimes confusing.

The Bible is the sure Word of God, a help and guide for everyday life. But it's also filled with bewildering diversity poetry, history, and letters written by dozens of people in several languages.

What do the exodus, covenant, and priesthood have to do with grace, faith, and discipleship? What possible connection can there by between Sinai and Golgotha? How do we get from the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem?

This accessible introduction to the Bible emphasizes the unity within its diversity. Mark Strom traces the great themes in their recurring rhythms and patterns, helping the reader discern God's grand, overarching design for his creation.

Genres: Christianity, Theology, Christian, Faith

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1990

Reviews

[Dogeared Wanderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to the main themes of the Bible and how they weave together in a beautiful way. The Bible is full of many, many themes, but the book covers the big ones from Genesis to Revelation in a simple format for the average person.

Each chapter follows a similar outline and shows how the particular theme connects to God's promises, its significance in Israel's history, the wider significance in the New Covenant, and how the theme connects to the gospel.

It was helpful to read the book's chapters formatted from Genesis to Revelation, and each chapter was digestible length and included discussion questions for group study. I thought the author did a good job weaving the old covenant themes into new covenant fulfillment while also making the important distinction between the two and the abundant distinctions in the new covenant. Jesus was a key theme in the book. I also thought his basic analysis of Revelation's themes were helpful.

🐙YES discussion questions

[Ernest Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book laid out the entire narrative of scripture in an easy to read way. He brought the seminary training he had down to earth. For a young pastor the more I am able to convey the symphony of Scripture, the more my people will grow to not just know about Jesus but personally grow to love and know Him well.
One of the biggest deterrents from people wanting read scripture is they don’t know who the story is supposed to go. A good read for anybody at any stage of their walks with the Lord.

[James Boyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is likely the best Bible overview book that I've read from the perspective of Biblical theology. The chapters on the prophets, the Jesus as kind and the way of the kingdom, and his overview of Revelation as a Christ-centered book written to real people in a real context were the most memorable. I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in seeing how the divergent books of the library of the Bible weave together to point to Jesus as the true Israelite and King.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a good read. Can't agree with the author's position on ecclesiology, at least based on his brief exposition in the end of the book. But besides that, this was a good concise overview of the message of each part of Scripture.

[Christopher Brehm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the entire Bible and how it is all tied together in the over arching story of God's redemption of fallen humanity.

[Curt B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for all people that follow Jesus, IMHO...

[Brent]

Helpful book. Though Mr Strom seems to be more of a catalyzer then concluder; lots of parts are neatly arranged on the table, but he rarely builds something with them (maybe that was his intent).