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What Is Biblical Theology?: A Guide to the Bible's Story, Symbolism, and Patterns
How Do You Read the Bible?
The Bible recounts a single story—one that began at creation, encompasses our lives today, and will continue till Christ’s return and beyond. In What Is Biblical Theology?, Jim Hamilton introduces us to this narrative, helping us understand the worldview of the biblical writers so that we can read the Old and New Testaments as the original authors intended. Tracing the key patterns, symbols, and themes that bind the Bible together, this book will help you understand Scripture’s unified message and find your place in the great story of redemption.
105 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2013
About the author
James M. Hamilton Jr.
60 books143 followersJames M. Hamilton Jr. (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of biblical theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and preaching pastor at Kenwood Baptist Church. He is the author of God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment and the Revelation volume in the Preaching the Word commentary series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
August 11, 2021
Serviceable, faithful, clear, brief. A good introduction. My feeling is that this book needs to find the right readers: people who’ve read the Bible for a fairly long time, long enough to amass a lot of its details, but who haven’t yet connected its sinews into a mixed-metaphor-alert-big-picture. That’s probably college and seminary students, but it could certainly also be lay readers—and it should be. I hope this book has had and will have a lot of success helping real people in real churches.
Where Vaughan Roberts in his somewhat similar book had me feeling as if I grasped the *story* of the Bible, Hamilton’s strength (for me on my reading) was his discussions of types and patterns. I felt he was careful and cogent. He was also warm-hearted and—here I go psychologizing him—more interested in the truths of Scripture than in himself or his reactions to those truths. There is very little first-person narrative here, comparatively little illustration. The Bible furnishes its own illustrations. I got the sense that Hamilton was sincerely pointing readers toward Christ. I’m grateful for that spirit.
Where Vaughan Roberts in his somewhat similar book had me feeling as if I grasped the *story* of the Bible, Hamilton’s strength (for me on my reading) was his discussions of types and patterns. I felt he was careful and cogent. He was also warm-hearted and—here I go psychologizing him—more interested in the truths of Scripture than in himself or his reactions to those truths. There is very little first-person narrative here, comparatively little illustration. The Bible furnishes its own illustrations. I got the sense that Hamilton was sincerely pointing readers toward Christ. I’m grateful for that spirit.
March 6, 2023
Really love this book!
Hamilton identifies how biblical theology is looking at the interpretative perspective of the biblical authors as you examine the Bible’s story, it’s symbolism, and the implications for the church within that story.
I read it for an assignment, it encouraged me in more ways than one. Being reminded of the big story of the Bible always humbles me and reminds me that I am small. Examining the symbolism of the biblical authors such as imagery, (dare I say Dr. Hamilton’s passion…) typology, and patterns allows Christians to see who we are and how we ought to live as we wait for the return of King Jesus!
This book made me want to pick up Greg Gilbert’s Epic Story of the Bible and not put it down until it’s finished! Maybe that’ll be my first after midterms!
Hamilton identifies how biblical theology is looking at the interpretative perspective of the biblical authors as you examine the Bible’s story, it’s symbolism, and the implications for the church within that story.
I read it for an assignment, it encouraged me in more ways than one. Being reminded of the big story of the Bible always humbles me and reminds me that I am small. Examining the symbolism of the biblical authors such as imagery, (dare I say Dr. Hamilton’s passion…) typology, and patterns allows Christians to see who we are and how we ought to live as we wait for the return of King Jesus!
This book made me want to pick up Greg Gilbert’s Epic Story of the Bible and not put it down until it’s finished! Maybe that’ll be my first after midterms!
September 13, 2023
What Is Biblical Theology?: A Guide to the Bible's Story, Symbolism, and Patterns by Dr. James M. Hamilton Jr. was decent to good. I was recommended by many peers that this was the “to-go-book” for a brief introduction to biblical theology. In some ways I think Hamilton accomplishes this. The greatest issue with Hamilton’s book is seen in how infused his premillenial outlook is with his biblical theology, it seems like it comes out on almost every page of the book. In some ways, I can’t blame him, it shows how much eschatology matters, as Dr. Sandlin says “Eschatology (last things) presupposes protology (first things). Eschatology doesn’t begin in Revelation but in Genesis. God’s victory in history before the Second Advent begins at the beginning.”
The study of biblical theology encompasses all of the Bible and Hamilton’s premillennialism encompasses the way he reads the text. For that matter, I would not recommend this as a first read for those who are getting into biblical theology. I do appreciate his work on shadows, types, patterns, etc. I also enjoyed the sections that discuss the temple motif.
The study of biblical theology encompasses all of the Bible and Hamilton’s premillennialism encompasses the way he reads the text. For that matter, I would not recommend this as a first read for those who are getting into biblical theology. I do appreciate his work on shadows, types, patterns, etc. I also enjoyed the sections that discuss the temple motif.
February 11, 2026
Stop listening to Bible Project who are ever meditating but never arrive to a knowledge of the truth. Read and listen to Hamilton who is a confessionally rooted Baptist who uses the same exact tools. Great intro to Biblical theology
March 13, 2014
Very fine work.
September 28, 2021
Excellent introduction to the big picture of the Bible. Helpful overview of types and patterns in the Bible.
June 1, 2026
An excellent introduction to Biblical Theology, I recommend to anyone who is curious about this area of theological study. I found this book helpful in giving me terms and categories for concepts I have come to see and love within God's Word over the years and did not know how to always express.
It is thrilling to consider the glorious interconnections within God's Word, and Hamilton spells out the various elements like imagery, typology, patterns---all within "the Bible's symbolic universe". Hamilton centers on what the Bible centers on: the Church (God's people) and her identity, setting, plot, and resolution.
It is thrilling to consider the glorious interconnections within God's Word, and Hamilton spells out the various elements like imagery, typology, patterns---all within "the Bible's symbolic universe". Hamilton centers on what the Bible centers on: the Church (God's people) and her identity, setting, plot, and resolution.
April 12, 2025
Super encouraged reading this book! Jim Hamilton not only describes the beauty of scripture and how it’s one big story but he navigates how to carefully utilize types and symbols when reading. It makes me even more excited to open my Bible and study more! Really fun reading his book while also listening to the Bible Talk podcast by 9 marks.
January 2, 2024
Solid intro to Biblical Theology. Some of the patterns/typologies were left short because of his eschatology but still enjoyable. Can’t wait to dive into more Biblical Theology!
July 2, 2023
If you are new to biblical theology or have been studying biblical theology for years, this book is a wonderful introduction and refresher to the biblical metanarrative. Hamilton not only gives a helpful framework in understanding how to read and interpret Scripture, with all its symbols and patterns, in light of the larger story of redemptive history, but he also helps us understand who we are and what our role is in God’s story of redemption. Excellent and short read.
May 12, 2021
Very useful little book on understanding the Bible by reading the story. Encouragement to read our Bibles by searching for how the parts fit into the whole.
December 20, 2013
As a new year quickly approaches, many will begin the year with all of the best intentions of making it all the way through the Bible next year even if that means crawling their way through Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Unfortunately, as it goes with a lot of New Year’s resolutions, when March hits or the first confusing element of Scripture is engaged, the journey through Scripture stops. I often wonder if more people had access to a resource that would provide them insight into those areas that are so often deemed difficult to understand or those sections of Scripture that are such a roadblock for someone to make it all the way through Scripture in a year, if more people would become more excited about reading the Bible. As one who has attended Bible College and Seminary, I have been exposed to a plethora of resources, those so-called “nerdy” books that elaborate on any number of theological, historical, linguistic or other issues. Many view such books as being solely in the realm of the theologian, full of discussions that are beyond the comprehension or purview of the layman making the study of theology something of a pipedream for many. To address this type of issue, Professor James Hamilton has penned a helpful book called What is Biblical Theology: A Guide to the Bible’s Story, Symbolism, and Patterns
Unlike many of the more lengthy theological texts that address matters of theology, books replete with every Hebrew or Greek word imaginable and discussions of every imaginable position on any issue that has ever been contrived, Hamilton focuses on the basics of biblical theology in a truly accessible manner. He divides this book into three sections, that of “The Bible’s Big Story”, “The Bible’s Symbolic Universe”, and “The Bible’s Love Story”. As Hamilton rightly notes, “To do biblical theology is to think about the whole story of the Bible…One of the primary aims of biblical theology is to understand and embrace the worldview of the biblical authors.” He further comments, “The Bible’s big story, this overarching narrative, is also built out of smaller stories.” Thus, understanding the overarching message of Scripture is essential before engaging the elements that support that larger theme.
For many, reading the Bible centers on the question of “what does this passage mean to me?” While application of Scripture to daily life is of course vital, the more important question is that of asking what is the author’s intended message and how did the biblical authors view a certain issue in light of the greater drama of Scripture. Hamilton does an excellent job of establishing that Scripture, being a book albeit a divinely inspired book, provides the reader with a narrative. The events that are recorded in Scripture took place in real history and are not fabricated fairy tales to simply provide a good moral message in the vein of Aesop’s Fables. As with any story, knowing the main characters and the protagonist (the main character) is also vital when reading and understanding Scripture. The Bible is all about God and the entire biblical drama focuses on Him, what He has done, is doing, and will do in the future.
Since stories contain a plot, Hamilton rightly engages how this plays out in biblical theology. The big story of Scripture begins with God who creates a perfect universe that is soon marred by sin with the rest of the plot moving towards the promise of redemption. Furthermore, the conflict in Scripture is between God and Satan with humanity forming essentially two camps, those who belong to God and those who do not. As Hamilton saliently points out, each episode in Scripture follows this big storyline with the movement always being towards the final act of redemption and God dealing with the sin and death problem once and for all. I truly appreciated the manner in which Hamilton discussed what he called the “gold coins”, namely those elements of the plot that move the biblical drama along. Noting those “gold coins” helps the reader to make those essential connections between the various episodes that relate to the plot and the big story of Scripture. This was a very apt way of presenting the concept of the consistency of the biblical message.
One of the most difficult elements of Scripture even for the most seasoned and astute theologian is often the symbolism found throughout Scripture. Some symbols are quite clear, easily recognizable, and more easily interpreted. Other symbols, such as seemingly every number or description found for example in the Book of Revelation, present a great amount of difficulty. Hamilton notes an important point and that is “The symbols are used to summarize big ideas in pictures that the biblical authors intend their audiences to understand.” For many, the use of symbols obfuscates rather than clarifies the biblical message. In response to such an understanding, Hamilton rightly states “This use of symbolism and imagery adds texture to the story the Bible tells, reinforcing it and making it concrete.” Certainly there will still remain some level of debate and discussion over what certainly symbols represent, however, such debate does not equate to the big story of Scripture suddenly becoming unclear when such symbols are noted.
Many symbols weave their way through the tapestry of the big story such as the symbols of tree, roots, and branches. Such images provide the reader with an understanding of things such as who true Israel is and more importantly perhaps for New Testament believers, the importance of how we are grafted into that root. Hamilton notes that another reoccurring theme is that of a flood of water. We have the judgment of the entire world during Noah’s day through a global flood. He also points out the importance of water as a symbol of death and resurrection through the act of baptism. These are important images to notice and grasp when doing biblical theology.
Imagery and typology further provide pieces to the biblical theology puzzle. Many are likely aware that King David is often presented as a type of Christ. Hamilton brilliantly discusses the similarity in imagery between Pharaoh trying to kill the baby Moses and the attempt by Herod to kill the baby Jesus. The exodus from Egypt is a typology of our exodus from bondage to sin. Throughout Hamilton’s discussion of such topics, he expertly assists the reader in grasping the importance of such typology, imagery, and symbolism without getting weighed down in the mire of details. While many details are important, he focuses instead and rightly so on simply presenting to the reader that such issues exist and they exist to support the big story.
Another element of this book I greatly appreciated was the discussion of patterns in Scripture, something I firmly believe is far too often overlooked by believers when they read God’s Word. One such pattern that is found throughout Scripture is that of the Feasts of the Lord. These feasts serve as eschatological mile markers if you will of how God has and will act in history. Having recently completed a study of these feasts, I was pleased to see Hamilton’s excellent treatment of this subject, to include noting the importance of these feasts to the original readers and why they continue to be of importance for us today.
Hamilton concludes his book with a look at the Bible’s love story. This is yet another important aspect of biblical theology given Scripture describes God’s people as being His bride. Just as the bride was set aside by the father in days of old, God set apart a people to be the bride for His Son who is our bridegroom. One can rightly submit that the big story of Scripture is a redemptive love story with the Father setting aside the bride for His Son and the Son wooing that bride to Him to one day spend eternity with the bridegroom when all is finally redeemed. Hamilton saliently declares “We are to think of ourselves in bridal terms. We are not to commit adultery against the Lord Jesus. We are to save ourselves for the Bridegroom, as a bride saves herself for her husband.” Such a concept, if properly understood, will help believers walk in faithfulness to their bridegroom, keeping themselves holy and chaste for the day when He returns to bring to conclusion the big story of Scripture.
Far from being a dry and boring subject, knowing what biblical theology is and how to do it forms a locus for how we are to read and apply the truth of Scripture. Those who have for too long stayed away from a serious study of Scripture feeling that is the job of the pastor or the theologian, will find themselves energized to engage every page of Scripture with renewed vigor after reading Hamilton’s timely and helpful book. I highly recommend it for laymen and scholars alike as it rightly presents the big story of Scripture, it provides a helpful analysis of the plot and characters, and it wades through some of the more difficult and thornier issues of theology in a manner that will help the reader grasp what God has revealed to us in His Word.
I received this book for free from Crossway Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Unlike many of the more lengthy theological texts that address matters of theology, books replete with every Hebrew or Greek word imaginable and discussions of every imaginable position on any issue that has ever been contrived, Hamilton focuses on the basics of biblical theology in a truly accessible manner. He divides this book into three sections, that of “The Bible’s Big Story”, “The Bible’s Symbolic Universe”, and “The Bible’s Love Story”. As Hamilton rightly notes, “To do biblical theology is to think about the whole story of the Bible…One of the primary aims of biblical theology is to understand and embrace the worldview of the biblical authors.” He further comments, “The Bible’s big story, this overarching narrative, is also built out of smaller stories.” Thus, understanding the overarching message of Scripture is essential before engaging the elements that support that larger theme.
For many, reading the Bible centers on the question of “what does this passage mean to me?” While application of Scripture to daily life is of course vital, the more important question is that of asking what is the author’s intended message and how did the biblical authors view a certain issue in light of the greater drama of Scripture. Hamilton does an excellent job of establishing that Scripture, being a book albeit a divinely inspired book, provides the reader with a narrative. The events that are recorded in Scripture took place in real history and are not fabricated fairy tales to simply provide a good moral message in the vein of Aesop’s Fables. As with any story, knowing the main characters and the protagonist (the main character) is also vital when reading and understanding Scripture. The Bible is all about God and the entire biblical drama focuses on Him, what He has done, is doing, and will do in the future.
Since stories contain a plot, Hamilton rightly engages how this plays out in biblical theology. The big story of Scripture begins with God who creates a perfect universe that is soon marred by sin with the rest of the plot moving towards the promise of redemption. Furthermore, the conflict in Scripture is between God and Satan with humanity forming essentially two camps, those who belong to God and those who do not. As Hamilton saliently points out, each episode in Scripture follows this big storyline with the movement always being towards the final act of redemption and God dealing with the sin and death problem once and for all. I truly appreciated the manner in which Hamilton discussed what he called the “gold coins”, namely those elements of the plot that move the biblical drama along. Noting those “gold coins” helps the reader to make those essential connections between the various episodes that relate to the plot and the big story of Scripture. This was a very apt way of presenting the concept of the consistency of the biblical message.
One of the most difficult elements of Scripture even for the most seasoned and astute theologian is often the symbolism found throughout Scripture. Some symbols are quite clear, easily recognizable, and more easily interpreted. Other symbols, such as seemingly every number or description found for example in the Book of Revelation, present a great amount of difficulty. Hamilton notes an important point and that is “The symbols are used to summarize big ideas in pictures that the biblical authors intend their audiences to understand.” For many, the use of symbols obfuscates rather than clarifies the biblical message. In response to such an understanding, Hamilton rightly states “This use of symbolism and imagery adds texture to the story the Bible tells, reinforcing it and making it concrete.” Certainly there will still remain some level of debate and discussion over what certainly symbols represent, however, such debate does not equate to the big story of Scripture suddenly becoming unclear when such symbols are noted.
Many symbols weave their way through the tapestry of the big story such as the symbols of tree, roots, and branches. Such images provide the reader with an understanding of things such as who true Israel is and more importantly perhaps for New Testament believers, the importance of how we are grafted into that root. Hamilton notes that another reoccurring theme is that of a flood of water. We have the judgment of the entire world during Noah’s day through a global flood. He also points out the importance of water as a symbol of death and resurrection through the act of baptism. These are important images to notice and grasp when doing biblical theology.
Imagery and typology further provide pieces to the biblical theology puzzle. Many are likely aware that King David is often presented as a type of Christ. Hamilton brilliantly discusses the similarity in imagery between Pharaoh trying to kill the baby Moses and the attempt by Herod to kill the baby Jesus. The exodus from Egypt is a typology of our exodus from bondage to sin. Throughout Hamilton’s discussion of such topics, he expertly assists the reader in grasping the importance of such typology, imagery, and symbolism without getting weighed down in the mire of details. While many details are important, he focuses instead and rightly so on simply presenting to the reader that such issues exist and they exist to support the big story.
Another element of this book I greatly appreciated was the discussion of patterns in Scripture, something I firmly believe is far too often overlooked by believers when they read God’s Word. One such pattern that is found throughout Scripture is that of the Feasts of the Lord. These feasts serve as eschatological mile markers if you will of how God has and will act in history. Having recently completed a study of these feasts, I was pleased to see Hamilton’s excellent treatment of this subject, to include noting the importance of these feasts to the original readers and why they continue to be of importance for us today.
Hamilton concludes his book with a look at the Bible’s love story. This is yet another important aspect of biblical theology given Scripture describes God’s people as being His bride. Just as the bride was set aside by the father in days of old, God set apart a people to be the bride for His Son who is our bridegroom. One can rightly submit that the big story of Scripture is a redemptive love story with the Father setting aside the bride for His Son and the Son wooing that bride to Him to one day spend eternity with the bridegroom when all is finally redeemed. Hamilton saliently declares “We are to think of ourselves in bridal terms. We are not to commit adultery against the Lord Jesus. We are to save ourselves for the Bridegroom, as a bride saves herself for her husband.” Such a concept, if properly understood, will help believers walk in faithfulness to their bridegroom, keeping themselves holy and chaste for the day when He returns to bring to conclusion the big story of Scripture.
Far from being a dry and boring subject, knowing what biblical theology is and how to do it forms a locus for how we are to read and apply the truth of Scripture. Those who have for too long stayed away from a serious study of Scripture feeling that is the job of the pastor or the theologian, will find themselves energized to engage every page of Scripture with renewed vigor after reading Hamilton’s timely and helpful book. I highly recommend it for laymen and scholars alike as it rightly presents the big story of Scripture, it provides a helpful analysis of the plot and characters, and it wades through some of the more difficult and thornier issues of theology in a manner that will help the reader grasp what God has revealed to us in His Word.
I received this book for free from Crossway Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
March 25, 2026
A wonderful little primer on Biblical Theology
March 28, 2014
In the summer of 2011, I took up a post as a counselor at Pine Cove Christian camps. Going into the summer, I didn't know what the Lord would have for me, but I knew that whatever it was it would be a good gift from Him. So, I packed up some things -- a mandolin, some clothes -- but most importantly, a stack of books. On my off days, I planned to work through the stack. On the top of the list was a book that struck me the first time I saw it, both from the title and the superb book cover. The book was James M. Hamilton's "God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment: A Biblical Theology." I knew that God was going to teach me that summer. What I didn't know was that one of the things He was going to do, in particular, was teach me to truly delight in His Word. And Hamilton's book was going to play a crucial role in that formation.
To this day, GGSTJ is one of the most impactful books I have read in my entire life. It reshaped the way that I look at the Bible, think about the canon, and understand the deep intertexuality and typology in Scripture. It has opened up worlds of exploration in the glorious depths of what's called biblical theology and given me a deeper love for the Lord Jesus. Hamilton would be delighted by all of these things, for that is the goal of GGSTJ.
Unfortunately, GGSTJ can be a little too "heady" for some. For me, it happened to be a highlight since it was through footnotes and otherwise "dry" academic excursuses that I learned more and more. Yet, I know many people that have no interest in diving into some of those explorations because of that reason alone. Thus, my recommendation often fell on deaf ears.
Which is why I am delighted about Hamilton's "What Is Biblical Theology?" There is no question that this is a book written to students, not scholars. There are no footnotes, the style is often anecdotal, and Hamilton is able to really shine in his gift of writing, uncommon amongst many academics. His goal is to give the reader an exalted imagination for Scripture -- the type of imagination I walked away with from GGSTJ. Yet, while the bar has been lowered significantly, the content is still as high as the highest heaven.
In many ways, this Hamilton's version of T.D. Alexander's "From Eden to New Jerusalem," an intro to biblical theology that aims to whet the readers appetite for more. While there are plenty of stout biblical theologies available (one thinks of Beale or Gentry & Wellum), readership often cries out for a light pilsner or kolsch. But Hamilton is a Baptist, so lets' move away from beer analogies: green tea, not Early Grey? I don't know -- I don't drink tea.
By overviewing the Bible's story, symbolism, and patterns, the reader is able to have a toolkit for whole Bible consumption and will be healthier because of it. This will be my new book I recommend to folks who are wanting to learn more about how to think biblically about the Bible, but secretly I'll be praying more that it captures their imaginations and beckons them to spend their life drinking from the deep pools of Scripture.
To this day, GGSTJ is one of the most impactful books I have read in my entire life. It reshaped the way that I look at the Bible, think about the canon, and understand the deep intertexuality and typology in Scripture. It has opened up worlds of exploration in the glorious depths of what's called biblical theology and given me a deeper love for the Lord Jesus. Hamilton would be delighted by all of these things, for that is the goal of GGSTJ.
Unfortunately, GGSTJ can be a little too "heady" for some. For me, it happened to be a highlight since it was through footnotes and otherwise "dry" academic excursuses that I learned more and more. Yet, I know many people that have no interest in diving into some of those explorations because of that reason alone. Thus, my recommendation often fell on deaf ears.
Which is why I am delighted about Hamilton's "What Is Biblical Theology?" There is no question that this is a book written to students, not scholars. There are no footnotes, the style is often anecdotal, and Hamilton is able to really shine in his gift of writing, uncommon amongst many academics. His goal is to give the reader an exalted imagination for Scripture -- the type of imagination I walked away with from GGSTJ. Yet, while the bar has been lowered significantly, the content is still as high as the highest heaven.
In many ways, this Hamilton's version of T.D. Alexander's "From Eden to New Jerusalem," an intro to biblical theology that aims to whet the readers appetite for more. While there are plenty of stout biblical theologies available (one thinks of Beale or Gentry & Wellum), readership often cries out for a light pilsner or kolsch. But Hamilton is a Baptist, so lets' move away from beer analogies: green tea, not Early Grey? I don't know -- I don't drink tea.
By overviewing the Bible's story, symbolism, and patterns, the reader is able to have a toolkit for whole Bible consumption and will be healthier because of it. This will be my new book I recommend to folks who are wanting to learn more about how to think biblically about the Bible, but secretly I'll be praying more that it captures their imaginations and beckons them to spend their life drinking from the deep pools of Scripture.
January 23, 2026
Phenomenal! Dr. Hamilton's intro to Biblical Theology is concise, helpful, informative, and transformative. It excellently communicates the basic tenants of tracing redemptive history through Scripture, understanding narrative, themes, and patterns. A wonderful book I will definitely recommend to others!
*2nd read: Still a great book years later!
*2nd read: Still a great book years later!
June 12, 2020
"Biblical theology is an attempt to get out of this world into another. We might call it a bridge; we might call it a rocket. The point is that we're trying to get our minds and hearts out of worldliness and into the Bible's symbolic universe... The best way to learn biblical theology, the best way to get yourself out of the world's way of thinking and into the Bible's is to study the Bible itself."
This was so intriguing. I cannot wait to dive into my other biblical theology books now. I gained a new understanding of the Bible's big story and the way patterns and symbols can be interpreted in the context of the metanarrative. I wish I had heard of this way of studying the bible sooner!
The section on the flood and the idea of judgment as a kind of de-creation and redemption as a kind of new creation were especially interesting to me. I really had to fight with myself not to highlight everything!
This was so intriguing. I cannot wait to dive into my other biblical theology books now. I gained a new understanding of the Bible's big story and the way patterns and symbols can be interpreted in the context of the metanarrative. I wish I had heard of this way of studying the bible sooner!
The section on the flood and the idea of judgment as a kind of de-creation and redemption as a kind of new creation were especially interesting to me. I really had to fight with myself not to highlight everything!
November 14, 2023
"How should a follower of Jesus read the Bible? The way Jesus did. Jesus of Nazareth did not write any of the books in the Bible, but he taught the writers of the New Testament how to interpret earlier Scripture, redemptive history, and the events they were narrating and addressing."
A concise, easy-to-read introduction to the biblical theology--the terms, themes, etc. I'm always thankful for a book I can wrap my struggling brain around! Read for seminary.
A concise, easy-to-read introduction to the biblical theology--the terms, themes, etc. I'm always thankful for a book I can wrap my struggling brain around! Read for seminary.
January 27, 2025
Solid intro to biblical theology! Very readable on the themes of the Bible and how to interpret it
May 20, 2025
I really enjoyed the final third of this book but if I hadn't had to read it for class I wouldn't have made it that far into it. The first part of the book was a bit too wordy, and while I appreciated how short the book was, it felt almost as if Hamilton was trying to keep it so short it lost its substance. Overall, still full of some solid points and biblical reminders but required some discipline to actually read. 2.5 ⭐
January 26, 2026
This book is a helpful and simple introduction to biblical theology. If you are interested in the topic and haven’t read on it then this book will be immensely helpful.
June 3, 2026
Excellent 👌🏽
Read
January 30, 2026good book, one of the worst covers I've ever seen. time for a second edition crossway
November 26, 2020
This little book provides a helpful primer to the realm of Biblical Theology. Hamilton is a decent author and writes an easy read. The first few chapters are helpful. Hamilton makes some good observations, but also has some areas of argument that aren’t fully supported in Scripture from this reader’s study. Hamilton seems to make much more of Biblical Theology than needed. Overall, this book is worth reading—maybe not a “return to” on the shelf.
September 1, 2015
This is probably the best introduction to biblical theology available-especially for those new to the idea. If you have never read anything in the field of biblical theology, this book is full of insight into Scripture that will help you read the Bible in a richer, fuller way. I just finished reading this for the second time (for school this time). I read it for the first time in November of 2013. My original review is below:
Many people attend church and even Bible studies for decades without really grasping the Bible's overall story. They learn certain doctrines and do's and don'ts, but they still feel lost in many parts of the Bible. How does it all fit together? That's what biblical theology is about.
What is Biblical Theology? is a book for Christians who want to understand the Bible better. Its three sections provide practical help in understanding what the Bible says, how it all fits together, and what difference it should make in our lives.
The first section unfolds the Bible's big story in three chapters, giving an overview of the story the Bible is telling from Genesis to Revelation.
The second section focuses on some key elements of the story that are used and reused to help tell the story. For example, understanding how the Bible uses the symbol of the tree, the events of the exile and the exodus, and the pattern of the righteous sufferer open our eyes to see things we have often missed.
The final section focuses on how biblical theology helps us understand the church's role in the world. This is theology for life! Here Hamilton helps us see how we as the church fit into the Bible's story and how it should effect our lives here and now.
This book not only tells us what biblical theology is, it also shows us what it is for: it's for understanding the Bible better and for living in light of what the Bible has said. What more could we ask for?
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of providing a review.
Many people attend church and even Bible studies for decades without really grasping the Bible's overall story. They learn certain doctrines and do's and don'ts, but they still feel lost in many parts of the Bible. How does it all fit together? That's what biblical theology is about.
What is Biblical Theology? is a book for Christians who want to understand the Bible better. Its three sections provide practical help in understanding what the Bible says, how it all fits together, and what difference it should make in our lives.
The first section unfolds the Bible's big story in three chapters, giving an overview of the story the Bible is telling from Genesis to Revelation.
The second section focuses on some key elements of the story that are used and reused to help tell the story. For example, understanding how the Bible uses the symbol of the tree, the events of the exile and the exodus, and the pattern of the righteous sufferer open our eyes to see things we have often missed.
The final section focuses on how biblical theology helps us understand the church's role in the world. This is theology for life! Here Hamilton helps us see how we as the church fit into the Bible's story and how it should effect our lives here and now.
This book not only tells us what biblical theology is, it also shows us what it is for: it's for understanding the Bible better and for living in light of what the Bible has said. What more could we ask for?
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of providing a review.
March 16, 2017
Taken for what this is, this is a very good book. So what is it? It is a short introduction to Biblical Theology--the theology of the biblical authors. Hamilton describes the Bible's 'big story,' its symbolic universe, and the place of the Church within the biblical story.
My favorite part of the book was part two, which focus on the 'symbolic universe.' Discussing the Bible's symbols, Hamilton gives a brief overview of some important biblical imagery (i.e. trees, roots, floods, etc). He also talks about the nature of typology in the Old Testament, where an archetype is paired with an 'escalation.' Patterns (like annual feasts or the righteous sufferer) illuminate various biblical themes.
I think this would be a good undergrad intro to biblical theology. However, I caution that it is overly simple. He synthesizes the theology of scripture but does not discuss the theologies (or theological emphases) in various books. He also doesn't explore every major theme in scripture but keeps his focus on how the biblical narrative tells the story of our redemption through Christ. I agree that this of central importance but I wished that he said something about economic justice which is a major stream running through both Testaments. He also seems to be fairly supersessionist in regard to Israel.
My favorite part of the book was part two, which focus on the 'symbolic universe.' Discussing the Bible's symbols, Hamilton gives a brief overview of some important biblical imagery (i.e. trees, roots, floods, etc). He also talks about the nature of typology in the Old Testament, where an archetype is paired with an 'escalation.' Patterns (like annual feasts or the righteous sufferer) illuminate various biblical themes.
I think this would be a good undergrad intro to biblical theology. However, I caution that it is overly simple. He synthesizes the theology of scripture but does not discuss the theologies (or theological emphases) in various books. He also doesn't explore every major theme in scripture but keeps his focus on how the biblical narrative tells the story of our redemption through Christ. I agree that this of central importance but I wished that he said something about economic justice which is a major stream running through both Testaments. He also seems to be fairly supersessionist in regard to Israel.
August 8, 2016
I had the privilege of taking Dr. Hamilton for an Old Testament class in seminary, and it was one of my favorite classes so far. This book is a fantastic summary of much of what I learned from him in that setting. His skill in showing the connections between OT authors that are picked up in the NT is astounding at times. He really shows you how to read your Bible the way the Biblical authors read it, seeing the big themes and symbols that make up the worldview of the Bible. Simply fantastic, and I would recommend this book to every Christian. Might also be a good introduction to the faith for non-believers.
January 7, 2014
This is an excellent, convincing, and easy-to-read book describing the Bible’s over arching story. Hamilton says that the stories in the Old Testament hint at a mystery resolved in Christ. The Bible from beginning to end is one story. He outlines key patterns, symbols and themes that unite the Bible into One Story. Finally he delineates the part the Church plays in the Bible’s story. This is an excellent reference that can and must be read over and over again.
July 29, 2017
Loved this little book! "... the best way to get yourself out of the world's way of thinking and into the Bible's is to study the Bible itself. Don't make this harder than it needs to be. Read the Bible. A lot." (P.115)
December 30, 2013
Such an enjoyable read. I am ready to read more from this author. I highly recommend this book.
April 9, 2014
This is a great introduction to biblical theology. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
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