A Basic Guide to Biblical Theology: Nine Themes That Unite the Old and New Testaments

by Alan J. Thompson

Serious students of the Bible quickly discover the diversity that stems from the human origins of Scripture, such as different authors writing in different times, places, genres, and languages. Written by an expert in biblical theology, this short, accessible book helps readers understand the unity that springs from the divine authorship of Scripture and how the whole Bible fits together.

Alan Thompson enables readers to see the big picture of the Bible by unpacking nine key themes that unite the Testaments and hold the Bible creation, covenant, the exodus, law and wisdom, sacrifice, kingship, the prophetic hope, the kingdom of God, and the final holy city. A Basic Guide to Biblical Theology helps readers read the Old Testament in light of the New Testament and the New Testament in light of the Old Testament.

This book provides an introductory framework for the big themes of biblical theology, preparing readers for a lifetime of Bible study. It will appeal to anyone who wants to understand how the Bible fits together, including students, pastors, church leaders, and laypeople.

Genres: Faith

200 pages, Paperback

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Alan J. Thompson (PhD Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is the head of the New Testament department at Sydney Missionary and Bible College in Sydney, Australia.

Reviews

[Michael Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic resource for the church. With appropriate depth, effective communication, and a strong layout this book is one of the premiere introductions to Biblical Theology. I will be recommending this to lay leaders and teachers in my church as a foundation to putting their Bible together.

[Kyle Tomlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little introduction to biblical theology. Thompson has some helpful insights into connections between the Old and New Testaments. I did disagree with his take on infant baptism though.

[John Tilinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book packs in a lot of food for thought in a surprisingly small number of pages (in a good way).

The insights are useful for those considering how biblical theology may help our understanding of the extent of continuity/discontinuity between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

I appreciate that the author did acknowledge controversial topics, such as the place of national Israel, but didn’t let these overshadow the main insights. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the law.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Basic Guide to Biblical Theology is a good introduction to some of the overarching motifs in the Bible. Thompson offers a work that is broad enough in scope to appeal to laymen and beyond. He points out the unity of the entire work through the lenses of different themes including creation, covenant, the exodus, law and wisdom, sacrifice, kingship, prophetic hope, the kingdom of God, and the final holy city. It is a short book so it offers more of an introduction than a deep dive into each theme. Nonetheless, the reader a primer in certain recurring ideas and how they all work together to point to Christ’s death and resurrection.

[Andrew Nibbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A incredibly well organized book focusing on typology and Biblical Theology.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super solid, clear, well-structured, readable introductory text. I probably would have rated it 5 stars if it was the first book on the subject I ever read - as it is, it's not as deep as I would prefer, but I can't judge too harshly as it's self-consciously a "basic guide." Easy to recommend to someone just wrapping their mind around "biblical theology."

Mentioned in this video: https://youtu.be/7Sy8uXAeAxA

[Douglas Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Basic Guide to Biblical Theology is a great introduction to the subject. The author covers nine big themes of the Christian Bible, showing how they help hold and unite the grand narrative of scripture. I wish I had a copy of this when I began my faith journey and I wish preachers would preach these themes to help the people of God make better sense of the Scriptures!

[Jonathan Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite ways to study the Bible...pick a theme and follow it to the end. This is a good introduction to this way of study and, as always, Thompson is easy to read.

[Hunter Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful introduction to biblical theology that will help you put your Bible together. I had a few minor interpretive quibbles, but other than that, I thought it was great.