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Biblical Theology: How the Church Faithfully Teaches the Gospel
Throughout the history of the church, Christians have always had to contend with the influence of unbiblical teachings related to God, humanity, and salvation. One of the most important safeguards against all forms of heresy is a robust appreciation for biblical theology--reading the Bible in a way that takes into account the whole storyline of redemptive history. Exhorting pastors and other church leaders to prioritize biblical theology in their own congregations, this book explains basic principles for reading the Bible that help pastors teach the big story of the Bible from every text. Understanding the Bible in Christ-centered terms shapes the church's teaching and mission, and protects the truth of the gospel around the world.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
78 people are currently reading
582 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
October 20, 2022
A great introduction to biblical theology, and I would definitely suggest this book as one of the must reads of this series. Biblical theology is a crucial tool to read the entire Bible in light of God’s one redemptive plan in Christ that interweaves all of scripture. This particular book encouraged my delight in daily Bible reading and my recognition of the cruciality of the church protecting the interpretation of biblical texts within God’s story.
October 19, 2018
"It’s possible to read a story, find it interesting, and entirely miss its point." That's why biblical theology is incredibly important in our churches, and that's why Biblical Theology: How the Church Faithfully Teaches the Gospel is a helpful book.
As with all the 9Marks books in this series, this is a quick hit meant to be very practical in nature. Authors Nick Roark and Robert Cline unpack the concept of biblical theology in under 200 pages in a fresh and down-to-earth manner. Keeping it real for real human beings in or out of full-time ministry, the language is theological but also simple.
After stressing the point of the importance of biblical theology in our church for both belief and practice, Roark and Cline take two full chapters to walk through the entire biblical story-line. Taking frequent pauses to demonstrate how the OT and NT line up, they place great emphasis on the accurate communication of the whole counsel of the word of God. The book then closes with an equally practical application of biblical theology upon some of the errant theologies within the church today.
What blessed me the most was finding a resource on biblical theology - a somewhat newly re-emerging theological emphasis - that was not only brief, but parsed out in a language that everyone uses. As such the audience to such a work can be to the wider church populace and not just the pastors. I love this about the book.
Watch the language in this clear distinction the authors give between the disciplines of biblical and systematic theology:
Or think about how helpful it would be to use this with people in your church:
The book is full of complex terms made simple. Another way to say that is that Roark and Cline clearly understand how to effectively teach. In short, it's a great resource not only as a primer for a bigger discussion for pastors, leaders and theologians, but also as a Sunday afternoon read for the church member just wanting to know more about his or her Bible.
As with all the 9Marks books in this series, this is a quick hit meant to be very practical in nature. Authors Nick Roark and Robert Cline unpack the concept of biblical theology in under 200 pages in a fresh and down-to-earth manner. Keeping it real for real human beings in or out of full-time ministry, the language is theological but also simple.
After stressing the point of the importance of biblical theology in our church for both belief and practice, Roark and Cline take two full chapters to walk through the entire biblical story-line. Taking frequent pauses to demonstrate how the OT and NT line up, they place great emphasis on the accurate communication of the whole counsel of the word of God. The book then closes with an equally practical application of biblical theology upon some of the errant theologies within the church today.
What blessed me the most was finding a resource on biblical theology - a somewhat newly re-emerging theological emphasis - that was not only brief, but parsed out in a language that everyone uses. As such the audience to such a work can be to the wider church populace and not just the pastors. I love this about the book.
Watch the language in this clear distinction the authors give between the disciplines of biblical and systematic theology:
"On the one hand, systematic theology begins with key topics (God, man, sin, Christ, salvation, etc.) and then searches the Scriptures to see what they teach about them. On the other hand, biblical theology attempts to read the whole story of the Bible and asks how each part relates to the whole."
Or think about how helpful it would be to use this with people in your church:
"Imagine that each book of the Bible shines like a star. But it’s only when you zoom out far enough that you begin to see that these stars form a giant and glorious constellation. Biblical theology analyzes and synthesizes each star, and then zooms out to view the breathtaking panoramic constellation of divine glory. And what’s at the center of this glorious constellation? God the Father sending his Son through the Spirit to win a people for his own glory."
The book is full of complex terms made simple. Another way to say that is that Roark and Cline clearly understand how to effectively teach. In short, it's a great resource not only as a primer for a bigger discussion for pastors, leaders and theologians, but also as a Sunday afternoon read for the church member just wanting to know more about his or her Bible.
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July 26, 2025If you struggle with how to understand the bible as a whole, this is your book. It is clear and concise, effortlessly moving you through the bible's storyline but along way giving you solid interpretive guidelines by which to follow in future bible reading. If you can't see the forest through the trees of scripture, this book shows you how, and will encourage you to press forward. It is fairly rudimentary for the more experienced bible reader/teacher, but if that's you, that doesn't mean you won't be helped. To adapt a C.S. Lewis quote, we can always go "higher up and deeper in[to]" the Gospel, and seeing a fresh retelling of the Bible's story, centered on the person and work of Jesus, is always beneficial. Also, I love how this book inspires a (lower C) catholicity in that all evangelical iterations of Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Whatever-ists can all give a hearty "amen" to every part of this book. Though there are varying biblical theology systems that manifest in the denominational diversity we have today, there is one (big B) Biblical Theology that all we evangelicals can agree on. This book drives that unity home in that the arc of biblical history hinges on and finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Certainly endorse this book.
Top quotes:
18. Biblical theology helps us to grasp this main purpose by looking at each passage of Scripture in light of the whole Bible so that we understand how every part of Scripture is related to Jesus.
18. Reading Scripture rightly means knowing where each book fits into its overarching narrative. And knowing the overarching narrative helps us read and understand accurately each event, character, or lesson that’s been given to us as part of God’s progressively revealed Word. Understanding the whole story of Scripture clarifies who Jesus Christ is and what the Gospel is.
25. [W]hen Jesus surveyed the Old Testament Scriptures – the Book of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms or Writings – he intended for his followers to understand that all of these books were written about him. This is how Luke [24:44-47] tells it: “He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
29. Imagine that each book of the Bible shines like a star. But it’s only when you zoom out far enough that you begin to see that these stars form a giant and glorious constellation. Biblical theology analyzes and synthesizes each star, and then zooms out to view the breathtaking panoramic constellation of divine glory. And what’s at the center of this glorious constellation? God the Father sending his Son through the Spirit to win a people for his own glory.
69. The mission Jesus gave to his churches is a difficult and costly one. Following him in faith and obedience will certainly require enduring persecution and suffering for the sake of the gospel. But as believers look forward to the hope of his return, believers also look back and remember that the one who is now risen and exalted on high was also the servant who suffered and died.
76. When we use the Bible to prove our point without regard for the context of the passage, we are proof-texting. Proof-texting reads meaning into a passage instead of reading meaning out of the passage. Proof-texting is easy because you don’t have to do the serious and careful and prayerful work of understanding the author’s intended meaning.
92. God’s plan of salvation is revealed progressively through Scripture, innating in Jesus Christ. The way God reveal this plan developed like a seed that grows into a tree. And recognizing where the passage you’re studying fits into this covenantal development is crucial to proper interpretation.
98. We must read Christologically. No matter what passage you are teaching from, you must always ask how it relates to the person and work of Christ… we should labor to understand where this text fits into the big story. We’ve seen that Jesus is the Hero; so we must ask questions like: What does this passage reveal about Jesus Christ, his life, and his work? Does this text point forward to Christ’s first coming? Does it anticipate Christ’s return? How does the gospel affect my understanding of the text? How does the text anticipate and reflect upon the gospel?
102. Biblical theology helps us understand that Jesus Christ is to be faithfully proclaimed as the end, the goal, and the centerpiece of Scripture, since “all the promises of God find their Yes in him” (2 Cor. 1:20).
116. The busyness of life, hurrying along to the next thing, and living nonstop until you drop can have the unintended effect of blinding us to what’s really important, what’s really beautiful, and what’s really precious, even if it happens to be right in front of us. Life in this fallen world can easily inoculate our hearts from feeling wonder and awe, even when we have the privilege of beholding something that’s truly amazing and astounding and gloriously beautiful.
Top quotes:
18. Biblical theology helps us to grasp this main purpose by looking at each passage of Scripture in light of the whole Bible so that we understand how every part of Scripture is related to Jesus.
18. Reading Scripture rightly means knowing where each book fits into its overarching narrative. And knowing the overarching narrative helps us read and understand accurately each event, character, or lesson that’s been given to us as part of God’s progressively revealed Word. Understanding the whole story of Scripture clarifies who Jesus Christ is and what the Gospel is.
25. [W]hen Jesus surveyed the Old Testament Scriptures – the Book of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms or Writings – he intended for his followers to understand that all of these books were written about him. This is how Luke [24:44-47] tells it: “He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
29. Imagine that each book of the Bible shines like a star. But it’s only when you zoom out far enough that you begin to see that these stars form a giant and glorious constellation. Biblical theology analyzes and synthesizes each star, and then zooms out to view the breathtaking panoramic constellation of divine glory. And what’s at the center of this glorious constellation? God the Father sending his Son through the Spirit to win a people for his own glory.
69. The mission Jesus gave to his churches is a difficult and costly one. Following him in faith and obedience will certainly require enduring persecution and suffering for the sake of the gospel. But as believers look forward to the hope of his return, believers also look back and remember that the one who is now risen and exalted on high was also the servant who suffered and died.
76. When we use the Bible to prove our point without regard for the context of the passage, we are proof-texting. Proof-texting reads meaning into a passage instead of reading meaning out of the passage. Proof-texting is easy because you don’t have to do the serious and careful and prayerful work of understanding the author’s intended meaning.
92. God’s plan of salvation is revealed progressively through Scripture, innating in Jesus Christ. The way God reveal this plan developed like a seed that grows into a tree. And recognizing where the passage you’re studying fits into this covenantal development is crucial to proper interpretation.
98. We must read Christologically. No matter what passage you are teaching from, you must always ask how it relates to the person and work of Christ… we should labor to understand where this text fits into the big story. We’ve seen that Jesus is the Hero; so we must ask questions like: What does this passage reveal about Jesus Christ, his life, and his work? Does this text point forward to Christ’s first coming? Does it anticipate Christ’s return? How does the gospel affect my understanding of the text? How does the text anticipate and reflect upon the gospel?
102. Biblical theology helps us understand that Jesus Christ is to be faithfully proclaimed as the end, the goal, and the centerpiece of Scripture, since “all the promises of God find their Yes in him” (2 Cor. 1:20).
116. The busyness of life, hurrying along to the next thing, and living nonstop until you drop can have the unintended effect of blinding us to what’s really important, what’s really beautiful, and what’s really precious, even if it happens to be right in front of us. Life in this fallen world can easily inoculate our hearts from feeling wonder and awe, even when we have the privilege of beholding something that’s truly amazing and astounding and gloriously beautiful.
August 29, 2022
Oh wow! This book is so very good! I learned so much that is sure to help me with my own personal Bible study and with understanding God's Word which is so very important. I'm so thankful that my friend brought this book to my attention and let me borrow it. I would like to purchase a copy of this book for myself and re-read it from time to time, to keep this knowledge fresh-ish in my memory.
January 24, 2022
A book like this is needed now more than ever. If we fail to recognize that the Bible is not just us applying good teaching but rather about the Teacher, we are missing the the person that Scripture is telling us all about. Roark and Cline have produced a book that challenges the reader to see faulty ways of applying the Word and explore for themselves the Christ-centered story woven into each Biblical story.
April 10, 2021
Very good.
April 17, 2022
Great book to introduce BT and the implications that it has for the church.
November 12, 2018
I like these little books in the 9Marks series. All that I've read have been very simple, well-informed introductions to a subject. They are a great place to start for pastors hoping to simplify and teach what can be an overwhelming subject, especially for those who are familiar with the more academic literature.
Roark and Cline give an overly simple definition of BT: "a way of reading the Bible as one story by one divine author who the culminates in who Jesus Christ is and what he has done so that every part of Scripture is understood in relation to him." (26). Though their definition seems to prioritize a Christological reading of Scripture as BT, they mention many different approaches to BT: canonical reading, redemptive-historical, NT use of OT, and so on.
In chapter 1 they argue that churches who fail to use the tools of BT will end up with false gospels and false churches. The provide specific examples such as the prosperity and social gospels. In chapter 6 they circle back and show how BT safeguards against these errors.
In Chapters 2-3 they give the reader a very introductory overview of how the Bible fits together using the king motif. It seemed to be very Goldsworthy-ish.
Chapter 5 was the most helpful chapter where the authors argued that BT helps safeguard a church's teaching by spurring the preacher to preach Christ instead of moralism and Christ instead of proof-texting. This chapter is extremely basic, but well done. Essentially, you must know the big story of the Bible to avoid these errors.
Don't miss the Appendix of this book, where Nick Roark works through 6 examples of how to use BT. Two of them were totally new to me, especially the Mark 6 account of Jesus walking on the water as a theophany better than Exodus 33. The treatment on how to read Proverbs Christocentrically was very good too. There's a nice little standard reading list in the back too, containing all the right books.
I wish the books in this series included some discussion questions at the end of each chapter. That would probably enhance their use in small groups. But no such questions are included.
This book is the absolute most basic introduction to Biblical Theology that I know of. If you are looking for a book like that, be sure to check this one out.
Roark and Cline give an overly simple definition of BT: "a way of reading the Bible as one story by one divine author who the culminates in who Jesus Christ is and what he has done so that every part of Scripture is understood in relation to him." (26). Though their definition seems to prioritize a Christological reading of Scripture as BT, they mention many different approaches to BT: canonical reading, redemptive-historical, NT use of OT, and so on.
In chapter 1 they argue that churches who fail to use the tools of BT will end up with false gospels and false churches. The provide specific examples such as the prosperity and social gospels. In chapter 6 they circle back and show how BT safeguards against these errors.
In Chapters 2-3 they give the reader a very introductory overview of how the Bible fits together using the king motif. It seemed to be very Goldsworthy-ish.
Chapter 5 was the most helpful chapter where the authors argued that BT helps safeguard a church's teaching by spurring the preacher to preach Christ instead of moralism and Christ instead of proof-texting. This chapter is extremely basic, but well done. Essentially, you must know the big story of the Bible to avoid these errors.
Don't miss the Appendix of this book, where Nick Roark works through 6 examples of how to use BT. Two of them were totally new to me, especially the Mark 6 account of Jesus walking on the water as a theophany better than Exodus 33. The treatment on how to read Proverbs Christocentrically was very good too. There's a nice little standard reading list in the back too, containing all the right books.
I wish the books in this series included some discussion questions at the end of each chapter. That would probably enhance their use in small groups. But no such questions are included.
This book is the absolute most basic introduction to Biblical Theology that I know of. If you are looking for a book like that, be sure to check this one out.
February 17, 2025
Excellent little book!! Perhaps my favorite of the 9Marks rainbow series.
As I started reading it, I was struck by how little of the Bible I would actually understand if it weren’t for the faithful teachers and expositors that God has put in my life. This was kind of a discouraging thought at first but quickly turned into a sweet reminder that God’s grace is a much surer and purer foundation for my life than the futility of my own understanding.
Back to the book though, I think I would recommend for almost anybody given that the thrust of the book is how do we read the Bible faithfully in a way that keeps us within the bounds of the context and directed toward Jesus Christ.
It packs a lot of punch in a really short book (~140 pages, fairly large font)
As I started reading it, I was struck by how little of the Bible I would actually understand if it weren’t for the faithful teachers and expositors that God has put in my life. This was kind of a discouraging thought at first but quickly turned into a sweet reminder that God’s grace is a much surer and purer foundation for my life than the futility of my own understanding.
Back to the book though, I think I would recommend for almost anybody given that the thrust of the book is how do we read the Bible faithfully in a way that keeps us within the bounds of the context and directed toward Jesus Christ.
It packs a lot of punch in a really short book (~140 pages, fairly large font)
December 18, 2024
I had mixed opinions while reading this. On one hand, I thought, "Yeah, I already know this." On the other hand, I realized the authors do a masterful job explaining the topic in a short, easy-to-read book. If you have never heard of Biblical Theology before, this book is almost like opening the eyes of a blind man. This is simply written but powerful to improve Bible literacy. The most helpful parts are probably the interpretation and preaching tips scattered throughout the book. Several examples gave me a perspective I had not yet seen.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who struggles to understand how all of the Bible tells one cohesive story.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who struggles to understand how all of the Bible tells one cohesive story.
March 2, 2025
Really cool book of how we can thread different themes of scripture from Genesis to Revelation! Loved how the emphasis was always on Christ.
The most helpful portion was chapter 5 describing the “5 C’s” of interpreting and studying scripture (p.89) which included: context, covenant, canon, character of God, and Christ. And speaking of 5…gave this book a well-deserved 5 stars⭐️
The most helpful portion was chapter 5 describing the “5 C’s” of interpreting and studying scripture (p.89) which included: context, covenant, canon, character of God, and Christ. And speaking of 5…gave this book a well-deserved 5 stars⭐️
July 15, 2024
Really good. Very helpful to see how biblical theology protects against proof-texting and false gospels. Also I really liked their emphasis on how biblical theology shapes the mission of the church. Some of these things and more are precisely why I have a heart for teaching and preaching it at BHBC for the good of the saints there.
May 6, 2025
Meant more for preachers and teachers (also - small group, Sunday school), but very good overview of biblical theology in the Bible.
December 28, 2023
A helpful little book that might aid your understanding of the importance (and how-to’s) of biblical theology is this book by Nick Roark and Robert Cline. It is geared towards building healthy churches, but I believe it has merit for the individual believer’s life as well.
The book begins by providing a framework for understanding the “big story” of God’s Word, considering each different section of Scripture at a time. It then considers why knowing these things is crucial for preventing error not only in the church but also in our own private study, and how it shapes our calling to “go . . . make disciples.” It also shares specific tips for preaching or teaching about various genres or sections of Scripture. Finally, it includes a very helpful appendix with specific verses that are often misunderstood (such as 2 Chronicles 7:14, which has nothing to do with America becoming a more Christian nation).
It has a particular focus on rooting out false teaching from the church, but it’s also very relevant for our own interactions with others outside the church body.
For instance, understanding every verse in light of the whole Bible will help us avoid errors such as proof-texting, moralisms, or the prosperity gospel. It will bring proper balance to our social justice programs, and guide us in rejecting immorality and unbiblical nationalism. Those beliefs affect more than just our preaching on Sundays — they guide every behavior and attitude we have during the week!
To help us work to form a more accurate biblical theology, the book shares five helpful “interpretive lenses” for properly understanding any given verse or passage of Scripture:
—Context: when was it written? to whom and by whom? for what purpose? in what genre?
—Covenant: where does it fit within God’s plan of salvation? how does that affect its application?
—Canon: how does it connect to the rest of Scripture (i.e., cross-references)?
—Character of God: what does it say about God and his attributes?
—Christ: how does it relate to the person and work of Christ?
By considering every verse or passage in light of these five things — and focusing especially on Christ — we are much more likely to maintain an accurate understanding of what God intended in each particular section of Scripture. Lose sight of any one of these lenses, and you will have a skewed interpretation of God’s divine truth and fail to understand it the way God intended.
Learning biblical theology takes some effort — and some resources — but nothing is more important in this life than understanding God’s Word properly! As the authors wrote: “Jesus Christ is the fountain from whom all blessings flow, and biblical theology is the scriptural map that helps guide us to this ever-flowing fountain.”
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed herein are completely my own.
The book begins by providing a framework for understanding the “big story” of God’s Word, considering each different section of Scripture at a time. It then considers why knowing these things is crucial for preventing error not only in the church but also in our own private study, and how it shapes our calling to “go . . . make disciples.” It also shares specific tips for preaching or teaching about various genres or sections of Scripture. Finally, it includes a very helpful appendix with specific verses that are often misunderstood (such as 2 Chronicles 7:14, which has nothing to do with America becoming a more Christian nation).
It has a particular focus on rooting out false teaching from the church, but it’s also very relevant for our own interactions with others outside the church body.
For instance, understanding every verse in light of the whole Bible will help us avoid errors such as proof-texting, moralisms, or the prosperity gospel. It will bring proper balance to our social justice programs, and guide us in rejecting immorality and unbiblical nationalism. Those beliefs affect more than just our preaching on Sundays — they guide every behavior and attitude we have during the week!
To help us work to form a more accurate biblical theology, the book shares five helpful “interpretive lenses” for properly understanding any given verse or passage of Scripture:
—Context: when was it written? to whom and by whom? for what purpose? in what genre?
—Covenant: where does it fit within God’s plan of salvation? how does that affect its application?
—Canon: how does it connect to the rest of Scripture (i.e., cross-references)?
—Character of God: what does it say about God and his attributes?
—Christ: how does it relate to the person and work of Christ?
By considering every verse or passage in light of these five things — and focusing especially on Christ — we are much more likely to maintain an accurate understanding of what God intended in each particular section of Scripture. Lose sight of any one of these lenses, and you will have a skewed interpretation of God’s divine truth and fail to understand it the way God intended.
Learning biblical theology takes some effort — and some resources — but nothing is more important in this life than understanding God’s Word properly! As the authors wrote: “Jesus Christ is the fountain from whom all blessings flow, and biblical theology is the scriptural map that helps guide us to this ever-flowing fountain.”
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed herein are completely my own.
May 2, 2021
I know it’s me, and not this book, but man! Nine marks books bore me so much! This book was informative, and when I initially started this book it was kinda challenging because I had no understanding of what biblical theology is (even though I took a biblical theology class in college, I did fail that class though lol) my pastor gave me this book and some articles on typology in 2019 to help guide me in my study of both biblical theology and PC. As time went on I started to grow in understanding of the subject from many places and then this book became a little dull and simplistic.
These book series continue to be helpful for instruction in new subjects and for new believers, they just kinda bore me, which agin ~ is more of my problem rather than the book
These book series continue to be helpful for instruction in new subjects and for new believers, they just kinda bore me, which agin ~ is more of my problem rather than the book
August 11, 2020
2020 reads: 29/52
4.5 stars
1st reading (13/05/18): Lucid and very accessible. Will certainly be lending this out and reading it with others.
2nd reading (01/08/20): Such a great introduction to an important field of theology. Our churches need more sound biblical theology that preaches texts in their canonical context whilst showing how they connect to the Christ.
4.5 stars
1st reading (13/05/18): Lucid and very accessible. Will certainly be lending this out and reading it with others.
2nd reading (01/08/20): Such a great introduction to an important field of theology. Our churches need more sound biblical theology that preaches texts in their canonical context whilst showing how they connect to the Christ.
February 20, 2018
First sentence: When I (Nick) was in elementary school, one of my classmates gave a book report about a story written by C. S. Lewis featuring four children, a lion king, a white witch, and a hidden magical land accessed through a wardrobe. I was mesmerized. So I purchased The Chronicles of Narnia for myself and read them with pleasure. But years later, after my conversion to Christ, I realized I had been missing the author’s obvious intentions to point his readers to Jesus.
What is biblical theology? Why is it important? These questions--and others like it--are addressed and answered in one of the newest books in the 9Marks series published by Crossway.
The book begins by stressing the need for biblical theology. What are the dangers we--as the church, or even as individuals--face if our theology is unbiblical?! Does right theology matter in our day to day lives? What impact should our doctrine be having on our lives? The authors list at least four reasons WHY having biblical theology matters.
1) Biblical theology helps clarify the Bible’s main purpose. Some people approach God’s Word as if it were a collection of independent stories, or an assortment of advice and counsel, or even a universal cookbook with recipes for “the good life” scattered across its sixty-six books. But these approaches fail to bring to light the central purpose of Scripture. Simply put, you won’t understand the story of the Bible unless you see that it’s all about Jesus! From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is the Hero and the point of the story.
2) Biblical theology helps guard and guide the church. Reading Scripture rightly means knowing where each book fits into its overarching narrative. And knowing the overarching narrative helps us read and understand accurately each event, character, or lesson that’s been given to us as part of God’s progressively revealed Word.
3) Biblical theology helps us in our evangelistic outreach. Sharing the good news with those who are unfamiliar with Christianity requires explaining much more than “four spiritual laws” or the “Romans road.” People first need to grasp that the Christian worldview accompanies a total transformation of mind-set.
4) Biblical theology helps us read, understand, and teach the Bible the way Jesus said we should. Jesus himself says in Luke 24 that he is Scripture’s interpretive key. So if we fail to read and understand Scripture in a way that leads us to Jesus, then we will miss the point of the Bible, and as a result we will teach others to commit the same error.
The book then defines what biblical theology IS. They write,
"Biblical theology is a way of reading the Bible as one story by one divine author that culminates in who Jesus Christ is and what he has done, so that every part of Scripture is understood in relation to him. Biblical theology helps us understand the Bible as one big book with lots of little books that tell one big story. The Hero and centerpiece of that story, from cover to cover, is Jesus Christ. Biblical theology is for the church, begins with the Bible, and ends with King Jesus and his church."
There are two chapters on the big picture of the Bible. These chapters provide summary that could prove quite useful to those new to the Bible or new to the faith. They provide an outline for understanding what you read. The book seems to be written in part for pastors. Each section includes preaching and teaching tips.
The next chapter focuses on understanding and studying the Bible. It is packed with tips or "tools" on how to read and study the Bible.
The final chapter is on the mission of the church. This chapter ties back in with the first which stated that, "missing the point of the Bible’s story produces false gospels and false churches." The authors give four examples: the prosperity gospel church, the civic gospel church, the soup-kitchen church, and the immorality-affirming church.
The book is a quick, practical read. I think the main audience is pastors and teachers, but, I think it can be a beneficial read to any believer whether they "teach" the faith officially or not. Doctrine matters for every one of us. Nobody should allow another person to think for them and do all the work.
What is biblical theology? Why is it important? These questions--and others like it--are addressed and answered in one of the newest books in the 9Marks series published by Crossway.
The book begins by stressing the need for biblical theology. What are the dangers we--as the church, or even as individuals--face if our theology is unbiblical?! Does right theology matter in our day to day lives? What impact should our doctrine be having on our lives? The authors list at least four reasons WHY having biblical theology matters.
1) Biblical theology helps clarify the Bible’s main purpose. Some people approach God’s Word as if it were a collection of independent stories, or an assortment of advice and counsel, or even a universal cookbook with recipes for “the good life” scattered across its sixty-six books. But these approaches fail to bring to light the central purpose of Scripture. Simply put, you won’t understand the story of the Bible unless you see that it’s all about Jesus! From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is the Hero and the point of the story.
2) Biblical theology helps guard and guide the church. Reading Scripture rightly means knowing where each book fits into its overarching narrative. And knowing the overarching narrative helps us read and understand accurately each event, character, or lesson that’s been given to us as part of God’s progressively revealed Word.
3) Biblical theology helps us in our evangelistic outreach. Sharing the good news with those who are unfamiliar with Christianity requires explaining much more than “four spiritual laws” or the “Romans road.” People first need to grasp that the Christian worldview accompanies a total transformation of mind-set.
4) Biblical theology helps us read, understand, and teach the Bible the way Jesus said we should. Jesus himself says in Luke 24 that he is Scripture’s interpretive key. So if we fail to read and understand Scripture in a way that leads us to Jesus, then we will miss the point of the Bible, and as a result we will teach others to commit the same error.
The book then defines what biblical theology IS. They write,
"Biblical theology is a way of reading the Bible as one story by one divine author that culminates in who Jesus Christ is and what he has done, so that every part of Scripture is understood in relation to him. Biblical theology helps us understand the Bible as one big book with lots of little books that tell one big story. The Hero and centerpiece of that story, from cover to cover, is Jesus Christ. Biblical theology is for the church, begins with the Bible, and ends with King Jesus and his church."
There are two chapters on the big picture of the Bible. These chapters provide summary that could prove quite useful to those new to the Bible or new to the faith. They provide an outline for understanding what you read. The book seems to be written in part for pastors. Each section includes preaching and teaching tips.
The next chapter focuses on understanding and studying the Bible. It is packed with tips or "tools" on how to read and study the Bible.
The final chapter is on the mission of the church. This chapter ties back in with the first which stated that, "missing the point of the Bible’s story produces false gospels and false churches." The authors give four examples: the prosperity gospel church, the civic gospel church, the soup-kitchen church, and the immorality-affirming church.
The book is a quick, practical read. I think the main audience is pastors and teachers, but, I think it can be a beneficial read to any believer whether they "teach" the faith officially or not. Doctrine matters for every one of us. Nobody should allow another person to think for them and do all the work.
April 16, 2018
I loved this 9Marks book. If you're not familiar with 9Marks, it's a ministry founded by Mark Dever whose goal is to do everything they can "to help pastors, future pastors, and church members see what a biblical church looks like, and to take practical steps for becoming one." One way they do this is by publishing books. Don't be intimidated by the title of this book or assume that it's just for pastors. The content of this book is super important for EVERY believer. "Biblical theology provides [the framework for understanding the whole Bible] because it guides our reading of the Bible and therefore guards against bad interpretation. Biblical theology is an approach to reading the whole story of the Bible while keeping our focus on the main point of Scripture, Jesus Christ. In other words, biblical theology is the scriptural road map that leads us to Jesus." This book walks the reader through the need for Biblical Theology, what Biblical Theology is, what the Bible's big story is (the metanarrative), and how Biblical Theology shapes a church's teaching and mission. The best part about this book is that it is for EVERYONE. It's extremely well written and easy to read. It's Christ-exalting, simple, concise, and only 105 pages long! Pastors, read this. Disciple-makers, read this. It's also a great six-week discipleship tool if you want to walk through the metanarrative with someone and then talk about the importance of interpretation. I loved the last chapters where it talks about how biblical theology keeps us from pitfalls like the prosperity gospel, religious patriotism (America or is chosen and superior - she's not, the global church is), or even becoming too civil/humanitarian minded.
I received a free copy of this book from Crossway for a review.
I received a free copy of this book from Crossway for a review.
March 29, 2018
One of the critical components of the Christian life involves understanding Scripture and applying it to our lives. This unavoidable goal is at the heart of Nick Roark and Robert Cline’s book, Biblical Theology: How the Church Faithfully Teaches the Gospel. The authors join forces and present one of the shortest and most profound treatments of biblical theology on the market today.
Biblical theology provides an accurate framework for understanding the Bible. “It is,” as the authors write, “the scriptural road map that leads to Jesus … Biblical theology is for the church, begins with the Bible, and ends with King Jesus and his church.”
Unfortunately, the discipline of biblical theology tends to get overlooked or underemphasized in some churches and theological academies. Many are being taught to examine the finer details of Scripture, yet they miss the overarching meta-narrative. In the final analysis, they miss the “forest for the trees.” Roark and Cline make is clear that Jesus Christ is the Hero of the Bible. Their excellent work beautifully articulates the plot line of Scripture and draws readers to the person and work of the Lord Jesus.
Biblical Theology is a breath of fresh theological air that will help encourage and edify the church and lead her down the proper path and greatly glorify God. Highly recommended!
Biblical theology provides an accurate framework for understanding the Bible. “It is,” as the authors write, “the scriptural road map that leads to Jesus … Biblical theology is for the church, begins with the Bible, and ends with King Jesus and his church.”
Unfortunately, the discipline of biblical theology tends to get overlooked or underemphasized in some churches and theological academies. Many are being taught to examine the finer details of Scripture, yet they miss the overarching meta-narrative. In the final analysis, they miss the “forest for the trees.” Roark and Cline make is clear that Jesus Christ is the Hero of the Bible. Their excellent work beautifully articulates the plot line of Scripture and draws readers to the person and work of the Lord Jesus.
Biblical Theology is a breath of fresh theological air that will help encourage and edify the church and lead her down the proper path and greatly glorify God. Highly recommended!
March 6, 2020
The 9 Marks series, "Building Healthy Churches" is a helpful series for the pastor. Whether the pastor is new to the ministry, or a seasoned veteran, these books can help him in his ministry to the church. I reread "Biblical Theology" because it was part of the year long reading suggested by Mark Dever, pastor of Captiol Hill Baptist Church. Mark is the founder of 9 Marks. One of the aspects of this book which is appealing to the reader is the appendix at the end. In the appendix, the authors give examples of biblical theology. These examples will help the reader as they consider how Biblical Theology should impact their reading and study of the Word of God.
March 16, 2021
"La teología bíblica es una forma de leer la Biblia como una historia escrita por un Autor divino que culmina en quien es Jesucristo y en lo que ha hecho, para que cada parte de laa Escrituras sean comprendidas en relación a Él."
Este libro es una excelente introducción a esta marca de una iglesia sana. Explica brevemente la importancia de la teología bíblica y el impacto de la presencia o ausencia de ella en medio de la iglesia local. Contiene dos capítulos enteros en los que relata la gran historia de la Biblia y un apéndice con ejemplos concretos de pasajes de distintos géneros literarios y su interpretación a la luz de la teología bíblica.
Este libro es una excelente introducción a esta marca de una iglesia sana. Explica brevemente la importancia de la teología bíblica y el impacto de la presencia o ausencia de ella en medio de la iglesia local. Contiene dos capítulos enteros en los que relata la gran historia de la Biblia y un apéndice con ejemplos concretos de pasajes de distintos géneros literarios y su interpretación a la luz de la teología bíblica.
June 14, 2022
The preaching and teaching of the church must be rooted in a rich Biblical theology that teaches all the scriptures centred on the person and work of Christ. Apart from a developed understanding of God's redeeming work on display in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, churches and preachers can be quickly led into error.
September 29, 2024
This short and concise work succeeds in its exhortation of reading the Bible in light of its main message that culminates in Jesus Christ. The accessible language also lends itself well to also being read and applied by those without formal theological training.
December 18, 2025
This really was a good book. I have read a lot of things this year on biblical theology- so it felt repetitive. No fault on the book though. If you or someone you know is unfamiliar with biblical theology- this would be a simple and easy read for them!
February 26, 2020
Very good primer. Helpful.
March 8, 2022
A great, basic-level overview of biblical theology. Did not agree with all the applications in the appendix.
May 18, 2024
One of the best of this series. Every Christian should read it, every pastor will be helped and encouraged in his preaching. A good book to giveaway!
July 15, 2025
i actually really enjoyed listening to this book and found it quite interesting, as well as cool that i know one of the authors 😁
April 18, 2018
How do lengthy regulations about the manner of dress and eating habits of the Jews point to Jesus? What significance do the proverbs and wisdom literature of the Old Testament have for Christians today? Such questions inevitably face Christians as they read their Bibles. Among scholars who study the Bible, it has been commonly recognized that biblical theology is invaluable for providing answers to such questions. Unfortunately, the many insights yielded by the study of biblical theology have not been made easily accessible to a non-academic audience.
Many recent works have attempted to address this gap—Crossway’s Short Studies in Biblical Theology has been one such attempt. Nick Roark and Robert Cline’s Biblical Theology is another. Instead of tracing an individual theme throughout Scripture (as in the Short Studies series), Biblical Theology attempts to introduce the reader to the concept of biblical theology and its many applications for all believers. For this reason, I was pleased to receive a review copy of Roark and Cline’s short book (I received a copy through Crossway's blog review program). Biblical Theology is a gift to the church: lucidly written and brimming with insights, Christians of all walks of life will benefit from reading it.
At 162 pages, Bibilical Theology is of sufficient length to introduce the discipline of biblical theology while remaining short enough for the time-strapped reader. Roark and Cline present biblical theology as the study of the Bible’s story in order to understand the individual books, stories, and paragraphs that make up Scripture (the whole necessary to understand the parts). They describe it as “an approach to reading the whole story of the Bible while keeping our focus on the main point of Scripture, Jesus Christ. In other words, biblical theology is the scriptural road map that leads us to Jesus” (23). For this reason, biblical theology “helps clarify the Bible’s main purpose”; “helps guard and guide the church”; “helps us in our evangelistic outreach”; and “helps us read, understand, and teach the way the Jesus said we should” (17-19).
That is, by looking at the story that unifies all the pieces of Scripture, biblical theology shows us how Scripture is about God and His work in the world. By giving us a necessary tool for understanding the pieces of Scripture, biblical theology helps Christians read the bible correctly in order to think and act rightly before God and so guards against false doctrine and erroneous practices. The authors also argue that biblical theology helps with evangelism. It gives us a tool to show others not only how they can be “saved” but why salvation is needed: Biblical theology moves first through the creation and fall and then to God’s work to redeem sinful humans through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In addition to describing biblical theology, the authors give the greatest space to doing biblical theology. This is probably the greatest virtue of the book. Readers will find great value in the account of the Bible’s overarching story (metanarrative) in chapters 3-4 and the expositions of biblical theology’s value for the Church’s teaching and mission in chapters 5-6.
Roark and Cline have given the Church a great gift. If I could add anything to Biblical Theology, it would be nuance the term “biblical theology” a little bit more. The study of the Bible’s story is a significant portion of biblical theology, but it is not the whole. It would be inaccurate to say that the Bible is a story, or that its metanarrative is the unifying feature of Scripture.
As the study of the unity of Scripture, biblical theology examines—in addition to the story of Scripture—the theological themes that run throughout the 66 biblical books, the function and nature of Scripture (is it a “story” or another sort of document?), and the distinctive features of the books and groups of books that make up the Bible.
The story recounted through Scripture is central to understanding every passage, yet biblical theology has much more to offer than the story alone. Studies of the other related aspects of biblical theology have much to offer the church yet remain almost exclusively in the halls of academia. It is, however, hard to fault a book for not doing more than it intended to do; so I heartedly recommend Biblical Theology to pastors, students, and everyone else who reads—or should read—their bibles.
Many recent works have attempted to address this gap—Crossway’s Short Studies in Biblical Theology has been one such attempt. Nick Roark and Robert Cline’s Biblical Theology is another. Instead of tracing an individual theme throughout Scripture (as in the Short Studies series), Biblical Theology attempts to introduce the reader to the concept of biblical theology and its many applications for all believers. For this reason, I was pleased to receive a review copy of Roark and Cline’s short book (I received a copy through Crossway's blog review program). Biblical Theology is a gift to the church: lucidly written and brimming with insights, Christians of all walks of life will benefit from reading it.
At 162 pages, Bibilical Theology is of sufficient length to introduce the discipline of biblical theology while remaining short enough for the time-strapped reader. Roark and Cline present biblical theology as the study of the Bible’s story in order to understand the individual books, stories, and paragraphs that make up Scripture (the whole necessary to understand the parts). They describe it as “an approach to reading the whole story of the Bible while keeping our focus on the main point of Scripture, Jesus Christ. In other words, biblical theology is the scriptural road map that leads us to Jesus” (23). For this reason, biblical theology “helps clarify the Bible’s main purpose”; “helps guard and guide the church”; “helps us in our evangelistic outreach”; and “helps us read, understand, and teach the way the Jesus said we should” (17-19).
That is, by looking at the story that unifies all the pieces of Scripture, biblical theology shows us how Scripture is about God and His work in the world. By giving us a necessary tool for understanding the pieces of Scripture, biblical theology helps Christians read the bible correctly in order to think and act rightly before God and so guards against false doctrine and erroneous practices. The authors also argue that biblical theology helps with evangelism. It gives us a tool to show others not only how they can be “saved” but why salvation is needed: Biblical theology moves first through the creation and fall and then to God’s work to redeem sinful humans through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In addition to describing biblical theology, the authors give the greatest space to doing biblical theology. This is probably the greatest virtue of the book. Readers will find great value in the account of the Bible’s overarching story (metanarrative) in chapters 3-4 and the expositions of biblical theology’s value for the Church’s teaching and mission in chapters 5-6.
Roark and Cline have given the Church a great gift. If I could add anything to Biblical Theology, it would be nuance the term “biblical theology” a little bit more. The study of the Bible’s story is a significant portion of biblical theology, but it is not the whole. It would be inaccurate to say that the Bible is a story, or that its metanarrative is the unifying feature of Scripture.
As the study of the unity of Scripture, biblical theology examines—in addition to the story of Scripture—the theological themes that run throughout the 66 biblical books, the function and nature of Scripture (is it a “story” or another sort of document?), and the distinctive features of the books and groups of books that make up the Bible.
The story recounted through Scripture is central to understanding every passage, yet biblical theology has much more to offer than the story alone. Studies of the other related aspects of biblical theology have much to offer the church yet remain almost exclusively in the halls of academia. It is, however, hard to fault a book for not doing more than it intended to do; so I heartedly recommend Biblical Theology to pastors, students, and everyone else who reads—or should read—their bibles.
May 17, 2022
Excellent small book on biblical theology. Despite the small size I took lots of notes!
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