The New Testament in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic

Introductions in Seven Sentences

by Gary M. Burge

We often explore individual passages of Scripture without seeing the whole. A verse may be inspiring and easy to grasp, but the sweeping context is often difficult and requires persistence. To understand the breadth of the gospel's message, we need to perceive the full tapestry of Scripture with its theological themes woven together. Otherwise, we miss the scope of what Jesus is doing in the New Testament, gaining mere glimpses of his activity or teaching but missing their significance. Gary M. Burge aims to weave this larger tapestry so that each part of the story takes on richer meaning. Using seven key sentences drawn straight from the New Testament, Burge demonstrates how the themes of fulfillment, kingdom, cross, grace, covenant, spirit, and completion set a theological rhythm for our faith. The seven include
"You are the Messiah, the son of the living God!"
"By grace you have been saved, through faith ... not by works."
"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession."
"I saw a new heaven and a new earth."
These sentences are not only individually inspiring, but they outline the broader pattern of Scripture that illustrates what God has done--and is bringing to fulfillment--in Christ.

Genres: Theology, Christian, New Testament

144 pages, Paperback

Published October 8, 2019

About the author

Gary M. Burge (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is dean of the faculty and professor of New Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary. He previously taught for twenty-five years at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Among his many published books are The New Testament in Seven Sentences, Theology Questions Everyone Asks (with coeditor David Lauber), A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion, Mapping Your Academic Career, The New Testament in Antiquity (coauthored with Gene Green), and the award-winning Whose Land? Whose Promise? What Christians Are Not Being Told About Israel and the Palestinians.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to the Bible, scholars and non-scholars have something in common. We can both get lost in minutia.

Academics can get lost in the details of philology and morphology. The rest of us are prone to proof-texting, ripping verses or phrases out of context as if the Bible were a book of disconnected timeless truths or a mere handbook for living.

When we miss the big picture, Gary Burge comes to our rescue with The New Testament in Seven Sentences. He offers seven grand themes that help us see the majestic vista of God’s work in Christ and the church. They are fulfillment, kingdom, cross, grace, covenant, spirit, completion.

Along the way he reminds us of large truths we should have known. Grace, for example, is not a New Testament invention. It shoots through all of Scripture. Or this: the community of Christ is not God’s Plan B but the fulfillment of his plan A—the redemptive covenant community begun in Abraham. Or this: in the early church, “the ultimate test of discipleship would have been less about what we know and more about what we have experienced,” especially in the Spirit (97).

Burge uses the seven sentences as epigraphs to each chapter when he could have taken the opportunity to fruitfully explain them in context of the whole New Testament. Still, in plain and engaging language, Burge provides ample space throughout for Old Testament background because without that we have little hope of understanding Jesus or the apostles.

Along with Chris Wright’s companion volume, The Old Testament in Seven Sentences, this is a complete overview of the Bible. Taking a chapter a week, any church or small group could in under four months lift their heads from the weeds to see the grand landscape that is God’s story.

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Disclosure: I received a complementary copy of the book from the publisher. My opinions are my own.

[Jared Saltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each year, I try and preach through a series of "Basics" aimed at getting a view of the entire picture of the Bible a big-picture view. Last year, I used the Old Testament in Seven Sentences, and this year I'm using Burge's NT. Although I think one or two chapters of the OTnSS were better, the quality of this by Burge is--on average--much higher. In some chapters, I've agree enough with the way things were approached to use the outline of the chapter itself, mostly unaltered, to adapt into a sermon; at other times, I merely used the concept and the verse itself; most of the time, it was something in between. But the real use of these volumes for me was to help systematize what areas to chose as the most important aspects to work through, and I liked his approach in chapter 1--fulfillment--of connecting things to show how they were the same and how they were different from the OT and used this as my primary structure, throughout. If you're looking for a brief introduction to the theology (as opposed to other aspects) of the NT, this would be a very accessible area in which to start.

[Nitoy Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so pumped up this set of new books by IVP that I never think twice of getting this book and Write Better by Andrew T. Le Peau. I think I’ve been reading and reviewing books that are either about salvation or Christian living that I long to read something about the Bible. This new book by Gary M. Burge really rewarded me of that craving.

The New Testament in Seven Sentences tackles the major themes of the Bible and not just the New Testament as the title may suggest. These themes helps us better understand the Bible and it’s message. Further it helps us focus on what God’s sovereign plan through Jesus from here and eternity. Burge crafted this book that as you read, you’ll find the Old and New are inseparable and indispensible. Burge is absolutely good in this part stitching both OT and NT together, that you’ll get glued in reading this book. He imparts his skill to provide a solid read that requires less illustration that won’t overwhelm or bored you to death. I was hooked that I read a big chunk of it the moment I started reading it. And I hope you’ll find that enthusiasm over connecting youself with the topic of this book.

The seven sentences in the title are seven verses in the New Testament that presents the seven themes. They are Matthew 16: 16, fulfillment; Mark 1: 15, kingdom; Luke 9: 22, cross; 1 Peter 2: 9, covenant; Romans 8: 9, spirit; and Revelation 21:1, completion. Some of these verses are familiar and you might know what they convey. You might dismissed this as another one of the books that will have the same content discussing themes of the Bible. Think again! Burge breaks the familiarity and brings insights that you might have missed as he digs deeper to the OT to bring light to these themes.

My favorite chapter of the book is Burge tackling grace. Burge excellently delivers the the familiar mash up with insights that will further elavate the familiar and illuminate insights you might not heard of. The well balanced blend in the book is a delight for the readers.

The New Testament in Seven Sentences is an engaging book that supersedes its intention as an introduction for the major theme of the Bible. It’s not an introductory book that you will feel hurried or summarized that will leave you wanting but gives you a satisfying read. Please don’t supplement it for something less or it might steal the other book’s thunder. In fact, you might just need this one to do the job in understanding the crucial themes in the Scriptures. Highly recommend!

My verdict:

5 out of 5

[Chasen Robbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Burges, small book claims that weaving together the themes of fulfillment, kingdom, grace, cross, covenant, spirit, and completion (135) leads to a greater understanding of the New Testament. Instead of individualizing every part, Burge takes the reader through how this theme plays out in the Old Testament, the gospels, and in Paul. Hoping to correct any modern here season in pitfalls, urge takes time to correct the false ideas of the legalistic/grace divide between the testaments, strange, eschatological theories, and helpfully describes the work of the spirit in the New Testament.

Personally, I see this book is a great reference for anyone hoping to preach on these topics in the future.

[Kyle Tomlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very often, when we read the Bible, we miss the forest for the trees. We dig down into the details only to find that we’ve missed the greater themes at work in the whole. In this short, but rich, little book, Gary Burge provides a helpful and accessible tool for seeing the main themes of the New Testament in seven key words, thus helping us see the beautiful forest that is the New Testament. He does this in large part by drawing on the connections between the Old and New Testament, thus making this a helpful primer on biblical theology. I can’t recommend this book enough to both those who are well versed in Scripture and to those who aren’t.

[Gabe Perez · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of really good stuff packed into this short book. My one criticism is that there is not a chapter on resurrection; in fact the resurrection hardly gets mentioned at all in this book. I think the ideas in the chapter on fulfillment could have been included in the chapters on kingdom and covenant to make room for a chapter on resurrection.

[Tim Franks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good and concise look at some of major themes of the New Testament. Really enjoyed the section on grace, what an often talked about, but misunderstood topic for believers in Jesus. All Christians would get some great benefit of reading this short summary of the New Testament!

[Matt Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful

Used this book as a primary overview for the study of the New Testament - it worked. Enjoyed the connection between the Old and New as well as theological work needed to think through and live the Scriptures as we read them.

[Aleah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful primer that offers a clear, accessible overview of major New Testament themes. Would be helpful for any student of the Bible at any stage in their journey.

[Annie Beckstrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this and will keep as reference for later in NT bible reading. Well written and simple.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another terrific book in the series "Introductions in Seven Sentences".

[Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and readable book providing a big-picture overview of God's story. I especially enjoyed the chapters on the cross, covenant, and completion.