Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church (9Marks) [Paperback]

Biblical theology is a specific type of way to study the Bible from the perspective of redemptive history. It is an attempt to look at how God revealed himself to humanity at different stages of redemption: at creation, at the fall, during the time of Noah, Abraham and the patriarchs, and on throughout the Old Testament into the New Testament.

Since Geerhardus Vos wrote his classic work Biblical Theology Biblical Theology, evangelicals have continued to realize the importance of the discipline. In fact, we have numerous books out now that are good introductions to the task of Biblical theology, and Michael Lawrence has added a helpful resource with his book Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church: A Guide for Ministry.

Lawrence means two things by biblical theology. First, he means sound theology, theology that is biblical. Second, he means what is properly called biblical theology: the whole story of the whole Bible. Usually the first definition is closer to what we call systematic theology, and for that reason, Lawrence devotes two chapters to the integration to biblical theology and systematic theology.

The book is divided into three sections. Section 1 examines the tools that are needed to interpret the Bible, which includes exegetical tools, Biblical theological tools, and systematic theological tools. Section 2 provides examples of the task of biblical theology under the title, "The Stories to be Told." Here Lawrence looks at Creation, Fall, Love, Sacrifice, and Promise. Section 3 concludes the book with "Putting It Together For the Church," examining some case studies of preaching and teaching and how it applies to the local church.

Lawrence has provided a helpful resource for those who are unfamiliar with the task of biblical theology, as well as a helpful guide to interpreting the Bible in general. For example, the first section not only introduces you to biblical theology by examining covenants, epochs, prophecy, typology, and continuity, but it also introduces you to the basic grammatical-historical method by explaining literary forms and genres.

For those who have been working at biblical theology for a while, this would be a helpful resource to have on your shelf. It provides a quick summary of some of the major points, and Lawrence provides helpful references to other important works. I think the book is most helpful for its ability to provide this summary. Lawrence is not attempting to move the discussion forward in terms of the interaction of BT & ST (from the discussions of Warfield, Vos, Murray, Gaffin, Kline, etc.), or in terms of the homiletic significance of biblical theology (as in the hermeneutic being the homiletic).

When I first saw the book, I thought Lawrence was going in this direction, but that would have been a completely different book, and I am glad he wrote this one first! His goal is to introduce BT and encourage pastors to take it seriously in the life of the church. He also seeks to defend ST from the various attacks of the postmodern-evangelical-emergent world, and he does a fine job at that. As it is, this book should be considered a significant contribution to summarizing the project of Biblical Theology. I cannot think of another book that combines all these aspects (biblical theology, systematic theology, preaching, ministry, church, etc.) into one volume in the concise way Lawrence does.

For some time, I have wanted to require my students to purchase a basic biblical theology--like Goldsworthy's "According to Plan"--that was very specific about how to apply all of this in the daily life and ministry of the the local church. This book does everything that I envisioned and more. Outstanding.

This is a down to earth book on the basis for Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology and how to use in the church congreagtion. Easy and interesting to read. Good refresher for Pastors and other trained leadership in a local church. A highlight from the book is when the author states that when people read the Bible Story they are doing Biblical theology and the process of how they sum up passages, doctrine and apply them in their life is sytematic theology. He furthers states that even if we do not recognize that is what we are doing;we still do it.
This is a must read for Pastors.