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A Helpful Overview of the Entire Bible


In God's Big Picture, Vaughan Roberts summarizes the Bible in 8 parts. God's story can be seen as eight levels of kingdom: pattern, perished, promised, partial, prophesied, present, proclaimed, and perfected.  

The Pattern of the Kingdom

Genesis 1-2 tells us how the world came to be and describes the basic pattern of God's kingdom.  Adam and Eve were God's people and dwelt in the garden in perfect fellowship with him.  God's rule was their guide as they experienced perfect relationship with all things. 

The Perished Kingdom

Genesis 3 tells the story of the perished kingdom.  God no longer has a people.  Adam and Eve disobeyed and were banished from the garden.  Their disobedience would curse later generations, as evidenced through Cain's sin, the destruction of the world by flood, and the dispersion of people at the Tower of Babel.   Yet God shows his kindness and mercy in each of these episodes through figures like Noah and later, Abraham.  

The Promised Kingdom

If Genesis 1-11 tells the origins story of the world, Genesis 12 and onward relates the story of God's people and the Promised Kingdom.  God promises Abraham multiple descendants and a place to dwell, all for the purpose of blessing the nations.  This three-fold promise is repeated to Isaac and Jacob (a.k.a., Israel).  When God's people become enslaved in Exodus, all hopes of a promised kingdom seem to be dashed.  But God raised up Moses to bring about the mass exodus from Egypt and to establish his people. 

The Partial Kingdom

After the people of God are rescued from Egyptian slavery, they are brought out to the wilderness to worship God. He gave them his law, his patience and his love.  They were to build a tabernacle for God so that he could be with his people.  They were to offer sacrifices so they could be forgiven.  They were to love their neighbor so they could be a blessing to all the world.  From Exodus to 2 Chronicles, the biblical writers tell the story of a people--the Israelites--who inhabited the land of the Canaanites, raised up for themselves a king like the other nations, and mostly disobeyed the law that God gave through Moses.  As a consequence for their disobedience and a failure to keep up their end of the covenant, God cursed them first by sending the Assyrians to sack the Northern Kingdom--referred to as Israel or Ephraim--in 722BC, and then Babylon to destroy the Southern Kingdom--referred to as Judah and Zion.  These two events clearly marked God's dissatisfaction with his people's disobedience.  Nevertheless, their remained a remnant that was obedient and faithful to God.  

The Prophesied Kingdom

When several years of exile came to an end, the Persian king Cyrus gave an edict that all Israelites could return to their land and rebuild their temple.  This, they believed, was a mark of God's presence returning to Israel.  However, throughout the stories and prophecies told from Ezra to Malachi, we get a different reality. God's people will be the remnant of Israel, but will also include all nations.  There will be a new temple and a new creation where God's people can once again dwell with him.  Furthermore, there will be a new covenant that marks God as the rightful king.  Surely, through this new covenant--this person--the world will be blessed.  

The Present Kingdom

Four hundred years after the prophet Malachi's words, the long-awaited Messiah ushers in the present kingdom.  The Gospels tell us of a Messiah who fulfills every aspect of God's law perfectly.  His teaching is prophetic and timely.  There is no doubt that he is an other-worldly king, reversing the effects of sin and death through powerful miracles. And finally, as a priest, he fulfills the final covering for sin through his perfect sacrifice, removing the just wrath of God and fully pleasing God's requirements for perfection.  His resurrection is proof that his sacrifice was accepted on our behalf.  Jesus's works reveal to us that he is the perfect Adam and the perfect Israel.  Not only does he represent what the perfect people of God ought to be like, he also reveals that he is the dwelling place of God.  He is the true temple; through him, people can access God.  And finally, as a true king, Jesus gives the people of his kingdom true rest.  Before Jesus left to be in heaven with his Father, he established the people of his kingdom on earth and called them "Church." 

The Proclaimed Kingdom

Jesus's departure left many questions for his followers.  How should they continue on without him? What should they tell others about Jesus?  How should they live in light of the forgiveness they received from Christ? The rest of the New Testament, after the Gospels, gives us answers to this questions.  This era is called the Proclaimed Kingdom.  God's people are comprised of both Jew and Gentile--they are the new Israel. God among each individual Christian through his Holy Spirit.  When two or three gather in his name, God is present.  It is no surprise then that the church --a people, not a physical geographical place--is where the presence of God is made manifest.  The book of Acts and the Epistles explain to us the significance of these new realities.  Christians must be a blessing to the nations as they testify to the goodness of God shown through Jesus Christ.  But Christians also learn that dealing with their own sin by the power of the Holy Spirit is simply a reminder that things are not yet as God originally intended to be.  Nevertheless, the presence of the Holy Spirit within us causes us to look forward to a day when evil shall no longer exist--the dawn of the Perfected Kingdom.  

The Perfected Kingdom

The end of the Bible ends the way it begins--in a garden.  God's people will be comprised of a multi-national family.  Everything will be recreated, including our bodies and the final resting place for our worship of God.  In the final chapters of the book of Revelation, John writes of a spectacular place that he calls the New Jerusalem.  In the New Jerusalem, there will be a new temple.  And at the center of this temple, God will be seated on his throne.  The Garden paradise we read of in Genesis 1-2 is now the ultimate reality we will experience: God's people enjoying the presence of God with perfect relationship in the midst of a garden.







 


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How to Study the Bible, Part 2

Bible Study Expectations

People have many reasons for studying the Bible.  Christians read the Bible because they expect some sort of impact on their lives.  This is a good expectation to have every time one reads the Bible.  In fact, the Bible places this expectation on Christians. In James 1:22-24, we read: 

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."

Step 4: Application

Effective Bible study is not only about finding meaning.  That's really important.  But it's how that truth affects us that can make Bible study worthwhile.  James is capitalizing on this reality of Bible study.  There is a way to study the Bible that can cause us to lack any meaningful encounter with God and the world around us, namely by hearing it.  Hearing is essential; but hearing without doing is futile.  Doing, or obeying, God's Word ingrains truth in our minds and hearts so we don't go away forgetting what it says.  Therefore, a primary purpose of Bible study is application.   I define application as the ability to take spiritual truths and react to them in such a way so as to lead to deeper conformity to Christ. 

Christians should expect a supernatural encounter with God--in varying degrees--every time we read the Bible. In other words, each time I study the Bible, I will encounter God since he has chosen to reveal himself through his Word.   Applying a biblical text is simply one way we encounter God and become more conformed to the image of Christ.  

Obstacles to Bible Study Application

1. Spiritual Blindness

Application is not easy. There are many obstacles to correctly applying a biblical text.  First, there is spiritual blindness--we can't see the truth because we don't have the right glasses.  Each time we look to a text, we must do so in faith with spiritual eyes.  Spiritual people can discern spiritual things because they have the Holy Spirit.  Without faith it is impossible to please God.  Without spiritual glasses it's impossible to see the light. 

2. Unwillingness to see our own sin

Failure to apply a biblical text can also be caused by are unwillingness to see our own sin.  Christianity has a counter-intuitive way of bringing people to spiritual fulfillment compared to other systems of belief.  In modern day religion, the key to unlocking spiritual success is by focusing on the inner-you, your "true" self.  You possess hidden potential that is waiting to be unleashed.  It teaches that humanity is basically good and that most problems are external, not internal.  Christianity teaches that our biggest problem is our self--it's internal. We are our own greatest enemy in the sense that we are wicked to the core of our being.  Because we are wicked, God's wrath is unleashed against us, and the only solution is not to follow our heart, it's to completely replace it.  When we read a biblical passage that points out sin in our life, it will take a new heart to acknowledge it's presence and eradicate it. 

3. Not enough time to think about application

A less spiritual reason, but still significant, is the lack of time we spend combing through the application of biblical texts.  When Peter saw Jesus transformed in Mark 9, he wanted to set up a tent so that he could just  gaze upon the beauty of Christ.  But Jesus wasn't so keen on the idea--there was much more work left to be done.  We must stay and gaze upon the beauty of Christ in our Bible reading. And we must work hard to see how Christ's beauty connects with our lives, lest we think that being enamored of Christ is somehow separate from striving to be like him.  

Questions for Bible Study Application

What then are some questions we should ask when we approach a biblical text in order to apply it to our lives? Here is a list of 11 questions:

1. Does this passage point out sin in my life for which I need to confess and repent?

2. What assumptions does this passage have that I don’t share?  Or that I share but don’t necessarily live by? 

3. Is there a command to obey that I see in this passage?  What are the ways in which I’m not obeying it?  What’s keeping me from obeying it fully?

4. Is there encouragement for me in this passage?

5. Is there a promise in this passage from God that holds true for me?

6. Does this passage teach me something about who God is?  

7. Does this passage help me understand something about myself?

8. What evidence for my faith does this passage give me?  How does it help me trust God’s promises?

9. What am I going to do differently because of my time in this passage?

10. How can I model or share or teach this truth so that others are also encouraged by it?

11. What application does this passage have for us as a family (if you’re married) or as a church? 

Here is a downloadable grid with these questions and spaces to fill in your responses:


 

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How to Study the Bible, Part 1

Deductive versus Inductive Bible Study Method

One of the most common ways people study the Bible is by picking a topic, like "money," and then, searching the Bible for relevant passages.  This is called deductive Bible study.  You are deducing, from the topic you've chosen that the biblical passages you've stringed together must somehow fit together.  This is top-down reasoning.  Another way to say this is that you start with the whole and move to the parts--the general to specific.  

Certainly, there are benefits to this approach, like systematizing the Bible's view on the character of God.  But it also has many pitfalls.  For instance, if you were trying to prove that the Bible endorsed slavery, and were looking for texts to support this conclusion, you'd realize pretty quickly that you have two options: a) bend and twist the Bible to say what it doesn't say, or b) change your conclusion. 

In order for the Bible to come alive with meaning, we need another approach--one that lets the Bible speak for itself.  Often, this approach is called "Inductive Bible study."  Inductive Bible study often focuses on only one particular passage of Scripture at a time, and often includes a thorough process of observation, interpretation, and application. I recommend a step-by-step process: prayer, observation, interpretation, and application. This post starts with observation and interpretation--and in another post, I'll present application. 

Step 1: Prayer

Step 2: Observation

In the classic story, "Agassiz and the Fish," a student chronicles his encounter with his professor, Agassiz, and the fish he was to study.  Agassiz tells the student to observe absolutely everything about the fish.  Unfazed, the student begins jotting down all the possible observable details and returns it to his professor. Dissatisfied,  Agassiz requires the student to take the fish yet again. Each time the student looked at the fish, he noticed more and more details emerge.  This process continued for a whole semester-long, until finally, the student no longer needed to see the fish, for he could envision it using only his mind! Pleased with the results, Agassiz permitted the student to study what he originally sought out to learn--insects.  

The point of the story is that observation is an essential step for investigating.  The student had to learn that to be a good scientist, one has to patiently notice details that others would not so easily observe.  

Observation is the first step in effective Bible study.  It seeks to describe what the author is saying.  At this point, all you're doing as the reader is asking the 5 Ws and an H--who, what, where, when, why, how.  Besides this, there are some things to look for:

1. Keywords and phrases that are repeated

2. Contrasts and comparisons 

3. Expressions of time and when events take place

4. Geographic locations and shifts in setting

5. Transition words and terms of conclusion: therefore, so that, as a result of, and, but, in order that, thus, etc..

6.  Themes that appear throughout the book and chapter.  For example, the Gospel of Matthew carries the theme of authority and Christ's power.  

Step 3: Interpretation

Observation tells us what a text says.  Interpretation tells us what a text means. Several factors allow us to eventually derive meaning:

1. Context, Context, Context - The first step in deriving meaning is to determine context.  To get context, ask: What happens before the passage you're study? What happens after? What happens in the whole book where the passage is located?  Finally, How does the passage I'm studying fit into the whole Bible? 

2. Let Scripture interpret Scripture - If a passage appears to say something contradictory to something else in Scripture (i.e. God's sovereignty and human responsibility), simply remember that Scripture is God breathed, therefore it doesn't contradict itself. No part of the Bible undermines another part. In the end, it's better to be humble than to think you know more than God. 

3. Don't base your doctrine on vague passages of Scripture alone (i.e. Mark 16:9-20). 

4. Interpret Scripture the way the author intended - If the Bible says that God created the world, then the author most likely intended to mean that God did in fact create the world.  As you read through the Bible, you'll see that it puts to use a whole spectrum of genres, imagery, and symbolism.  We need to take these major differences into account when trying to understand the Bible's meaning.    

5. To look for the main message of a passage, ask "How would I teach this to a 5-year-old?" This will help you summarize big truths in brief statements while also challenging you to retain the biblical truth. 

6. Keep in mind that the Old Testament is pointing ultimately to Jesus in the New Testament.  

7. Maintain the same attitude the New Testament has of the Old Testament.  When reading the NT, ask these questions: How is this passage a fulfillment of promises from the OT? How is the NT different or similar to the OT teaching?  In what way does the NT clarify and reveal something from the OT? 

By looking for these details, you'll be able to find the meaning of a biblical passage.  With enough practice, you'll commit these steps to memory, all the while, making your Bible study time a very meaningful experience.  These are the first three steps in effective Bible study.  In the coming days, I'll discuss the fourth step, which is application. 

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Bible Phrasing: 1 Timothy 6:3–10

Paul's concern in the final chapter of his small letter to Timothy concerns sound doctrine (verses 2–5) and godliness (6–10).

The first part contains a brief protasis (verse 3) and a lengthy apodosis (verse 4). The protasis has two parts, with the (b) section containing two clarifying categories. The structure of the protasis is as follows:

    (a) if anyone teaches a different doctrine

    (b) if anyone does not agree with

            (1) the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ

            (2) the teaching that accords with godliness

 Next, the apodosis continues with two parts, (a) and (b), and each part has two sub-sections. The structure of the apodosis is as follows:

   (a) [then] he is 

            (1) puffed up with conceit

            (2) and understands nothing

    (b) [then] He has an unhealthy craving

            (1) for controversy

            (2) for quarrels about words

Part (b) (2) continues with a list of what quarrels produce. Paul lists envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction, as the result of unhealthy cravings for controversy and quarrels. Paul adds a note about the people for whom constant friction is a problem: (1) they are depraved in mind and (2) they are deprived of the truth. These morally corrupt people imagine that godliness is financially beneficial. 

The δὲ beginning verse 6 leads to a new development. Paul here addresses the idea that godliness is a means of gain (verse 5) by adding the nuance that godliness with contentment is great gain. Verse seven highlight two aspects of this perspective that makes it a "great gain": (1) godliness with contentment gives a person the realization that they brought nothing into the world and (2) that we cannot take anything out of the world. Furthermore, this perspective allows a person to be content with the bare minimum: food and clothing. 

Verse 9 addresses the idea that godliness is a "means of gain." Paul warns those who desire to be rich will fall in several ways: (1) into temptation, (2) into a snare, (3) into many senseless and harmful desires, and (4) into ruin and destruction.

Going back to the theme of desire in verse 9, verse 10 provides a reason for why those who desire to be rich will fall: the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. He explains further: through love of money, (1) people have fallen away from the faith and (2) people have pierced themselves with many pangs. Although Paul does not give a specific example of how people may have "pierced themselves with many pangs," the idea is somewhat akin to the modern notion that loving money can cause one to "shoot themselves in the foot." Paul's warning is a wake up call to Timothy and any other reader, who may be tempted toward loving riches. '' failed to upload. Invalid response: RpcError







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My 2025 Reading List

For the past several years, my goal has been to read at least one book a week for 52 weeks. I read the Bible every day. I have spent the last year in Leviticus (preparing to teach a seminar) and Revelation (for PhD studies). In the coming year, I plan to begin the book of Numbers (in Hebrew) and phrase out the book of 1 Corinthians. 

I practice three types of reading.

(~50%) Reading for the forest -- very broad reading to get a big picture of the book. I familiarize myself with the table of contents, the introduction, the conclusion, headings, subheadings, and perhaps the conclusion of each chapter. 

(~30%) Reading for the trees -- this type of reading is more nuanced and would require rereading book chapters, intros, conclusions, and references. This would also include very light highlights, annotations, and some comments. 

(~20%) Reading for the bark -- the most detailed reading possible, with detailed and heavy notes, annotations, comments, and analysis. I reserve this reading for highly technical and challenging works, commentaries on the Bible, and the Bible itself. 

*books I reread every year or every other year

GENERAL THEOLOGY



BIBLICAL STUDY AND CRITICISM





PARENTING AND FAMILY






PRODUCTIVITY





LEARNING













MEDICAL INTEREST



PERSONAL FINANCE/INVESTING









BUSINESS



What They Teach You at Harvard Business School by Philip Broughton


PHYSICS/MATH/GENERAL SCIENCE

(Continuing in 2025 --> I've challenged myself to gain a better grasp on math and physics -- these are some of the books I'm using. I've been following this guide for Math and this one for Physics)

Khan Academy Math -- Precalculus, Calculus, Physics





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The Bible Project: 1 Timothy Resources

One of my go-to resources for entry-level Bible study is The Bible Project. They make high-quality summary videos on each book of the Bible. Here is the one for 1 Timothy:


Each book's page features a brief summary and they also recommend commentaries and other resources. A very valuable resource. 


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