Biblical Theology

“Biblical Theology: How the Church Faithfully Teaches the Gospel” - Nick Roark and Robert Cline

“Biblical Theology” is the latest installment of 9Marks’ Building Healthy Churches series. Each one of these little volumes is invaluable and readable. The need for biblical theology is as great as it has ever been, and I believe the authors do a faithful and biblical job of presenting biblical theology as “how the church faithfully teaches the gospel.” The goal of the book is to present biblical theology, or seeing and teaching and preaching the Bible as one “story about God’s saving work in history” (16).

Roark and Cline first show the need for biblical theology in the church. They then explain what exactly biblical theology is. The authors use the example of the disciples’ experience with Christ on the road to Emmaus to display the importance and biblical precedent for biblical theology. The authors present a thoroughly succinct explanation of biblical theology, and its application to the church. They then launch into a flyover survey of the “Bible’s Big Story”, encompassing much of the work of God with his people and the world. They start with creation and end with the return of Christ. Throughout these sections are sprinkled helpful “Preaching and Teaching Tips.” The book closes with the authors explaining how biblical theology shapes a church’s teaching and mission.

This book, like all the others in this series, is a must-own for pastors and church leaders. Churches need biblical theology, and this is a great volume to assist preachers and leaders in ensuring that biblical theology is woven into the fabric of the church. I would highly recommend this book to any pastor and any student aspiring to be a pastor.

Order the book here.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crossway through their Blogger Review Program.