Understanding The Bible as a Unified Story - Tim Mackie
Jul 2, 2024
Understanding the Bible as a Unified Story
Introduction and Personal Remarks
Speaker has an awkward relationship with public speaking but a passion for helping people understand the Bible.
Shares an embarrassing personal story about a microphone mishap as an icebreaker.
Concept of 'Churchianity' and the Domesticated Bible
John Collins described the experience of growing up in "churchianity" with a domesticated view of the Bible.
Term 'post-Bible Christian': Wants to follow Jesus but gives up on the Bible.
Speaker's own experience: The bewildering Bible left him confused about its relation to Jesus.
Bible Project Resources
Aim: Show the Bible as a unified story leading to Jesus.
Product of human and divine partnership; written by literary geniuses.
Videos and resources: Inviting people to see a new paradigm and explore further.
The New Old Paradigm
Paradigm sounds new to Western Christians but is ancient, rooted in Jewish traditions.
Looks at the Bible’s design features to show it as a unified story.
Words of Jesus as a Fulcrum
Jesus viewed the Bible as a unified story leading to Him (Gospel of Luke).
Jesus explained to His disciples that everything about Him was written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.
Jesus' View of the Hebrew Scriptures
Refers to the Bible in three parts: Torah (Law), Neviim (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings) – acronym TANAKH.
The three-part shape is essential for understanding the Bible's story.
The Story of the Torah
Genesis: Creation, Adam and Eve, human rebellion, and spread of sin.
God's calling of Abraham: Promised to bless all nations through his descendants.
Israelites: Slaves in Egypt, Moses as a deliverer, Covenant at Mount Sinai.
The Torah ends with Moses’ death, predicting Israel's future failures but promising a change of heart.
The Prophets
Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings): Israel's history, successes, and failures.
Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The Twelve): Focus on future hope and the coming of a new leader (the Messiah).
Writings (Ketuvim)
Psalms: Opens with advice to meditate on the scriptures and includes hopes for a future Davidic king (Psalm 2).
Other books (Job, Ruth, etc.): Hyperlinked back to earlier parts of the Bible, provide moral and theological insights.
Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Hebrew Bible
New Testament presents Jesus as the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Matthew: Highlights Jesus’ genealogy, showing him as the descendant of Abraham, David, and the Exile.
Jesus' roles: Servant, Son of Man, fulfilling the roles of Prophet, Priest, and King.
Jesus' teachings and acts: Redefining what it means to be human and fulfilling God's promises through radical trust and sacrifice.
Conclusion
The Bible is a complex, interwoven story revealing the human condition and God’s plan for redemption.
Reading the Bible as a unified story can transform how we see ourselves and understand our faith.
Encouragement to explore further and let the story of the Bible impact and change you.
Final Thoughts
Even if one doubts its truth, the Bible's story offers a beautiful narrative of hope.
The speaker’s hope: That resources like the Bible Project help others see and live out this incredible story.
Key Takeaways
The Bible is a unified narrative leading to Jesus, authored by human and divine partnership.
Jesus viewed and interpreted the Bible as a cohesive story with recurring themes and characters, all pointing toward Him.
The Bible's genius lies in its interconnectedness and the perpetual retelling of human failure and God's promise of redemption.
Understanding the Bible in this way provides a deeply enriching approach to faith and life.
“Would you like this to be true?” - The story of the Bible is profound, exposing the truth about humanity and offering a hope-filled promise fulfilled in Jesus.
Suggested Actions
Engage with the Bible regularly through the lens of it being a unified story leading to Jesus.
Utilize resources like the Bible Project to deepen understanding and find new perspectives.
Discuss and share these insights with others to foster a deeper communal understanding of the scripture.