Grace Baptist Church

Grace Blog

March 9, 2009

Why Biblical Theology Is Essential to the Life of the Church

Graeme Goldsworthy, in his chapter “Biblical Theology as the Heartbeat of Effective Ministry,” provides five reasons why biblical theology is essential to the life of the church. He writes:

In the first place, an emphasis on biblical theology in the church has the salutary effect of enthusing Christians for the study of Bible by presenting a coherent theological perspective on the whole range of biblical literature.

Second, biblical theology is a major means of preventing a superficial Jesus piety. Christology is vital to the Christian faith and its essence lies not in a few proof texts or doctrinal summaries but in the testimony of the whole Bible to the Christ. The Christ we serve and worship is the Christ revealed in the whole testimony of Scripture.

Third, biblical theology nuances the gospel by anchoring the person and work of Christ in the Old Testament. The linking of the gospel event to the whole range of salvation history is vital. It was the loss of the Old Testament in its historical sense that led to the implicit docetism of allegorical interpretation. It also led to the locating of the saving event in the believer’s inner experience and in the infusion of grace in the sacramentalism of the medieval church.

Fourth, biblical theology, when applied to the understanding of ministry in the church, calls into question the pragmatism of the latest quick-fix, church growth theory. The pastor who is forever looking for the next fad to save his church is probably the pastor who has lost sight of faithfully teaching the Bible and of bringing biblical theology to bear on his expository preaching. Authentic ministry will reflect the nature of the gospel. The big picture of God’s work for salvation is a perspective achieved, however only through biblical theology.

Fifth, biblical theology gives us an antidote to the parochialism that so often overtakes the people of God.

- Graeme Goldsworthy, “Biblical Theology as the Heartbeat of Effective Ministry” in Biblical Theology: Retrospect & Prospect, edited by Scott J. Hafemann (Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2002), 283-84.

Labels: Biblical Theology, Grace Baptist Church, Graeme Goldsworthy | posted by TimBrister at 9:36 am | Categories: Biblical Theology, Church Membership, Sunday School Stuff |

1 Comment »

[...] Why Biblical Theology Is Essential to the Life of the Church [...]

Pingback by Biblical Theology Basics « Via Emmaus | March 13, 2009 at 8:52 pm