The Bible: Who Is It About? | Greg Breazeale
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
The Bible is primarily one story whose main character is Jesus.
Luke 24:25-27 ESV
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:44-45 ESV
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
John 5:39, 46 ESV
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me...46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.
Acts 2:25-32 ESV
25 For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NIV
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...
Old Testament Images
- the tabernacle
- the temple
- the holy of holies
- the high priest
- the spotless lamb
- sacrifices
- offerings
- bread from heaven
- the altar
- bronze serpent
- rock that was struck
Old Testament Themes
- sabbath
- exile
- kingdom
- creation
- covenant
- the law
- God's presence and glory
Old Testament People
- Abel
- Enoch
- Noah
- Abraham
- Sarah
- Isaac
- Jacob
- Joseph
- Moses
- Gideon
- Barak
- Samson
- Jephthah
- David
- Samuel
The Math
- New Testament quotes the Old Testament 300 times
- New Testament alludes to the Old Testament over 1,000 times
- 1,300 Old Testament references in the New Testament
- New Testament only has 260 chapters in total
The Story of Israel Longing for the True King
The Story of Israel
- newborn Hebrew boys under threat
- Moses' mysterious and secret birth
- Exodus (getting out)
- lamb's blood that protects them (Passover)
- parting of the Red Sea (water)
- Law from mountain
- Israel called "My Son"
- manna (bread) and testing in the wilderness (grumbling)
- Law given on mountain
- 12 tribes of Israel (Numbers 1-2)
The Gospels
- Jesus' mysterious and secret birth
- Herod killing the Israelite boys 2 and under
- Jesus flees to Egypt (Hosea 11:1)
- baptized in Jordan
- "This is my Son with whom I am well pleased"
- wilderness temptation (does not sin or grumble)
- calls disciples (twelve)
- teaching on the mountain (Law)
- dies on cross as sacrificial Lamb (1 Cor. 5:8, John 1:29)
Luke 9:31 NIV
31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
The Longing for a True King
- Judges 17:6 - "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit."
- Judges 18:1 - "In those days Israel had no king."
- Judges 19:1 - "In those days Israel had no king."
- Judges 21:25 - "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit."
"There must be something better than this!"
Isaiah Breakdown
Chapters 1-37: A king is coming.
Chapters 38-55: A suffering servant
Chapters 56-66: A conquerer will make things right.
Luke 19:38 NIV
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Matthew: The Promised King
Mark: Our Suffering Servant
Luke: He seeks and saves the lost
John: Word made flesh
Acts: Lord of His Church
Romans: Our Righteousness
1 & 2 Corinthians: Christ crucified; God's "yes" to us
Galatians: Our Justifier
Ephesians: Lover of His bride
Philippians: Our Joy and Humble Servant
Colossians: Image of the Invisible God
1 & 2 Thessalonians: Our Returning King who ends lawlessness forever
1 & 2 Timothy: Our Mediator worthy of our suffering
Titus: Grace of God that appeared for us
Philemon: Our True Freedom
Hebrews: Our Perfect and Once-for-All Sacrifice
James: Our Glorious Lord
1 & 2 Peter: Our True Shepherd whose coming is certain
1, 2, 3 John: Our Living Truth and the Name we walk in
Jude: One who keeps us until the end
Revelation: The Slain Lamb and the Coming Conqueror of death, sin, evil and satan forever
Revelation 5:12b NIV
...“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”