by Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen
About the book
The Drama of Scripture offers an overview of the authors' understanding of the storyline and theology of the Bible. Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen suggest that the Bible can be viewed as a drama with six acts - creation, sin, Israel, Jesus, mission and new creation. They share their vision of God working in his world and in his people, as he labours to shape them into the great kingdom that has been his plan from the beginning.
Geared specifically for a UK audience, this edition seeks to help people have a better idea of how the Bible's various parts fit together, and how to make sense of it.
You can buy The Drama of Scripture here.
This book is published in association with the Bible Society
Find out more by visiting www.thedramaofscripture.com
About the authors
Craig G Bartholomew (PhD, Bristol University) is H. Evan Runner Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Redeemer University College, Ontario.
Michael W Goheen (PhD, University of Utrecht) is Geneva Professor of Worldview and Religious Studies at Trinity Western University, British Columbia.
Questions about The Drama of Scripture
Note: the book contains further useful study questions.
- 'Our passion is that people learn to read the Bible as it was meant to be read'. This opening statement of the preface contains a major assumption, that the Bible has a 'divine author' whose intention was to create a unified story. Do you agree with this? What evidence do the authors give for such a view? What is your starting point when thinking about the origins and nature of the bible?
- The authors' consider the story told by the Bible as consisting of six Acts. What are the 'Acts' of your life so far?
- What are the key themes that emerge for you from the Genesis creation stories? What are your beliefs about the nature and destiny of humankind and how do these impact on the way you live?
- Take a piece of paper and two minutes: write SIN in the centre and any words at all that spring to mind around it. Don't self-censor: any words are valid even if they could only possibly mean something to you.
Talk together about your collections of words and see if any common themes emerge. Can you relate these themes to what the authors' say about sin in Act 2?
- What 'idols' can you identify as prominent in your culture and what effect do they have? Is there a fine line between idols that block people's search for God and images and icons that are intended to point to God? Can a mental image of God be an idol by having the effect of limiting our ideas about God and making him in our image?
- In 'Interlude' (from page 89), the authors make a very clear distinction between 'God's people', Israel and 'pagans' such as the Persians, Greeks and Romans. How do you react to this world view and what relevance does it have for your culture today?
- Act 4 (from page 103) focuses on Jesus. Discuss your memories of hearing about and looking at images of Jesus. What ideas and pictures of Jesus did you grow up with and how do you see him now? How do the themes of this chapter resonate with you? Think about Jesus the storyteller, the healer, the wise man, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the willing sacrifice, actor in a cosmic drama, the resurrected Lord. Which of these do you find meaningful and helpful in your daily life and why?
- How does the picture of the church in Acts 2.42-47, Acts 11. 19-30 and Acts 13 1-3 compare with the church today?
- 'Jesus is coming soon', Christians have believed this for thousands of years; has this belief been harmful in any way? What would be the consequence for your life if you truly believed that history as we know it would soon end?
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