[310 words]
Christ is the center, focus, and key to the inspiration and interpretation of the Bible. This is why the books of the Old and New Testaments fit together so well into one cohesive and comprehensive whole. Taken together, they present the progressive unfolding, revelation, and communication of Christ.
1. The Law (Genesis-Deuteronomy) prepares the ground or base on which the moral system of Christ rests. It is the beginning or first principles of the system of truth.
2. The History section (Joshua-Esther) shows the preparation for Christ. History, from an inerrant biblical perspective, holds true the necessity of righteousness and faith.
3. Poetry (Job-Song of Solomon) expresses an aspiration for Christ the Savior. Seeing that Scripture is nothing less than the words of our very Creator, it is no wonder that throughout the centuries men and women have been astonished by it.
4. Prophecy (Isaiah-Malachi) proclaims an expectation of Christ. The Bible is the account of redemption, how God rescues men from sin and from death.
5. The Gospel Records (Matthew-John) relate the historical manifestation of Christ. They are true accounts of the work and the acts of Christ the Son of God.
6. Acts relates the propagation of the gospel of Christ. It portrays the resurrected Christ in His ascension, by the Spirit, through the disciples, for the producing of the church – the kingdom of God.
7. The Epistles (Romans-Jude) give the interpretation of Christ. The epistles answer questions asked by the church or address problems within the church.
8. Revelation describes the consummation of all things in Christ. The second coming of Christ marks the time when the church goes home for eternity.
How is it that every part of the Bible, in spite of its great diversity, can contribute to its overarching theme of redemption and its central figure, the Christ? How? Because it is from God!
Mark Posey (condensed)