What Is Biblical Theology and Why Does It Matter?
What Is Biblical Theology?
When you open your Bible, do you ever feel like you're entering a story mid-chapter? Maybe you're in Leviticus, reading about sacrifices—or in the prophets, trying to understand their message. It can feel overwhelming. Biblical theology gives us the roadmap to make sense of where we are and how each part fits into the whole.
Biblical theology is the disciplined study of Scripture as a single, unfolding story. Rather than treating the Bible as a loose collection of moral lessons, it helps us understand the historical and theological development of God's revelation—from Genesis to Revelation. It focuses on how God has revealed Himself progressively over time, using events, covenants, and people that ultimately find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
A helpful analogy is zooming out on Google Maps. Up close, you see streets and buildings. But zoom out, and suddenly you see how they all connect—the neighborhoods, the highways, the borders. Biblical theology invites us to zoom out and see the panoramic view of God’s redemptive work.
Why Biblical Theology Matters
Reading the Bible without biblical theology is like watching a movie in the middle and trying to make sense of the plot. Without the backstory and development, it’s easy to misinterpret what’s happening—or worse, assign the wrong meaning.
Take the Old Testament tabernacle and sacrificial system. To a modern reader, these might seem strange or irrelevant. But biblical theology reveals them as types and shadows—foreshadowing Christ, who would become the true and final sacrifice.
Or look at God’s covenant with Abraham: "Through you all nations will be blessed." That’s not just about one family—it’s a preview of the gospel going to the whole world through Christ.
Biblical theology prevents fragmented interpretation. It helps us avoid treating Scripture as isolated sayings and instead recognize the deep coherence of the Bible. More than that, it humbles us. It reorients our reading by showing us that Scripture is first about God—His purposes, His glory, His mission—not us.
One overlooked benefit is how it brings clarity to difficult passages. When you understand where you are in the story and how a doctrine develops, the confusing becomes coherent. This, in turn, builds trust. You no longer have to force meaning into a passage—it emerges naturally from its place in the unfolding story.
How to Practice Biblical Theology
So how do you begin doing biblical theology? Here are a few steps you can take:
Locate your place in the story. Are you reading from the time of the patriarchs? The prophets? The early church? Knowing when and where something takes place helps interpret it accurately.
Trace recurring themes. Themes like covenant, temple, kingdom, or rest aren’t random—they’re woven throughout Scripture. Watch how they emerge, develop, and find resolution in Christ.
Look across the Testaments. Biblical theology is especially powerful when you compare how a theme is introduced in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New. For example, the theme of “rest” moves from the Sabbath, to the promised land, to Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28.
Always point to Jesus. Jesus said the Scriptures testify about Him (John 5:39). Biblical theology helps us trace that testimony.
As you practice this, you’ll not only understand the Bible more clearly—you’ll also love it more deeply. You’ll see how Scripture, even in its complexity, carries a divine unity that reflects the character and beauty of the Author.
Final Thoughts
Theology is not just for professors or pastors. It’s for every follower of Christ who wants to rightly handle the Word of Truth. And biblical theology is one of the best tools to do that. It doesn’t just help us read better—it helps us worship better. Because when you see the full story, you realize the Bible is not just informative—it’s transformative.
Additional Reading: What Is Systematic Theology?