Those Little Pocket NT’s Are Not Helping Things
I remember the day I first heard the gospel, it was awesome. My faithful friend unpacked the message of the gospel to this weary sinner. I was pierced through. I needed a Savior and I knew it. As our discussion came to a natural end, my friend found out that I did not own a Bible. So as a good friend he gave me the one he was carrying. It was a green pocket New Testament with the Psalms & Proverbs. It comfortably was transferred from the pocket of his military cargo pants to my own. I was and am thankful for my friend John’s kindness and graciousness that day.
However, what I am a little bent about is that Bible. As I mentioned it was the NT, Psalms & Proverbs. It did not include the Old Testament Scriptures. This was a bit of a problem for me. I had zero Bible knowledge at this point. I did not know that the Bible had two testaments, I thought ‘Christ’ was Jesus’ last name, and couldn’t understand the purpose for all of these various letters (epistles). But I read my green King James New Testament as tried to get stuff figured out.
When I found out about the Old Testament I was left with the impression that it was old, outdated, and pretty irrelevant. So, why carry around this big book, with extra irrelevant chapters, when I can get the ‘good’ stuff to fit comfortably in my side pocket?
Sadly the pocket New Testament has become a fitting picture of how many Christians view the Bible. Too often we see the Bible as a collection of stories. By virtue of cultural, theological, ritual, and ethnic differences the Old Testament sadly becomes an archaic body within our canon.
Perhaps classic dispensationalism’s rigid walls of discontinuity have also prevented Christians from peering back into the Scriptures to see their relevance, beauty, and power for us today. In effort to try to make the Bible all fit together so nicely and neatly many have unwittingly unraveled its central structure and beauty; or at least made it more difficult to see.
The Bible is not a collection of many stories but an unfolding of one main story. The Bible is about Jesus. All of Scripture points to him. It points to him in anticipation, articulation, or reflection. He is the big point of everything. We see Jesus himself eager to show his disciples this fact in his 7 mile sermon on the road to Emmaus:
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.(Luk 24.27)
I understand that when people read the Old Testament with eyes illumined then the veil is removed and they behold Jesus. And it is through this beholding that believers are conformed into the image of Jesus (2 Cor. 3.14-18).
And this is the big picture of ministry: letting people see the glory of Jesus. If they don’t see it they won’t be transformed. Therefore I’m on a mission to see and preach Jesus from all of Scripture. I want to see and know some of the substance of what he unpacked on that 7 mile walk to Emmaus. My reading of Scripture indicates that we, to use a baseball analogy, are leaving a lot of runs on the field. There is far more to see and savor about our glorious Christ.
And so perhaps we need to stand on some walls and read from the entire Bible.
Possibly Related posts:
- The Compelling Testimony of Scripture that Jesus is the Christ
- Piper on The Scriptures Pointing To Jesus
- Give ‘em Good Fish and Chips
- The Bible is not a Book of Many Stories but Rather Only One
- Book Review- The Gospel in Genesis
11 Responses to “Those Little Pocket NT’s Are Not Helping Things”
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Good post. I wrote something similar a few years back.
http://theroadtoemmaus.wordpress.com/2007/09/04/would-you-buy-a-pocket-old-testament/
You know what? you’re right. I grew up in a setting that assumed all of the Old Testament was for Israel, and the New Testament was for believers. I still have trouble accepting that the Jewish history is my history, spiritually speaking. Yet it’s true as long as I actually believe that I am spiritually of Abraham’s seed.
We definitely need to do something about this.
“My reading of Scripture indicates that we, to use a baseball analogy, are leaving a lot of runs on the field.”
So true in my own reading. Been in the NT for a while accept the psalms. Been following Leviticus though… Huge help. Little Help on a plan of action? Was really enjoying when you were telling me God’s will for my life
I was handed one of those NTs on campus the other day. Never really thought about it like this though. Thanks.
Erik, well said. I have to admit that I’ve been convicted the past few years of being a NT bigot, so to speak. And that as a Bible teacher. I love and appreciate the revelation of God in all His glory in the OT, but I have not been willing to put in the work to better understand it and see Christ from it. Praise God that I have a couple of friends who are OT focused and that have helped my understanding. And I now have a new sr pastor who is a master at preaching Christ from the entire Bible.
And for the record – I had one of those little pocket NTs too. Still have it on my desk as work. But feeling that it’s so incomplete now…
I think everything has its place. One of those New Testament Bibles led me to my salvation. It didn’t nurture me or develop my more mature understanding of God, but it got me on the right page so to speak.
Very well said. The OT can be hard-sledding at times, but as Phil remarked above, we have to be willing to put in the work. In my Bible reading plan, I’m about to start Jeremiah, which is intimidating and exciting at the same time.
I haven’t heard many folks preach through Leviticus the way you have been doing. It’s been a blessing to those of us who’ve heard you online and I’m sure your congregation. A great example of preaching Christ through all of Scripture.
Blessings to you -
Hey there,
I’ve never been to your site before, but a friend passed it along. I’m an Anglican priest in Nashville, TN. We are doing something this year that goes right along with what you’re saying.
Our congregation is taking a year to follow the story of Christ from Genesis to Revelation, in preaching, classes, children and youth programs, home groups, the whole thing. You might be interested to check it out: http://www.JesusStoryYear.com
Good post Chad. I enjoyed the read and think you hit the nail on the head.
Luke: I knew a baseball analogy would bring you to your feet.
What if there were a complementary pocket sized OT? You could alternate days, or keep one in your Monday-Wednesday-Friday pants, and the other in your Tuesday-Thursday pants.
Unless you have more than two pair of pants. Then maybe throw in a pocket sized 1689, or Book of Common Prayer, or Westy Catechism?
I know im a little late in posting but I have a solution. The ESV has a Bible that is very small, a compact version that can fit in many pockets that is the entire Bible. The text is a little small but its still useful.
Does this “Morning Star” of the reformation have the entire Bible? See link below.
http://wesley.nnu.edu/biblical_studies/wycliffe/
As you said, “And so perhaps we need to stand on some walls and read from the entire Bible.”
Please take no offense, but it does seem soooo ironic that you would challenge others to read the entire Bible when some would challenge you to read the entire Bible.
I still don’t know of any copies of the Holy Scriptures without all of the 73 books prior to 1500s.