Repetition, the Key to Understanding

Disclaimer: Let me begin with two disclaimers.

1) Because of the formatting or lack thereof in this blog, some of the following may appear a bit more complex than it would if more formatting options were available. Suggest that you employ pencil and paper as you read through the following material. In addition it may be helpful to read the material out loud.

2) Another disclaimer is that the following divisions of Scripture are not those generally taught but are reflective of the content/purpose of the section.

Illustration: The teacher, wise with experience commented, "Throw enough mud on the wall and some is bound to stick." Couple that with the principle of repetition and the outcome is that which underpins the "Bible is Easy" notion of this study!

Question: What if, instead of beginning at the Book of Genesis and ending with the Book of Revelation, an approach could be employed that begins with a simple survey of Scripture but as each cycle unfolds, it looks deeper? So let us see how this works.

A bit ago we considered the following five sections of the Protestant Bible

1. Eternal past
2. Old Testament
3. Inter-Testamental Period
4. New Testament
5. Eternal future

Did you remember them?

Breakout: Now consider the following. Note that we are not going to use Eternal past and Eternal future in the near term. We will add them later. If each subsection is confusing, keep in mind that it will not be later. Open your Bible to the Table of Contents as you move through he following material. Also, rather than memorizing these section, just become familiar with them, as later in later cycles they will be easy for you to remember.

1. Old Testament - a. Pentateuch (Books of Moses) - b. Entrance - c. Kings and Prophets - d. Deportation - e. Restoration
2. Inter-testamental Period - Interlude (Preparation for the Coming of the Kingdom of Heaven)
3. New Testament - a. Gospels - b. Acts of the Holy Spirit - c. Letters to Churches - d. General Letters - e. Interlude (Period of the Church) - f. Events of Daniel/Revelation

Note about the Old Testament: The OT is cyclical. Cycle One: Genesis through Esther. Cycle Two: Job through Malachi. However, when you look at the OT in terms of these cycles not every section will contain books in both cycles. You will see what I mean a bit later.

The three time periods/classes of Scripture may now be seen in terms of twelve sections. Now as you look down the Table of Contents in your Bible can you see how the Books of the Bible fit into these divisions? For those just beginning, I suspect that already you know more than when you began!

Parts Make up the Whole: In terms of the divisions also bear in mind that these divisions are simply to aid us in understanding the Bible and are not meant as divisions that divide. The Bible is a book of themes, thus as we move through this material we will very quickly see themes that begin in Genesis and extend all the way through the events set forth in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the central theme of the Bible: In fact Jesus Christ is the central theme of the Bible. Beginning in Genesis 3 where we read of the fall of mankind into sin right on through to the last Book of the Bible, we see that Jesus Christ is the central figure in the Scriptures. Keep in mind that we like those in the OT have not seen Jesus Christ at His birth, through the silent years, in His discipling/teaching ministry, as He went to the Cross, as He resurrected from the dead, and ascended to the Father. As we look back by faith at the One who was, they looked forward by faith at the One who would be.