QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
ON THE WHOLE BIBLE

1. As we considered at the beginning, the Bible has been the subject of numerous and varying opinions. What are several of the most prominent opinions of the Bible that people have today?

2. If the Bible is comprised of sixty-six different books and has more than thirty different human authors, how could it possibly have one overarching storyline and one message?

3. What are some of the advantages of examining the whole Bible and its message in one fell swoop?

4. We have observed that the Bible is not only a book of wise religious counsel and theological propositions, though it has both. It is a story, a real story set in real history. Why do you think God might have revealed himself within a historical narrative? What advantages does that give us as readers?

5. What is atonement? How does the Old Testament link atonement and sacrifice? Were the sacrifices of the Old Testament effective in reconciling man to God?

6. What is the “riddle” of the Old Testament?

7. Suppose a Christian friend told you that he struggles with the God of the Old Testament because he just seems so angry and wrathful. How would you respond?

8. How does Christ solve the riddle of the Old Testament? What do we mean when we refer to Christ as our “priest”?

9. What is the Christian gospel?

10. What do Christians have awaiting them at the consummation of all creation? What will Christians fully enjoy that was last enjoyed by Adam in the garden and partially by the high priest in the Most Holy Place? What do you think that will be like? Do you think you will grow tired of it? Can you imagine anything so beautiful and wonderful and marvelous that you would never grow tired of it?

11. If you were sitting in an undergraduate philosophy class—or wherever you happen to sit among non-Christians these days—and someone asked what the point of life is, what would you say? Could you defend your answer?

12. William Wilberforce seemed to take seriously Paul’s own dilemma: “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body” (Phil. 1:23–24). Wilberforce knew his prize awaited him in heaven, and so he was free to spend himself entirely on earth for God’s work. Where is your ultimate prize? You prize something the most. You can figure out what it is by asking what you spend all your physical, financial, social, and mental resources trying to build, protect, or accomplish. What is it? Is your life increasingly lining up with the great promise of the Scriptures—or with something else?