The ‘theology of the word’ is not where it needs to be today. Intimidated as we are by image and event, music and symbol, entertainment and short attention spans, and goodness only knows what else – we tend to lose our convictions about the Word of God and our appetite for it drains away as a result.
This is where Peter Adam’s book can be so helpful. He calls it a “biblical theology of the Bible” (12). The design of the book expounds a single sentence, phrase-by-phrase, chapter-by-chapter: “receiving God’s words, written for his people, by his Spirit, about his Son”. [NB – while the whole book expounds this sentence, in one chapter (16) he expounds it from just the one book of the Bible: Hebrews].
“…a sound theology of the Bible depends on our theology of God’s capacity for verbal revelation, and our capacity to receive it. It also depends on a theology of the one people of God … It depends on the authentication of Christ, who in his teaching authenticates the OT, his own teaching, and the teaching of his apostles. It depends on a theology of the Spirit which connects the Spirit with the self-revelation of God, with truth, with words, and with verbal revelation. It also points to the Christ of the Scriptures: the word of the Lord speaks of the Lord of the word. It is this robust theology which supports Scripture’s own theology and invitation: to receive God’s words written for us, written for his people, by his Spirit, about his Son(247)”.
About Me

the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
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Apart from the eight years in which we were based overseas, Barby has been working at the Refugee Resettlement Center in Auckland since 2002. This year she is a ‘release teacher’, spending one day each week in three different classrooms, with three different age groups. Impressive—and demanding. One day is spent with 11-13 year olds—from…
I met Peter last year at a conference in NZ. The way he communicated the dynamic and life-giving nature of the scriptures was just breathtaking.
I really enjoyed his book on reformed spirituality, but haven't read this one. Thanks for the head-up.
Actually I once sat next to him on a bus to Sydney airport – and he had me in stitches. He is a very funny man … and I once took a little pilgrimage to St Jude's (Melbourne) – not a bad preacher either?!
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By the way there are some excellent articles by Peter Adam to be found at http://www.beginningwithmoses.org – click on 'preaching'.