CONTENTS
Introduction 5
1. The Bible: God Speaks 6
2. In the Beginning: God Created the World 8
3. Humanity: The Crown of Creation 11
4. A Royal Task: Fill and Subdue the Earth 14
5. The Fall: Sin Entered the World 17
6. Cast Out: Judgment and Salvation 19
7. The Flood: God's Covenant with Noah 21
8. Abraham: God's Gospel Promise 23
9. Covenant with Abraham: I Will Be Your God 25
10. Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph: Relentless Grace 28
11. Slaves in Egypt: Moses and Pharaoh 31
12. The Exodus: God Redeemed His People 34
13. Mount Sinai: The Law and the Covenant 37
14. The Tabernacle: God Dwells Among Us 40
15. Leviticus: Holiness, Priests, and Sacrifice 42
16. Numbers: Wilderness Wanderings 45
17. Deuteronomy: Choose Life! 48
18. Joshua: Entering the Promised Land 51
19. Judges: The Misery of Life with No King 54
20. Samuel: The Gift of Kingship 57
21. David: The Persecuted Messiah 60
22. Psalms: Prayers for All Seasons 63
23. Solomon: Prince of Peace 66
24. Wisdom Literature 1: The Order of Eden 69
25. Wisdom Literature 2: The Disorder of the Fall 72
26. The Kingdom Splits: God's Judgment Falls 75
27. Elijah and Elisha: God's Patience 78
28. The Exile: The Death of the Nation 80
29. The Prophets: God's Mouthpieces 83
30. Isaiah: Prophecy of a New Heavens and Earth 85
31. Jeremiah: Prophecy of a New Covenant 87
32. Ezekiel: Prophecy of a New Temple 90
33. Daniel and Esther: Living as Exiles 93
34. Ezra and Nehemiah: The Return from Exile 96
35. Minor Prophets: Darkness Before the Dawn 99
36. Jesus: Who is This Man? 102
37. Four Gospels: Portraits of Jesus 105
38. Jesus' Birth: Heaven Embraced Earth 108
39. Jesus' Early Ministry: The Coming of the Lord 111
40. Jesus' Teaching: Gospel and Kingdom 114
41. Jesus' Miracles: Signs of a Restored World 117
42. Disciples and Opponents: Jesus' Identity 120
43. Jesus' Final Days: Ministry in Jerusalem 122
44. The Last Supper: Preparing for the End 125
45. The Cross: The Centre of the Bible's Story 128
46. The Resurrection: New Creation Begun 131
47. Pentecost: God Sends His Spirit 134
48. Acts: Jesus' Mission Continues 137
49. Paul: Witness of the Resurrected Christ 139
50. Paul's Theology: Justification by Faith 142
51. Paul's Theology: Union with Christ 145
52. Christian Living in the Last Days: Tension 148
53. The Church: God's Plan for the World 151
54. Father, Son, and Spirit: The Trinity 154
55. The Return of Christ: The Day of Justice 157
56. The End of All Things: The New Creation 160
Notes 163
Glossary 164
Picture credits 167
