Scott Freeman

It Is Finished

In September 2005 I began an ambitious teaching and preaching curriculum. My goal was to preach and teach through the entire bible taking one week for each individual book. The congregation would be encouraged to read a book each week beginning in Genesis and working all the way through to Revelation.

The weekly schedule looked like this:

Wednesday Night–A devotional thought borne out of that week’s book.
Sunday Morning Class–An overview of that particular text
Sunday Sermon–How Jesus figured into that text (Hebrew Scriptures focused on “The Scarlet Thread” or how the Messiah was prophesied in each book. The NT focused on what Jesus calls us to be in each book.)
Sunday Night Class–A discussion on issues pertaining to that week’s book and clarifying other issues.

Last night we finished with the Song of Solomon. (We took the wisdom section out of the study of Hebrew Scriptures and placed it at the end of the NT study. This gave us 34 and 32 books to study, respectively, each school year).

Without fail we have worked through each and every book of the Bible and I can now say I have preached through the entire canon. (Note: I was sick the week of Obadiah and had to summarize my planned sermon the following Wed night. In addition we combined 2 and 3 John).

I had no clue how difficult this process would be. I had no clue how much study would be involved in become semi-conversant with a new book each and every week.

But now, I feel that I can somewhat hold my own in a discussion on any book of the Bible.

I can argue how interpreting Song of Solomon as having anything to do with God, the church and/or Israel is faulty exegesis.

I can even make a fairly reasoned argument for who I think might possibly have written Hebrews.

I can line out the many variations in the differing accounts of each of the four gospels.

I can explain why I find Paul to be so incredibly frustrating in so many instances.

But, to me, the best part of this study was the directions that it took me that I did not fully expect. I have a greater appreciation of the entire canon of Scripture.

–However, my study has led me into a greater desire for a handle on textual criticism. This study led me into greater wrestling with issues of inspiration, inerrancy and canonicity. And, for better or worse, my position on those issues are much more tenuous than they once were.

–I’ve long believed that you cannot understand the NT without a proper understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures. I was able to refine that into a position that you cannot understand the NT without a proper understanding of Second Temple Judaism AND the Hebrew Scriptures.

Ultimately, Biblical scholarship is not citing book, chapter and verse and constructing an argument. Nor is it simply arguing tradition, command, example or necessary inference.

It is understanding each and every book based upon genre, location, author, audience, time, date, place, situation and intent. To approach the Bible as a document written for the benefit of 21st century Westerners is to rob the Bible of its intent, purpose, meaning and mystery.

And that is what I have attempted to delineate over the last two years. Scripture is a powerful tool that illuminates and tells a rich narrative of flawed people seeking purpose, meaning and redemption. That story does not end there.

I understand Scripture better now but I have more questions.
I have greater faith after this study but more doubts.

But, ultimately, as I end this study and place all of the resources, materials, commentaries and word studies back on the shelf I come away with some strong, unshakable conclusions:

1. It’s all about Jesus
2. Jesus came to teach us about being in relationship
3. That relationship is bound up in loving God and loving God’s people
4. All else is commentary

Now, what am I going to preach on Sunday?