Encountering the Bible Matrix
When I started my foray into theology beyond my Pentecostal/Charismatic background, I had no idea the fruit of knowledge I had just eaten. Only this time, the tempter wasn't the serpent, but the lamb himself inviting me to feast on Him, the wisdom and knowledge of God.
It's approaching four years now, and the drastic turn around in my beliefs has shocked even me. I abandoned dispensationalism, the works righteousness laden in the word of faith/Pentecostal understanding of salvation, and the shallow anti-intellectualism so latent in (yet not unique to) Nigerian Christianity.
I am now a preterist, bordering on a post-millenial view of eschatology, conditioned by the Christocentrism of TF Torrance, and a reluctant universalist.
One thing that has helped my understanding was the "Bible Matrix" that Michael Bull [1] has been a very vocal proponent of. I first encountered it in Peter Leithart and Gary North. It is based on the structure of covenants in the Ancient Near East, and is very present in Scripture. Here's an explanation:
Ancient Near Eastern treaties tended to follow a general format consisting of at least four parts: 1) a description of events leading up to the treaty; 2) the essence of the treaty (typically a commitment of loyalty on the part of the weaker party to the stronger); 3) a list of provisions and stipulations describing adherence to the treaty; and 4) a list of curses resulting from breaking the treaty. [2]
René Lopez says this:
One form with six generally accepted parts constituted the basic pattern of the ancient Near Eastern treaties. They are: (1) The preamble, or introduction of the speaker, (2) historical prologue, (3) stipulations, (4) the document, (5) the gods as witnesses, and (6) curses. [3]
Michael Bull's understanding of this pattern is in 7 Parts, the structure there is in every book of the Bible to some extent:
1. Transcendence (Creation)
2. Heirarchy (Division, Delegation)
3. Ethics given (Ascension, Altar)
4. Ethics opened (Testing)
5. Ethics received (Maturity)
6. Sanctions (Atonement, Vindication)
7. Succession (Glory)
For example,
Step 1: God creates. (Transcendence, preamble)
Step 2: He divides the world into day and night, waters above and below, then land and sea. He delegates his rule to bodies in the heavens and humans on earth. (Hierarchy/Division, Historical Prologue)
Step 3: God gives Man instructions for his rule. (Ethics given, Stipulations)
Step 4: Man is tempted by the Serpent. (Testing)
Step 5: Man fails his test, instead of upholding God's instructions and maturing. (Maturity)
Step 6: God comes to judge his regent's work, and finds him wanting. Instead of vindication, he needs atonement. (Vindication/Atonement)
Step 7: Man is sent out of the garden, he fails to move on to greater glory, or as Paul put it, he "falls short" of the glory. (Succession/Glory).
It's a simple pattern, but it's variations can be confusing. The scriptures have an interconnected tapestry of patterns with this basic structure. It's the structure of the books, the sections within the books and the collection of books.
I myself am still learning how this works fully. It seems stretched at times, but I think he's on to something. I encourage you to read the first chapters of Genesis to find it, it's fun, and I'm pretty sure you'll start seeing it everywhere in scripture once you get the hang of it. It will greatly enrich your Bible study. Peace.
[1] You can check out his book here, and his blog here.
[2]. Bruce Wells, Tables and Treaties in the Ancient Near East.
[3]. René Lopez, Israelite Covenants In The Light Of Ancient Near Eastern Covenants (Part 1 of 2), Pg 98.