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God's Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible Paperback – October 15, 2003

by Vaughan Roberts (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 921 ratings
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Sixty-six books written by forty people over nearly 2,000 years, in two languages and several different genres. A worldwide bestseller published in countless sizes and bindings, translations and languages. Sworn by in court, fought over by religious people, quoted in arguments. The Bible is clearly no ordinary book. How can you begin to read and understand it as a whole? In this excellent overview, Vaughan Roberts gives you the big picture--showing how the different parts of the Bible fit together under the theme of the kingdom of God. He provides both the encouragement and the tools to help you read the Bible with confidence and understanding. And he points you to the Bible's supreme subject, Jesus Christ, and the salvation God offers through him.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    160 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    IVP
  4. Publication date
    October 15, 2003
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.6 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0830853642
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0830853649
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"God's Big Picture will serve as an excellent introduction to the Bible for anyone perplexed or overwhelmed by its seeming breadth and diversity." -- Mark Traphagen, Modern Reformation, November/December 2007

About the Author

Vaughan Roberts is rector of St. Ebbe's Church in Oxford, England, and author of God's Big Picture and Life's Big Questions. He is also a popular speaker at Spring Harvest and a founding member of "9:38" which encourages people to consider full-time gospel ministry.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ IVP; Special Edition (October 15, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0830853642
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0830853649
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 921 ratings

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Vaughan Roberts

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
921 global ratings
Best Book for New Christians
5 Stars
Best Book for New Christians
Amazing book . This book is simple and effective . It so easily explains the over arching story of the Bible . I wish I had this when I first got saved . This book will not teach you or explain each individual book . But instead explains the over arching story and how all the books work together to tell God’s Story . The Story of his Son Jesus Christ . 10/10
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Top reviews from the United States

Trent Meaux
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book for New Christians
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2023
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 Amazing book . This book is simple and effective . It so easily explains the over arching story of the Bible . I wish I had this when I first got saved . This book will not teach you or explain each individual book . But instead explains the over arching story and how all the books work together to tell God’s Story . The Story of his Son Jesus Christ . 10/10
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Trent Meaux
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book for New Christians
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2023
Amazing book . This book is simple and effective . It so easily explains the over arching story of the Bible . I wish I had this when I first got saved . This book will not teach you or explain each individual book . But instead explains the over arching story and how all the books work together to tell God’s Story . The Story of his Son Jesus Christ . 10/10
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8 people found this helpful
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Foster
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Biblical Theology Overview
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2024
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Was meeting with a fairly new Christian and was looking for something to help walk him through the big picture of the Bible and how it all fits together. This book was quite helpful in accomplishing this goal.
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Mike Parks
5.0 out of 5 stars The BIG picture
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2011
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Vaughan Roberts wrote a superb introductory book helping people understand the storyline of the Bible. Roberts traces the main theme of the kingdom of God throughout his writings, beginning with Genesis and ended in Revelation. He begins his book by explaining that a majority of his writing relied heavily on the Gospel and Kingdom by Graeme Goldsworthy (10). His introduction covers several elementary areas such as the books of the Bible, order, and how the Old Testament relates to the New Testament (12-20). Relating the New Testament to the Old Testament, Roberts argues for a Christocentric hermeneutic (16-20).

Roberts defines the kingdom of God as "God's people in God's place under God's rule and blessing" (21). Roberts's definition of the kingdom of God is significantly important for the entire book. Throughout the book, he chronologically traces the kingdom of God following this definition. Each chapter provides the reader with a chart helping them understand where God's people, place and rule were within particular areas of history. In addition to this chart, there was another chart, which showed the progression from creation, fall, history of Israel, Christ and the new creation (157). The final chart presented the line of Israel beginning with Abraham progressing to the Northern and Southern split, the Southern exile and release, Jesus and the last days (158).

The book is divided in eight chapters focusing on the pattern, perished, promised, partial, prophesied, present, proclaimed and the perfect kingdom. The main chart illustrating the kingdom of God is included at the end of each chapter to help the reader understand the progressive unfolding of redemptive history. The books main agenda is to introduce the reader to the storyline of the Bible. The writing is not scholarly, but it will equip the reader with the proper tools to help them understand where they are when they pick up their Bible.

Roberts's book may remain one my favorite entry-level books to teach others Biblical Theology. Teaching others the storyline of the Bible by utilizing Roberts charts has proven significantly practical for learners. Roberts understanding of the Kingdom as God's people in God's place under God's rule will help you identify where you are within any book in the Bible. Buy it, read it and enjoy!
30 people found this helpful
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BT
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, very helpful.
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2023
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This book helps to understand how the old and new testament fit together, and how all of it points to Christ, and God's perfect plan. Thank you Vaughan Roberts. Thank you Pastor Brian D.
5 people found this helpful
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Sungaman
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book overall, but has some errors
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2011
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First of all the book does a very good job of tieing the story line of the bible together. I also agree with looking at the bible as a whole one story about God, not a bunch of moral stories about random people that has a semi present comon theme and some how God is involved in it all. The bible is better understood when read and viewed in context , wich is diplayed well in the book , along with other facts and good bits of insight. The only down side other than a few editing errors, and I'm not refering to the british form of english used by the author, is the definition of the Lords holy name and no clear stance on its pronunciation. While the way the word is said is somewhat debatable, though Jehova is almost certaintly a mistranslation, the tetragrammaton YHWH does not mean "I Am" as the author states in the book. The hebrew word "Ehyeh" means I Am. Both YHWH and Ehyeh are derived from the hebrew verb "hayah" wich means "to be". YHWH actualy has no real literal meaning with in the hebrew language it is simply the name or one name of God its more of a play on words as it does use a real root word in hebrew, but the exact conjegation doesn't exist in spoken hebrew. It's meaning is only derived from the context in wich it is used, in reference of the Lord.That's to say YHWH is "HE Is" or "HE Exist" sort of a statement of faith with in a name or a conotatin of his infinate nature. So there you have it, worth the read but know your stuff.
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john g
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great little book
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2014
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This is a great little book, and very easy to read. For me it was required reading but I found it very interesting. I 'm pretty sure I will continue referring to it.

I'm not sure I share his eschatological views. What I do resonate with, though, is the idea that God's agenda to bring his kingdom, and his king, to earth is a relentless pursuit.

So many say the God of the Old Testament is wrathful and grumpy compared to the loving God portrayed in the New Testament. Such uninsightful baloney is arrived at in part through selective viewing and misunderstanding of what's been read. Ergo the title.

Roberts does a good job of showing that everything God does throughout history is motivated by love and care. The fall of man that led to the rise of violent civilizations required counter-measures that seem harsh and cruel by today's standards. That we have standards at all, however, is evidence of the forward progress of his agenda.

Again, Roberts makes this clear through his well-written, thoughtful, engaging and easy to read book. He inspires much renewed hope in unifying the Bible's message and focusing God's loving intentions throughout history into a laser sharp point.
10 people found this helpful
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Courtney Fields
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2023
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This book is very thorough in discussing from creation to Revelation. The comparisons to daily life are very helpful. This would be a great book to use for a group study.
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Top reviews from other countries

Matthew
5.0 out of 5 stars Great work!
Reviewed in Canada on February 27, 2022
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Had to use this book for a course in biblical studies. This book is about as good as it gets when it comes to a work on the overall story of the Bible. It is short, but powerful. It's worth every penny!
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Joan Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Good enough
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2019
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Used book, good quality
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Stephen Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars Very easy to read and well written
Reviewed in Canada on February 10, 2019
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Greet purchase and have been enjoying this book so far. For anyone new to the bible this is a great introduction read and also teaching element.
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Camilla
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2019
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Really helpful outline
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great theme connecting bible
Reviewed in Canada on April 13, 2019
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Well done
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