The Old Testament is a coherent theological witness to the God revealed fully in Jesus Christ. The major themes that organize the Old Testament—covenant, kingdom, presence, holiness, exile, return — are not parochial concerns of an earlier era. They shape Christian reading of both Testaments and the church's understanding of its own life.
This ongoing series traces those themes across the Old Testament and shows how they cohere as a single witness. It is for the Christian who wants a framework for reading the Old Testament as a whole, and for the pastor or ministry leader teaching the Old Testament to a congregation that might otherwise have trouble accessing it.
The Series
Currently fourteen episodes and growing, James Spencer and Ashish Varma deal with the major theological themes of the Old Testament, their implications for the modern church, and their connection to the New Testament.
About James Spencer
James Spencer, PhD, is the host of Thinking Christian. He earned his PhD in Theological Studies, Old Testament from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, as well as an MA in Biblical Exegesis from Wheaton College. He has written or contributed to multiple books including Trajectories: A Gospel-Centered Introduction to the Old Testament. His work has been published by the Wall Street Journal, Christianity.com, Fox News, Sojourners, and various other publications. He has also been quoted in the London Telegraph and Epoch Times, as well as serving as a guest expert on TBN's The Rise of Artificial Intelligence, The Christian Post's Politics in the Pews, and Stand in the Gap Today.
About Ashish Varma
Ashish Varma, PhD, is Thinking Christian's resident scholar. He earned his PhD in Systematic Theology from Wheaton College, as well as MA's in the History of Christianity and Theological Studies. A former professor and program director, Ashish is an adjunct faculty member at Wheaton College. He is also a member of the American Academy of Religion and the American Philosophical Association. Ashish has written for the Center for Barth Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, Ex Auditu, and the Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology. He also contributed to 'In Christ' in Paul: Explorations in Paul's Theology of Union and Participation and co-edited A Praying People: Essays Inspired by Dwight L. Moody.
Related Resources
Trajectories the Book
In Trajectories: A Gospel-Centered Introduction to Old Testament Theology James Spencer and co-authors Bryan C. Babcock and Russel L. Meek discuss a variety of Old Testament themes. The book provides an accessible guide for Christians wanting to work through the Old Testament theologically.