What are the main stories in the Bible?

Answer 1

AnswerThere are so many, it is hard to enumerate. I am sure others can add until we get a nice list. I would like to start though with the main story or theme of The Bible, in an encapsulated form.

Many do not realize it, but there is a consistent theme that runs from Genesis all the way through Revelation. That theme is the vindication of God's sovereignty by means of his kingdom.

The Bible starts with how mankind was created in perfect conditions with everlasting life in view. But then he fell away into a deliberate act of disobedience to God, thus he was no longer perfect and did not deserve everlasting life. He became sinful and passed that condition to all of his offspring. But a much bigger issue was raised than that. When Satan convinced Eve to sin and she then persuaded Adam to do the same, there were serious issues that were raised. (1)�The righteousness and rightfulness of Jehovah�s sovereignty. Was Jehovah withholding from mankind freedom that would contribute to their happiness? Were mankind�s ability to govern their affairs successfully and their continued life truly dependent on their obedience to God? Had Jehovah been dishonest in giving a law that stated that disobedience would lead to their death? (Gen. 2:16,�17; 3:3-5) So, did Jehovah really have the right to rule? (2)�The integrity of intelligent creatures toward Jehovah. By the deflection of Adam and Eve the question was raised: Did Jehovah�s servants really obey him out of love or might all of them abandon God and follow the lead being given by Satan? This latter issue was further developed by Satan in the days of Job. (Gen. 3:6; Job 1:8-11; 2:3-5; see also Luke 22:31.) These issues could not be settled by merely executing the rebels.

Only time could settle these issues. But immediately God also set in motion a means to undo the effects of this rebellion. We read the very first prophesy in the Bible at Genesis 3:15, "And I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel." This prophecy would take thousands of years to unfold. The one being spoken to in this prophecy is Satan. Who is the woman? It could not be Eve, because she was soon going to die, and there is not much more mention of her in the scriptures. Revelation 12:1 explains much about this "woman" as something magnificent and celestial. When we examine the evidence we can conclude that this "woman" is God's heavenly organization, with whom there has been constant enmity(or hatred) with Satan. What about the seeds of the prophecy? The seed of the serpent(Satan) is his organization, both seen and unseen. The seed of the "woman" is primarily Jesus Christ, with his administration who redeem mankind from sin and death and vindicate God's sovereignty.

The "heal" wound that the serpent gave to the seed of the "woman" was when Jesus was put to death. This was spoken of as a heal wound, because it was only temporary. On the third day God raised his son from death. That death provided a legal basis on which mankind could be redeemed from sin and death. Adam was a perfect man, with perfect human life. When he lost that perfect life, based on God's own law of an "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, life for life, and like for like," another perfect life would be needed to be paid back to God to balance the scales of justice. Jesus paid that sacrifice, when he willingly offered up his perfect life on behalf of us. Thus his sacrifice is called a ransom in the Bible.-(Mark 10:45) Jesus is even referred to in the scriptures as the "last Adam."(1 Corinthians 15:45)

When Jesus died, he not only provided the ransom, but he also proved that a perfect man can perfectly obey God, thus he proved that Adam could have done the same.

Thousands of years of mankind's inability to perfectly rule mankind has proven that we need God's kingdom, we need his rulership. His sovereignty has been vindicated, and many examples like Job, Abraham, Moses, Noah, Paul, Peter, and many others, including Jesus himself has proven that man can obey God out of faithfulness and love for him.

Soon, the finality of Genesis 3:15 will come to completion, because in Revelation Chapter 20, we read how Satan will be abyssed(put out of commission) and eventually destroyed. Thus, the bruising in the head will have taken place, and finally all the effects of the original rebellion in the Garden of Eden will be eliminated.

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There is a great resource called "e100." It stands for 100 essential readings (of the Bible). I'm not one to promote things (esp. canned curriculum) but this one does a great job of hitting all the major stories and themes. You can check it out at www.GodsStory.org

On that site you can download the 'promo pdf' that has all the verses listed.