Introduction to
The Bible and Theology
1 - What is the Bible?
What is the Bible, who authored it, and how should we approach it? The Bible presents itself as the Word of God, who is incapable of lying, in which He lays out the revelation of the history of His universe, from the Creation in the book of Genesis all the way to the future Consummation in the book of Revelation.
2 - Approaching the Bible
In this second talk on the Bible and Theology, we learn basic yet critical principles of how to approach the Bible. We ask ourselves: 'What are my basic presuppositions? What am I taking for granted, and what am I questioning? Is the Bible the foundation for all my thinking?'
3 - Observe, Interpret, Apply
In this third talk on the Bible and Theology, we are introduced to the 3 steps of Bible reading: observation, interpretation, and application. We spend most of our time on the two most basic principles of interpretation: 1) that it's not how, but WHO interprets, and 2) that there's only ONE correct interpretation.
4 - Interpretive Principles and Fallacies
In this fourth talk on the Bible and theology, we dwell further on the basic principles of interpretation, as well as looking at examples of how NOT to interpret the Bible.
5 - Creation
What does it mean that God created this universe? How and when did God create all things? In this 5th talk, Dr. Barber introduces the creation of this universe as recorded in Genesis 1-2, and addresses common false claims against the historicity and scientific accuracy of biblical creation.
6 - The Dispensation of Innocence
God's miraculous creation of this universe is the beginning of time, and the foundation of the first dispensation of God's will for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the dispensation of innocence. In this 6th talk, Dr. Barber discusses the dispensation of innocence, and addresses common false interpretations of Genesis 1-3.
7 - Corruption
What does it mean that all creation is in "the bondage of corruption" and "that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now" (Romans 8:21-22)? How and when did this universal bondage of corruption begin? In this 7th talk, Dr. Barber introduces the corruption of this universe as recorded in Genesis 3-4, discussing the historical fact that it was Adam's sin that first introduced death, violence, disease, and all suffering into God's originally perfect universe.
8 - The Dispensation of Conscience
Once this created universe fell into "the bondage of corruption" due to Adam's sin, the second dispensation of God began, the dispensation of conscience. In this 8th talk, Dr. Barber discusses the conscience that God gave every child of Adam, and God's plan to save us from our inability to obey the conscience.
9 - Catastrophe (Global Flood)
God describes in His book, the Bible, a global flood, in which "all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered" (Genesis 7:19b), so that, "all that was in the dry land, died" (Gen 7:22b), "and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark" (Gen 7:23b). Why, how and when did this global flood, this catastrophe, occur? In this 9th talk, Dr. Barber introduces the catastrophe of the global flood as recorded in Genesis 6-9.
10 - The Dispensation of Human Government
After the waters of the global flood had receded, the third dispensation of God began, the dispensation of human government. In this 10th talk, Dr. Barber continues to discuss the global flood, as well as the ice age that followed, and God's establishment of human government through our father Noah.
11 - Confusion (at Babel)
God describes in His book, the Bible, how the LORD God went down, "and there confound[ed] their language, that they may not understand one another's speech" (Genesis 11:7b). Why, where, and when did this confusion of humanity's language occur? What does all this mean for us today? In this 11th talk, Dr. Barber introduces God's confusion of language, and thus His creation of tribes and nations, as recorded in Genesis 10–11.
12 - The Dispensation of the Promises
After God's confusion of the one language of Noah's family into many at Babel, He revealed His dispensation of the promises to and through Abraham. In this 12th talk, Dr. Barber continues to discuss God's will for the tribes and nations that He created at Babel, including God's establishment of the precious promises for all nations through our father Abraham. For the promise "... is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to ... [the seed] which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all" (Romans 4:16).
13 - Captivity and Christ
After the Confusion at Babel, during the dispensation of the Promises through Abraham, God told him his descendants would be captive and enslaved in another country 400 years, and then be delivered and return to Canaan (Gen 15:13-14). Just so, this is literally what occurred, from the 19th century to the 15th century BC. In this 13th talk, Dr. Barber introduces God's captivity of Israel in Egypt, and thus His creation of Israel, source-tribe of the Saviour.
14 - The Dispensation of the Law
After the captivity, God revealed His fifth dispensation of His will, the dispensation of the law to and through Moses. In this 14th talk, Dr. Barber discusses God's will for His special tribe and nation of Israel, focusing on our LORD Jesus' incarnation and life-ministry under and according to the Law of Moses. For, "when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law" (Galatians 4:4-5a). The salvation of Israel and the nations under the law laid the way for salvation into Jesus' Body, "that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Galatians 4:5b).
15 - Cross and Cast Away
After some 1500 years of the history of the nation of Israel, under the dispensation of the Law of Moses, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is born and lives a perfect life under the Law, and goes to the Cross for the sins of Israel, and for all our sins. In this 15th talk, Dr. Barber discusses the conclusion of the dispensation of the Law, as Israel is Cast Away from God's face and from the Land of Israel for her unbelief, and this mystery dispensation of grace is revealed to and through Apostle Paul.
16 - The Dispensation of Grace
After the casting away of Israel, God revealed His sixth dispensation of His will, the mystery dispensation of grace to and through Paul. In this 16th talk, Dr. Barber continues to discuss God's casting away of His nation of Israel, for her national unbelief and rejection of the Holy Spirit, and God's dispensation of the mystery of His grace. For, "the casting away of Israel is the reconciling of the world" (Romans 11:15a), "that Jesus Christ might reconcile both [Jew and Gentile] unto God in one Body by the Cross" (Ephesians 2:16a), so "ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14b).
17 - Calamity (of the Tribulation)
God describes in His book, the Bible, how that after the Rapture of the Body of Christ, the Antichrist will make a covenant with Israel for 7 years, triggering our LORD Jesus' wrath, the Wrath of the Lamb, the Calamity of the Great Tribulation on Israel and the whole world. In this 17th talk, Dr. Barber continues to discuss the Rapture of the Body of Christ, followed by the Great Tribulation.
18 - The Dispensation of the Kingdom
After the calamity of the Great Tribulation, which ends with Jesus' glorious Second Coming to earth, our LORD Jesus will establish His seventh dispensation of His will, His kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven, from Jerusalem and over all nations, in literal fulfillment of thousands of years of prophecy. In this 18th talk, Dr. Barber continues to discuss the Great Tribulation, Jesus' Second Coming, and the Dispensation of His Kingdom on earth. For, "I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God . . . and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Rev 20:4).
19a - Consummation and Eternity
God describes in His book, the Bible, how that after the 1000-year Kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth from Jerusalem, the LORD will bring about the Great Consummation, and usher in "the dispensation of the fulness of times" (Ephesians 1:10), the eternal order. We read, "Then comes the end, when Jesus shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power" (1 Corinthians 15:24). In this 19th talk, in two parts, Dr. Barber continues to discuss our LORD Jesus' future Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven, followed by the Consummation and eternal order.
19b - Consummation and Eternity
After the 1000-year reign of Christ on earth from Jerusalem, Satan will be loosed to lead one last rebellion against King Jesus (Revelation 20:7-10). And Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire, and the Final Judgment will take place (Revelation 20:11-15), and Jesus shall establish the final and eternal dispensation of the fulness of times, the eternal order: "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God" (Revelation 21:3).