Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 179:715 (Jul 2022)
Article: To The Praise Of His Glory: A Doxological-Historical Model For Biblical Theology
Author: Cory M. Marsh

BSac 179:715 (July-September 2022) p. 294

To The Praise Of His Glory: A Doxological-Historical Model For Biblical Theology

Cory M. Marsh

Cory M. Marsh is Professor of New Testament, Southern California Seminary, El Cajon, California, and Scholar in Residence, Revolve Bible Church, San Juan Capistrano, California.

Abstract

This article critically engages the redemptive-historical model favored by a majority of contemporary evangelicals as the center for biblical theology. The article demonstrates inadequacies of this model and proposes an alternative, the doxological-historical model, which focuses on God’s glory as progressing throughout canonical history. This model is the most satisfactory for centering biblical theology because it recognizes a comprehensive proposition throughout the Scriptures, underscoring God’s glory as the end goal and the critical link between creation and redemption.

Introduction

Since the dawn of the twentieth century, scholars have proposed various models that offer a center for biblical theology. These models have advanced themes such as covenant, promise, and kingdom, attempting to provide a cohesive center that unites all of Scripture under a unifying purpose for history.1

BSac 179:715 (July-September 2022) p. 295

Among conservative evangelicals, the history of redemption remains one of the most prevalent themes. This theme is offered as a center or interpretative paradigm through which to view all of Scripture, and it’s known by various names including the history of redemption model, the redemptive-historical model, or the salvation-history model. While each of these attempts has admirably contributed to the knowledge of Scripture, they have also failed to identify an integral link between creation and redemption that carries the weight of the entire biblical canon.

This article will demonstrate inadequacies of the redemptive-historical model as a center for biblical theology and will argue for a doxological-historical model, one that emphasizes the theme of God’s glory throughout canonical history, as the most capable heuristic framework. Such a theme will be shown as broad enough to subsume the landscape of Scripture, theology, and ethics yet specific enough to connect creation and redemption. The main thesis will drive the discussion: God is glorious, so he created. He created so he could redeem. He redeemed so he could re-create. He re-created so he is glorified in all creation. Viewing Scripture as primarily doxological rather than redemptive safeguards God’s place as the sovereign who receives glory, providing a vital link connecting creation to redemption to re-creation.

The Redemp...

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