The 4 Major Themes of the Bible

While the Bible is not formally divided into the four parts of Creation, the Fall, Redemption, and Restoration, this framework is a common way to summarize the overarching story and major theological themes. Instead of being a formal structure, it is a narrative pattern woven throughout the biblical text. 

The narrative pattern explained

This four-part theological framework summarizes the primary biblical story, which unfolds across both the Old and New Testaments. 

• Creation: The Bible begins with the story of God creating the heavens and the earth, culminating in the creation of humanity in his image. The narrative emphasizes that God's original design was for a perfect and good world where humanity could live in harmony with God, one another, and all of creation.
• The Fall: In the book of Genesis, sin enters the world when humanity rebels against God. This act of disobedience has profound consequences, leading to humanity's separation from God, a cursed world, and the introduction of suffering and death.
• Redemption: Following the Fall, the rest of the Bible recounts God's plan to redeem and rescue humanity and creation from the power of sin and death. This plan unfolds over time through God's relationship with the Israelites and culminates in the person of Jesus Christ, who sacrifices himself to pay the ultimate price for humanity's redemption.
• Restoration: The final stage points to the future, when God will "make all things new". This prophesied new creation, described in the book of Revelation, is the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, where there will be no more sin or death. 

Why this is a narrative framework, not a formal division

The actual literary structure of the Bible is organized very differently.

• Literary divisions: The Christian Bible is formally divided into two main sections, the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the books in each part organized by literary type.
  • Old Testament: Books are commonly grouped into the Pentateuch (the first five books), Historical Books, Wisdom Books, and Prophetic Books.
  • New Testament: Books are organized into the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles (letters), and the Book of Revelation.
• Thematic arc: The Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration framework provides a powerful lens for understanding the single, unified story that runs through these distinct literary sections. It helps to trace the progression of God's relationship with humanity and his ultimate purpose from Genesis to Revelation. 

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Can You Have Faith for God to Heal You Through Medical Science, or a Doctor?

Yes, many Christians believe God can and does heal through medical science, viewing doctors and medicine as tools that God uses to bring about healing. Some see it as a demonstration of God's wisdom and provision, as He created the human body and endowed it with the capacity to heal, and also gave humans the intellect to develop medical knowledge and practices. Others believe that while God is ultimately the source of all healing, He often works through natural means, including medical science, to restore health. 

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• God as the ultimate source of healing:

  Many Christians believe that God is the ultimate source of all healing, regardless of the method used. 
• God's wisdom and provision:

  God created the human body and endowed it with the ability to heal. He also inspired humans to develop medical knowledge and practices to aid in the healing process. 
• Medical science as a tool:

  Some Christians view medical science as a means through which God works to heal, seeing doctors and medicine as tools in His hands. 
• Faith and trust:

  While acknowledging the role of medical science, Christians often emphasize the importance of faith and trust in God's ability to heal, even when relying on medical treatment. 
• Seeking wisdom:

  Some Bible passages encourage believers to seek wisdom from God when making decisions about their health, including whether to seek medical treatment. 
• Not all healing is miraculous:

  While some Christians believe in miraculous healing, many also believe that God often works through natural means, including medical science, to bring about healing. 
• Complementary approaches:

  Some see faith and medical science as complementary approaches to healing, where prayer and faith can be combined with medical treatment. 

SHOULD  CHRISTIANS SEE DOCTORS? GOT QUESTIONS.ORG

There are some Christians who believe that seeking medical attention is demonstrating a lack of faith in God. In the Word-Faith movement, consulting a doctor is often considered a lack of faith that will actually prevent God from healing you. In groups such as Christian Science, seeking the help of physicians is sometimes viewed as a barrier to using the spiritual energy God has given us to heal ourselves. The logic of these viewpoints is sorely lacking. If your car is damaged, do you take it to a mechanic or wait for God to perform a miracle and heal your car? If the plumbing in your house bursts, do you wait for God to plug the leak, or do you call a plumber? God is just as capable of repairing a car or fixing the plumbing as He is of healing our bodies. The fact that God can and does perform miracles of healing does not mean we should always expect a miracle instead of seeking the help of individuals who possess the knowledge and skill to assist us.

Physicians are referred to about a dozen times in the Bible. The only verse that could be taken out of context to teach that one should not go to physicians would be 2 Chronicles 16:12. “In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians.” The issue was not that Asa consulted physicians, but that “he did not seek help from the LORD.” Even when visiting a doctor, our ultimate faith is to be in God, not the doctor.

There are many verses that speak of using “medical treatments” such as applying bandages (Isaiah 1:6), oil (James 5:14), oil and wine (Luke 10:34), leaves (Ezekiel 47:12), wine (1 Timothy 5:23), and salves, particularly the “balm of Gilead” (Jeremiah 8:22). Also, Luke, the author of Acts and the Gospel of Luke, is referred to by Paul as “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14).

Mark 5:25-30 relates the story of a woman who had trouble with continual bleeding, a problem that physicians could not heal even though she had been to many of them and had spent all of her money. Coming to Jesus, she thought that if she but touched the hem of His garment, she would be healed; she did touch His hem, and she was healed. Jesus, in answering the Pharisees as to why He spent time with sinners, said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Matthew 9:12). From these verses one might sift out the following principles:

1) Physicians are not God and should not be viewed as such. They can sometimes help, but there will be other times when all they will accomplish is the removal of money.

2) Seeking physicians and using “earthly” remedies are not condemned in Scripture. In fact, medical treatments are viewed favorably.

3) God’s intervention in any physical difficulty should be sought (James 4:2; 5:13). He does not promise that He will answer the way we will always want (Isaiah 55:8-9), but we have the assurance that all He does will be done in love and thus in our best interest (Psalm 145:8-9).

So, should Christians go to doctors? God created us as intelligent beings and gave us the ability to create medicines and learn how to repair our bodies. There is nothing wrong with applying this knowledge and ability towards physical healing. Doctors can be viewed as God’s gift to us, a means through which God brings healing and recovery. At the same time, our ultimate faith and trust is to be in God, not in doctors or medicine. As with all difficult decisions, we should seek God who promises to give us wisdom when we ask for it (James 1:5).

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HOW TO DEAL WITH A KNOW IT ALL

 

In a religious context, a "Mr. Know-it-all" (or "Mrs. Know-it-all") typically refers to someone who acts as though they have complete knowledge and understanding of religious matters, often to the point of being dismissive of others' opinions or teachings

. This attitude can be detrimental to both the individual's spiritual growth and the overall health of the church community. 

Characteristics of a religious "Know-it-all": 

• Critical and unteachable: They may focus on finding fault with others' understanding or interpretations rather than seeking to learn or grow themselves.
• Impatient and lacking grace: Due to their belief in their own correctness, they may have little patience for those who don't agree with them or who are still learning.
• Domineering in discussions: They may monopolize conversations, quote experts excessively, and discourage others from sharing their thoughts or insights.
• Unsympathetic: They may struggle to empathize with those who are weak or struggling, as they perceive no personal weaknesses.
• Divisive: Their focus on pointing out errors and promoting their own views can create disharmony and undermine unity within the church.
• Dismissive of preaching and biblical teaching: They may not value opportunities to learn from sermons or Bible studies, as they believe they already have a complete understanding. 

Consequences of this attitude:

• Stunted spiritual growth: An unwillingness to learn or be corrected prevents individuals from deepening their understanding and relationship with God.
• Damage to church unity: The "Know-it-all's" arrogance and criticism can create a negative environment and drive away other members.
• Missed opportunities for genuine connection and support: Their lack of patience and sympathy can isolate them from others in the church community. 

The Bible's perspective:

The Bible addresses pride and the illusion of complete knowledge, emphasizing that true wisdom comes from God. Passages such as 1 Corinthians 8:2 warn against assuming complete knowledge and highlight the importance of love in building others up. Proverbs also contrasts the "know-it-all" attitude with the wisdom of those open to learning and correction. 

In short, a religious "Know-it-all" is someone who, while possibly having some biblical knowledge, is held back by pride and a lack of humility, negatively affecting their spiritual journey and the church's well-being. 

What Mr “Know it All” Doesn’t Know

Here are some of the characteristics and consequences of an unteachable person:

Written by Erik Raymond | Friday, February 13,

 2015

Ironically, Mr Know-it-all only seems to have a lot of biblical knowledge. He can drop the 30 lb. words and effectively argue his point. Very often he is quite involved and appears to have things together. However, the fact that he is unteachable makes him dangerous in the local church and a detriment to his own spiritual health.

 

I recently asked one of our younger children to do a job that required some detailed clean-up. In the course of explaining the job as well as the steps to complete the job, I was interrupted. “I know. Dad, I know.” Everything I said was punctuated with “I know.” It was like a Baptist church hitting you with Amen’s after everything. Then I let them do it. It was a disaster. Things didn’t get put away, they actually got misplaced. Instead of the table being cleaned the floor became messy. Upon coming back to check on the situation I asked, “What happened here?” The answer, not surprisingly, “I don’t know how to do that.”

In the church we have a lot of impediments to growth in godliness. We live in a sinful world, have imperfect preachers, have trials and tribulations, and a relentless enemy who endeavors to be the stick in our spokes at every turn. But there is one great impediment to growth, this is the impediment of thinking that we already know everything. Let’s call this person “Mr Know-it-All”.

Mr Know-it-All does not really think that they have to learn anything. They are already there. They are, in effect, unteachable.

When you put a word like “unteachable” next to this I am sure you can see the problem. Christians, when thinking biblically, operate out of the realization that they actually do not know everything that they need to know. We have things to learn both intellectually and empircally. The design of the church is to provide a context where we can grow in godliness or Christian maturity. Consider Ephesians 4:

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” (Ephesians 4:11–15)

Some quick observations on these verses: a) God provides teachers, b) teachers are to teach Scripture, c) saints need to be equipped to serve so the church is built up, d) this must go on until we all grow into Christlikeness, e) maturity is the goal that we are after.

In light of clarity of the goal (Christian Maturity), the specificity of what this is (Christlikenss), and the means by which it is attained (hearing, learning, & applying the Bible) we all (everyone, every single Christian this side of heaven) need to hear and heed the Bible.

See, what Mr Know it all doesn’t know, is that he doesn’t know it all. And this is a big problem–for him and the church where he fellowships.

Why is this such a problem? Well, in short he is not going to benefit from the ministry of the word and he is going to, by his obvious attitude, diminish its prominence in the life of the church.

In my 10 years of full-time pastoral ministry I have met Mr Know-it-all many times. I have seen him in the pulpit as well as the pew. He has different faces but he acts and looks the same. Here are some of the characteristics and consequences of an unteachable person:

• They are critical rather than constructive. It is almost like they thrive in finding out someone’s “wrong view” about something. Instead of seeing the church as a place to grow they see it as a place to show what they know. Mr Know-it-All excels in pointing out others wrongs while doing a very poor job at (ever) pointing out what is right.
• They are often short-tempered rather than long-suffering. Grace is ethereal. Because they are right and know everything they have little patience with others. You won’t often see this guy in a discipling relationship with others because they simply do not have the patience for people who are not like them. Further, when they do correct others they are harsh, belittling, and lacking gentleness.
• Talk a lot and don’t listen very much. This would make sense–why not talk (if you know it all) and why listen (if they don’t)?