Deep Dive into The King in His Beauty: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments by Thomas R. Schreiner - Genesis

Thomas R. Schreiner identifies the "kingdom of God" as the central thematic storyline of Scripture, provided the concept is defined with sufficient flexibility to encompass God's sovereignty even where specific terminology is absent. This kingdom consists of a threefold dimension: God as the sovereign King, human beings as His vice-regents created to rule the world for Him, and the physical universe as the concrete realm where this relationship unfolds. While the kingdom functions as the narrative theme, Schreiner distinguishes it from the ultimate purpose of the story, which is the glory of God.

The biblical narrative details the "kingdom regained" following the Fall. In Eden, which served as a temple-garden, humanity rejected God’s lordship. However, God promised a future "offspring" to defeat the serpent and initiated a plan of restoration through covenant. Schreiner emphasizes that this restoration relies on sovereign grace rather than human merit. This is vividly symbolized in the Genesis 15 ceremony, where God alone passed between the slaughtered animals, taking the curse upon Himself to guarantee the covenant’s fulfillment.

Schreiner’s inductive and canonical approach highlights that the preservation of the chosen line—through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—was achieved through divine intervention against human barrenness and treachery. The narrative consistently demonstrates that God overrules evil to preserve His people. Ultimately, the Genesis account anticipates a future ruler from the tribe of Judah who will secure the kingdom, bridging the gap between the initial creation and the final new creation where God’s glory illumines the cosmos.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

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