Through the diligence of many authors, scribes, and translators over thousands of years, we have the Bible—an amazing book that can sometimes appear confusing. Some of it is very difficult to grasp. Even the apostle Peter thought so: [Paul’s] letters contain some things that are hard to understand. (2 Peter 3:16)
Today, I want to offer you some handy ways to get an overview of the Bible to condense it, help you understand it better, and see how it all beautifully fits together and offers a cohesive story of redemption, love, and grace. I hope what I teach you will encourage you to read your Bible more often and passionately.
There are several ways to condense scripture:
Condensed Bible 1: The Golden Rule
The Golden Rule: Jesus said, “So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
I.e., that statement condenses the Bible.
Paul condenses the Bible even further in Romans 13:9-10 with a variation of the Golden Rule: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does not harm a neighbour. Therefore, love is the fulfilment of the law.
As you read and study the Bible, do so through this lens. Look at scripture through the lens of love. Apply truth to yourself, and NEVER use the Bible to condemn, judge, or ostracise others. That is NOT love.
Condensed Bible 2: The Emmaus Way
Text: Luke 24:13-27
That same day, two of [the disciples—Simon and Cleopas] were going to a village called Emmaus, about [ten kilometres] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognising him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
As you read and study the Bible, do so through this lens. Look at scripture through the lens of love. Apply truth to yourself, and NEVER use the Bible to condemn, judge, or ostracise others. That is NOT love.
Condensed Bible 2: The Emmaus Way
Text: Luke 24:13-27
That same day, two of [the disciples—Simon and Cleopas] were going to a village called Emmaus, about [ten kilometres] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognising him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Later in Luke 24, he tells us that [Simon and Cleopas] asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (v. 32)
Jesus, the Word of God, opened the Scriptures and showed how they all point to Him. We can use that filter to read and understand the Bible.
Reflective Questions:
As you read the scriptures, ask:
How does this point to or reflect Jesus?
In what way(s) does this draw me into intimacy with Jesus?
Does this verse or story align with what I know about Jesus?
Reading, understanding, and condensing the Bible the Emmaus way means that Jesus will be front and centre of our thoughts while we read and reflect. And I’m not the only one who believes this:
N.T. Wright: If you want to know who God is, look at Jesus. If you want to know what it means to be human, look at Jesus. If you want to know what love is, look at Jesus. If you want to know what grief is, look at Jesus. And go on looking until you’re not just a spectator, but you’re actually part of the drama that has him as the central character.
C.S. Lewis put it this way, “It is Christ himself, not the Bible, who is the true Word of God. The Bible, read in the right spirit and with the guidance of good teachers, will bring us to him.”
Mennonite leader, Revd. Peter Bartel wrote this in the 1800s: “Read the Bible. When anything in the rest of the Bible disagrees with Jesus, listen to Jesus.”
John Wesley said, “As the full and final revelation of God, Jesus is the criterion for evaluating Scripture, the prism through which the Hebrew Scriptures must be read.”
Hebrews 1:1-2, In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
God has spoken through Jesus. As you read the scriptures, do so through the Jesus filter. Use the Emmaus Way to condense the Bible.
Condensed Bible 3: The Prodigal Son Way
Jesus viewed all scripture as pointing to him. The very heart of Jesus’ teaching is the gospel, and nowhere is the gospel more clearly illustrated than in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).
Q. What if the entire Bible was an incredibly long version of this parable—that Jesus’ short story of the Prodigal Son condenses all scripture?
Dr Bradley Jersak, A More Christlike Word (p. 99-100): “We can do this because both offer us the same gospel narrative, one in an expansive library and the other in a tight paragraph. So, here’s what we can do: turn the parable into an imaginary walk-in closet organiser for every section, every book, and every chapter of the Bible.
That means that any passage where you see rebellion, disobedience, or lostness—any story where you see the trials of Israel’s wandering, exile, slavery, or destruction—can be slotted into the younger son’s descent into the pigpen. And all of those Jewish tales of judgment, condemnation, legalism, or “bad laws” might be assigned somewhere within the older brother’s part of the tale. The former exposes humanity’s addiction to rebellion, the latter to humanity’s demand for retribution. These are two sides of the same coin: alienation, where both boys “slaved away in the fields.”
But don’t stop there. Continue to every biblical passage where we see repentance, grace, flourishing, and celebration. All of these find their spot in the gospel of the son’s return, the father’s welcome, and the homecoming banquet in the kingdom of God. You might ask, as I did, where Jesus’ incarnation, passion, and resurrection fit into the story.
As with the scriptures, so in the parable: look for him everywhere. Christ is the moment of clarity when the son asks himself, “What am I doing out here in this pigpen?” Christ is the impulse to return, and he is the road home. Christ is the Father’s embrace. Christ is the open door into the Father’s house. Christ is the ring, the robe, and the banquet table. And, surely, if Christ can be the Lamb of Passover, he can also be the delicious fattened calf offered at the great feast of God. Christ is even there in the Father’s please: “Please, son: come inside! Join the party!”
As you read your Bible, I encourage you to consider how what you’re reading could relate to the prodigal’s story.
And also, to see where you are in that story too:
• A wayward prodigal who needs to come home.
• A judgmental, cynical older brother who needs to lighten up.
• A loving father who embraces people and welcomes them despite what they’ve done and where they’ve been.
Discussion Questions
1. What are your favourite scripture verses and why?
Are there any scripture verses or stories that you struggle with or find confusing? Which one(s) are they? Maybe other members of the group can shed some perspective on this.
Paul summarises all scripture with one word—love. Read and discuss Romans 13:9-10. How can you use this word to:
a. Understand the bible.
b. Live out the bible in everyday life.Read Luke 24:13-27 and share your reflections on this story. How would you have felt if you were there? What does this story reveal about scripture?
Choose a reading from the Old Testament and apply the three reflective questions:
a. How does this point to or reflect Jesus?
b. In what way(s) does this draw me into intimacy with Jesus?
c. Does this verse or story align with what I know about Jesus?Read and discuss Dr Bradley Jersak’s quote from your notes.
Where do you see yourself in the parable of the prodigal son? — A wayward prodigal who needs to come home, a judgmental, cynical older brother who needs to lighten up, or a loving father who embraces people and welcomes them despite what they’ve done and where they’ve been.