Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4900 Time  »  4945 history

In Scripture, more than a record of and reflection on past events, but a process under God's control which has as its goal the eventual fulfilment of his purposes and through which he makes himself known. The goal of history is realised in Jesus Christ, through whom the age of salvation is inaugurated. Both the OT and NT point to the importance of faith rooted in historical events.

God is active in history

God's control over historical events

Daniel 2:21; Acts 17:26 See also Genesis 45:5-8; 1 Kings 12:15 pp 2 Chronicles 10:15; Daniel 4:25; Daniel 7:25; Amos 9:7

God's saving purposes worked out through history

Ephesians 1:11 See also Isaiah 14:24-27; Isaiah 37:26; Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 46:10-11; Acts 1:7; Acts 2:23

God is known through his people's history

God is known to his people

Isaiah 46:9 See also Exodus 10:2; Deuteronomy 4:32-35; Psalm 77:11-15; Isaiah 43:10-13; Isaiah 44:6-8; Micah 6:5

God is revealed to the nations

Psalm 126:2 See also 1 Kings 8:56-60

The Israelites were called to remember their history

The past was recalled in festivals

Leviticus 23:42-43; Deuteronomy 16:1-6

The past was recounted to successive generations

Psalm 78:2-7 See also Deuteronomy 32:7-9; Judges 6:13; Psalm 44:1-3

Jesus Christ as the centre of the history of salvation

He is its beginning and end

Revelation 22:13 See also Revelation 1:8,17; Revelation 2:8

God's saving purposes in history fulfilled in Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:9-10 See also Romans 5:6; Galatians 4:4; Colossians 1:17

Jesus Christ inaugurates God's new age

Colossians 1:18 See also Daniel 7:13-14; Mark 1:15; Matthew 12:28 pp Luke 11:20; Ephesians 2:7

The Christian faith is based on the historical facts of salvation

Testimony passed on by eye-witnesses

Luke 1:1-4 See also Hebrews 2:3; 1 Peter 5:1; 2 Peter 1:16; 1 John 1:1-3

Remembering Jesus Christ's death

1 Corinthians 11:23-25 pp Luke 22:19-20

Jesus Christ's resurrection as historical fact

Acts 1:3 See also Luke 24:1-3,39; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

Historical references in the NT

Luke 1:1-2; Matthew 2:1; Luke 3:1-2; Matthew 14:3-4 pp Mark 6:17-18; Acts 5:37

Landmarks in salvation history

The creation

Genesis 1:1; Genesis 2:7

The fall

Genesis 3:6-7; Romans 5:12

The call of Abraham

Genesis 12:1-3; Hebrews 11:8

The exodus from Egypt

Exodus 13:3; Exodus 19:4-6

The birth of Jesus Christ

John 1:14; Hebrews 1:1-2

Jesus Christ's death and resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Philippians 2:6-11; Hebrews 1:3-4

See also

1115  God, purpose of
1130  God, sovereignty
1439  revelation
2230  Messiah, coming of
2348  Jesus Christ, life of
2375  kingdom of God
2421  gospel, historical foundation
4963  past, the
7140  people of God
7240  Jerusalem, history
7258  promised land, early history
8670  remembering