What do you think?
Rate this book
One Grand Story: How the Bible Tells its Story & Why it Matters
This is a little book about the "big picture" of the Bible.
As a primer on the discipline of biblical theology, it examines the Bible's message as a whole alongside some of the most important tools that help us discern and display this richly rewarding truth. It includes a framework for biblical theology, an introduction to specific reading strategies, and also a series of biblical-theological reflections on key biblical themes.
In the final part of the book, there is an annotated list of books for further reading, a series of topics for further research in the academic discipline of biblical theology, and a brief glossary of key terms. These final features of the book are designed for it to function well as a supplementary textbook in an academic course in biblical or theological studies. At the end of each chapter, there are also reflection prompts and discussion questions. This resource is designed to facilitate small group discussion (either in a church or a classroom setting).
In the end, the big idea of this little book is that biblical theology will help you navigate the world of the biblical text, and it will also help you locate yourself in the biblical text’s world.
As a primer on the discipline of biblical theology, it examines the Bible's message as a whole alongside some of the most important tools that help us discern and display this richly rewarding truth. It includes a framework for biblical theology, an introduction to specific reading strategies, and also a series of biblical-theological reflections on key biblical themes.
In the final part of the book, there is an annotated list of books for further reading, a series of topics for further research in the academic discipline of biblical theology, and a brief glossary of key terms. These final features of the book are designed for it to function well as a supplementary textbook in an academic course in biblical or theological studies. At the end of each chapter, there are also reflection prompts and discussion questions. This resource is designed to facilitate small group discussion (either in a church or a classroom setting).
In the end, the big idea of this little book is that biblical theology will help you navigate the world of the biblical text, and it will also help you locate yourself in the biblical text’s world.
- GenresTheology
191 pages, Paperback
Published September 23, 2024
7 people are currently reading
689 people want to read
About the author
Ched Spellman
11 books71 followersI am no prophet—and here's no great matter. I'm Ched. This is about as social as I get now. I'm a pathological 5-star giver.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 13, 2024
Just great. Spellman served us well here.
May 13, 2025
This book is a genuinely accessible introduction, but it does not become shallow or trite in its quest for accessibility. It effectively shows the depth of the textual world of the Bible while giving the new student of BT the tools to navigate that world. It is intellectually stimulating without being overly academic, it is devotional, and it is stirring (especially the chapter on lament and death).
September 25, 2024
Let the reader understand!
November 1, 2024
Whatta gem of a book! Ched Spellman is a master exegete, thoughtful theologian, and seasoned professor. This book is a guided tour through the landscape of the storyline of Scripture and gives the reader essential tools to continue studying Scripture for a lifetime. It is simple enough to be the first book I would recommend to someone wanting to learn how to rightly understand Scripture, and it is deep enough to help a well-studied theologian clarify the starting points, process, and goal of biblical theology. Spellman shows how the canon, the covenants, and the Christ are interrelated, how the gospel is a story that takes two testaments to tell, and how the Bible’s interconnectedness helps us see how each narrative fits within the meta-narrative.
Also, there are a ton of dingers in here. Check these out:
“For someone who reads and also heeds the grand storyline of the Bible, the most pressing worldview questions have textually rooted answers” (48).
“The minister or missionary must be fueled by more than the thrill of adventure when the only thing in the horizon is the chill of illness or a long string of unremarkable days” (120).
“Union with Christ means the Lord of peace remains present in your joy, present in your pain, in your liftoffs, and in your layovers” (121).
I will be keeping this close to my desk and revisiting often.
Also, there are a ton of dingers in here. Check these out:
“For someone who reads and also heeds the grand storyline of the Bible, the most pressing worldview questions have textually rooted answers” (48).
“The minister or missionary must be fueled by more than the thrill of adventure when the only thing in the horizon is the chill of illness or a long string of unremarkable days” (120).
“Union with Christ means the Lord of peace remains present in your joy, present in your pain, in your liftoffs, and in your layovers” (121).
I will be keeping this close to my desk and revisiting often.
November 23, 2024
I enjoyed Ched Spellman’s One Holy Book: How the Bible Came to Be and Why It Matters. But I found his primer on biblical theology hard to follow and choppy in flow. But Spellman is a good teacher and there are gems to be mined in this book.
The value of Spellman’s book is that he shows the reader the importance of biblical theology by doing it. I couldn’t help but hear him teaching in the classroom as I read.
The value of Spellman’s book is that he shows the reader the importance of biblical theology by doing it. I couldn’t help but hear him teaching in the classroom as I read.
January 21, 2025
This book makes me excited to study the Bible more! It is a great resource for anyone trying to better understand the Bible's message and how to read it, as well as for anyone trying to better understand how our everyday lives are impacted by biblical theology. Spellman provides the tools to understand biblical theology, and then practically explains how it applies to life for the believer- both in the mundane and in the mournful. I found these sections on locating ourselves within the textual world of the Bible to be especially and immediately helpful.
As Spellman says in the Introduction, “The perspective of biblical theology not only helps you as a biblical reader but also as a believer. The goal is not to fit the Bible’s big picture into our little lives but rather to see our lives as a meaningful part of the world portrayed in the Bible.” (6)
As Spellman says in the Introduction, “The perspective of biblical theology not only helps you as a biblical reader but also as a believer. The goal is not to fit the Bible’s big picture into our little lives but rather to see our lives as a meaningful part of the world portrayed in the Bible.” (6)
September 13, 2025
An excellent book to read to learn about the “big picture” of the Bible. Dr. Spellman does a terrific job in explaining the Bible’s message and unpacking the framework of biblical theology. I would highly recommend this if you are wanting to go deeper into the Bible and understand it better. There is also a caring and pastoral element to this book that makes it an encouraging read.
Read it for the whole book but let me tell you my favorite chapter is Chapter 8: Life Between the Advents and I’ll be coming back to that one again!
Read it for the whole book but let me tell you my favorite chapter is Chapter 8: Life Between the Advents and I’ll be coming back to that one again!
November 4, 2024
This book is a great introduction to the specific task of Biblical Theology, but also just reading and understanding your Bible as a faithful disciple. There are many good resources that explain the methodology for interpreting Scripture, and many good resources that put it on display by actually walking through texts, but few that strike a helpful balance between both of those things in a clear and accessible way like this book does. As I’ve tried to help lead other people into a deeper understanding of Scripture I often find myself caught between trying to explain concepts and tools, and simply “explaining by doing.” And then once I do begin to simply walk through the text I feel a tension between going verse by verse and giving a helpful understanding of the whole storyline. This book is helpful because it gives order and logic to that process of leading someone into a deeper understanding of the Bible. This logic and order is evident in the chapter titles in table of contents and is fleshed out succinctly, clearly, and also sufficiently in each chapter. I plan to use this in several different spaces in our church. For anyone who shares the conviction that understanding the Bible more deeply is at the center of everything in the Christian life, you should pick this up and implement it into your own study and leadership wherever you can!
October 28, 2024
This small book about biblical theology is certainly worthwhile for those who desire to understand more of the message of our Bibles. I found myself looking forward to time in the Scriptures to see more of the beauty of the Bible story and message.
As a bonus the final chapter surveys the art history of paintings about Jesus and the two in Emmaus. We are then invited to add our own chalk art or simple pictures to those paintings by the masters. I loved this.
As a bonus the final chapter surveys the art history of paintings about Jesus and the two in Emmaus. We are then invited to add our own chalk art or simple pictures to those paintings by the masters. I loved this.
December 30, 2024
Excellent and easy to understand!
August 11, 2025
Fantastic overview of the Bible as One Grand Story!
October 25, 2024
This was a good introduction to biblical theology, very simply written. For me, the best part was the section on the varieties of biblical theology and a list of books to explore each further. Now to add to my reading list!
September 30, 2025
I am not sure what is the better part of this book - Ched Spellman's ability to concisely convey a love and preservation for a canonical sense of Scripture or his ability to inspire his readers to invest further time to read and cherish the discipline of hermeneutics and biblical theology.
Over the course of this book, it was almost as though I was sitting again in Spellman's courses as he worked to define hermeneutics and present the beauty of what biblical theology offers. Clearly, this book is an overflow of his refined methodology, research, and thoughtfulness towards the biblical canon. I appreciate his insistence to ask questions related to a right reading of Scripture, but then guide his readers to such a practice by modeling the very heartbeat of the biblical authors.
The only addendum I would add to Spellman's work is that there are actually three sections. By the time you read through chapter 7, you have imbibed of the type of biblical theology Spellman is arguing for and exemplifying. He excellently balances his theological confession to properly conceive of the canon of Scripture with his literary skill to define and uphold the authorial intent of the biblical authors. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 have a slightly different flavor however. Though he does indicate a break (p.7), to preface this section with even more fervency could heighten how practical is the nature of biblical theology. These chapters are not separate from his overall strategy, but in stereo reveal a pastoral heart that is formed when one comprehends a grander theme of lament. To speed through this section of the book, having read of the grand storyline by chapter 7, would indeed be a failure on the reader's part. Not only do his last three chapters carry further the weight of his overall argument, but they serve as a clear demonstration of Spellman's ability to care practically for the biblical reader.
The further resources provided bolster his initial direction for the way to use his book. "The goal is to display some of the produce of biblical theology but also to equip you with a working knowledge of the process of this kind of study as well" (p. 6). By the end of Spellman's work, his reader has at least encountered astute biblical theology that makes clear a Messianic tone throughout the whole canon of Scripture and at most, been inspired and equipped to take up and read the canon of Scripture as a means to know and enjoy the God who saves in the Christian life.
Over the course of this book, it was almost as though I was sitting again in Spellman's courses as he worked to define hermeneutics and present the beauty of what biblical theology offers. Clearly, this book is an overflow of his refined methodology, research, and thoughtfulness towards the biblical canon. I appreciate his insistence to ask questions related to a right reading of Scripture, but then guide his readers to such a practice by modeling the very heartbeat of the biblical authors.
The only addendum I would add to Spellman's work is that there are actually three sections. By the time you read through chapter 7, you have imbibed of the type of biblical theology Spellman is arguing for and exemplifying. He excellently balances his theological confession to properly conceive of the canon of Scripture with his literary skill to define and uphold the authorial intent of the biblical authors. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 have a slightly different flavor however. Though he does indicate a break (p.7), to preface this section with even more fervency could heighten how practical is the nature of biblical theology. These chapters are not separate from his overall strategy, but in stereo reveal a pastoral heart that is formed when one comprehends a grander theme of lament. To speed through this section of the book, having read of the grand storyline by chapter 7, would indeed be a failure on the reader's part. Not only do his last three chapters carry further the weight of his overall argument, but they serve as a clear demonstration of Spellman's ability to care practically for the biblical reader.
The further resources provided bolster his initial direction for the way to use his book. "The goal is to display some of the produce of biblical theology but also to equip you with a working knowledge of the process of this kind of study as well" (p. 6). By the end of Spellman's work, his reader has at least encountered astute biblical theology that makes clear a Messianic tone throughout the whole canon of Scripture and at most, been inspired and equipped to take up and read the canon of Scripture as a means to know and enjoy the God who saves in the Christian life.
October 20, 2024
Ched has composed a great book that guides his readers through a tour of God’s grand story demonstrating that God and his plan are knowable through Scripture. I particularly liked Chapter 6 “The Great Hero of this Grand Story.” This chapter focused on John’s depiction of Jesus as Shepard and King. Ched does an excellent job working through the intertextual material in John that ultimately points to Jesus as Messiah and King. I could see this book being used in a college level class on interpretation of Scripture or for any person who is interested in God’s Grand Story. It is an easy read that challenges its readers to dive into the text of the Old and New Testaments to discover all that God has planned for His people.
August 12, 2025
A helpful book for understanding what the big picture of the Bible is and how it affects reading its individual parts.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews