The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses

by Chris Bruno

16 Key Verses.
1 Overarching Story. This book highlights 16 key Bible verses that stand as “turning points” in the biblical storyline―enabling us to see God’s incredible plan to redeem his people and glorify his name from Genesis to Revelation. Whether it’s exploring the creation of humanity, the establishment of the covenants, or the coming of the Messiah, this book will help Christians see how God’s Word tells a single story about his sovereignty, glory, and grace.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity, Faith, Adult, Religion

144 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2015

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Chris Bruno (PhD, Wheaton College) is the assistant professor of New Testament and Greek at Bethlehem College & Seminary.

He has served at Northland International University, Cedarville University, and Trinity Christian School in Kailua, HI. Before that, he was pastor of discipleship and training at Harbor Church in Honolulu, HI.

Chris and his wife Katie have been married since 2001 and have four sons who love to be outdoors playing ball or pretending to be super heroes, all while wrestling their dad.

Reviews

[Jeremy Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great gateway drug to Biblical Theology. Sorry, maybe a bad use of metaphors... Alas, this is truly a simple, readable, and biblical resource that connects the story of the Bible with just sixteen verses. For anyone who wonders what Abraham's relationship is to Adam or David or Isaiah's prophecy, this book is for you. For anyone who isn't quite sure what the point of the Old Testament is other than a generalized understanding of the way it points to Christ, this book is for you. For anyone who wants to delight in the glory of God revealed in his Word, this book is for you.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bible is a very big book with lots of people, lots of words, and lots of concepts. Thus, understanding the overall message of Scripture and how everything fits together can seem like a daunting task, especially for those who are just getting their feet wet with reading God’s Word. Topics such as sin, salvation, sacrifices, seeds, covenants, resurrection, redemption, and eternity are huge yet hugely important concepts. In his excellent book called The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 VersesChris Bruno breaks down for the reader the entire message and flow of Scripture into 16 easy to understand steps.

Now Bruno does not cover each and every story, event, principle and theological truth found in the 66 books of the Bible. That would take volumes upon volumes upon volumes. What he does instead is to note for the reader 16 key points in Scripture that define God’s plan of redemption. These markers of salvation history are the backbone upon which the rest of Scripture is built.

Beginning with the creation account and concluding with that glorious day of redemption we all look forward to, Bruno weaves with great expertise God’s salvation story. This was a book I simply could not put down and I ended up reading it basically in one sitting. While his intention is not to unpack every aspect of the deep theological points he discusses, he nevertheless explores and explains in a clear and understandable way very important issues such as sin, covenant, and redemption. I found his writing to be lucid, purposeful, and focused on helping the reader understand God’s plan of salvation and redemption.

There are many books available today that approach the various elements of Scripture. Some of those efforts are quite large and take many pages to do what I believe Bruno does in less than 150 pages, namely to share the message of the gospel in a way that all believers, regardless of their maturity level in the faith, will greatly appreciate.

I highly recommend Chris Bruno’s book. In fact, this would be a great book to provide to those new to the Bible. I would suggest the use of this book for family devotions or small group study as a jumping off point to further study of the elements of Scripture Bruno addresses. I know I will be using this as a tool in family devotions for many years to come.

I received this book for free from Crossway Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a short read, but it shows how the Bible is not an anthology, but one long story. It's also great because at the end of each chapter, it builds on the previous chapter summary so that it makes the Gospel into a paragraph or two.

If you're looking for a way to summarize the Bible quickly for others, or even yourself, so that you can tell the story without being too long, this will help you.

Recommended 10+ because the Bible isn't PG and it hints/covers at a broad level certain things that happened in the Bible.

[Kyle Grindberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good overview of the Bible.

[Josiah Bolding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend as a ministry resource or as a quick and easy refresh-read. CPC went through this book with the youth on Wednesdays this semester. It was exciting to see students trace the story of divine redemption, the covenant of grace, and Jesus (among many other themes and theological concepts) from Genesis-Revelation. I also think the leaders got as much out of it as the students.

I saw another reviewer refer to this as “a great gateway drug to biblical theology”. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

[Pastor-leonel Deleon · Rating 5 out of 5]

De manera sencilla, pero contundente, el escritor nos lleva por un recorrido glorioso de la historia de la salvación. Nos hace reflexionar en las dos creaciones, Génesis y Apocalipsis. Todo inicia en un precioso huerto y todo termina en una preciosa ciudad.

[Ben Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this for free from Crossway and I’m glad I got around to listening to it. It’s a great, concise look at the overarching story of the Bible. Very well done!

[Olivia Teater · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the most concise Biblical theology I’ve ever encountered - a solid resource for a broad (emphasis on broad) overview of the whole Bible.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this book. It is my second time through and I use it all the time for discipleship. I love how easy to follow it is and how engaging it is. Of course there are more books like this one out there that go much, much deeper. But for a primer this gets the job done!

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used for catechesis. This is a wonderful primer on biblical theology and the story of the Bible and redemptive history.

[Gabriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses
Author: Chris Bruno
Format: Paperback
Topic: Theology (Biblical Theology)
Scope: The grand narrative of the Bible
Purpose: To equip readers with a simple yet functional knowledge of the story of the Bible so they can read and learn about God and his salvation better.
Structure: The book is separated into two sections (The Time is Coming and The Time has Come) that represent the Old and New Testaments. Within these section are 16 chapters corresponding with the 16 verses Bruno believes will give an accurate accounting of the narrative of the Bible. These chapters are: 1. Creation (Gen 1:31), 2. Human Beings (Gen 1:27-28), 3. The Fall (Gen 3:6-7), 4. Redemption Promised (Gen 3:15), 5. Abraham (Gen 12:2-3), 6. Judah the King (Gen 49:10), 7. The Passover Lamb (Ex 12:23), 8. King David (2 Sam 7:12-13), 9. The Suffering Servant (Is 53:6), 10. Resurrection Promised (Ezk 37:3-5), 11. New Creation (Is 65:17), 12. Fulfillment! (Mk 1:14-15), 13. The Cross (Jn 19:30), 14. Resurrection (Rom 1:3-4), 15. Justification (Rom 3:21-26), and 16. Glory (Rev 21:1-4). In Addition, there is a preface and a very good section called "Where to Go Next" that explains some fantastic resources for going deeper in the realm of Biblical Theology.
What it does well: As Bruno says, "This book is an attempt to see the forest by looking at the trees (verses or passages)" (11). This is what it does well. Those who do not know the grand narrative of the Bible will find this to be a helpful resource with some real nuggets of wisdom. Also, Bruno uses some passages (Ezk 37:3-5, Rom 1:3-4) that are often ignored in popular explanations of Biblical Theology and because of this there are some important contributions to the subject. The short, concise chapters are also clear and easy to wade through.
What it lacks: The structure of 16 verses gets somewhat unwieldy. Where other books of this nature have 4 steps for the narrative or 8 important themes in the narrative, the use of 16 verses severely limits the ability of the reader to use the book in a practical way. It would take a lot more study to be able to master this material than the information in other books attempting similar things.
Some quick highlights: "God looked at it all and saw that it was 'very good.' Notice that God was the One who pronounced the verdict. The entire universe came to be because he spoke, and he was the only one qualified to evaluate his creative work." - 18
God "was not only committing to keep the promises himself, but was also committing that if Abraham failed to remain loyal and keep the covenant, he-God!-would suffer the consequences of that failure. God was binding himself to both the promises of Genesis 12:2-3 and the obligations of taking the blessing to all the families of the earth."-46
"Even in the midst of all this dysfunction, God was working to preserve the promised line. And this teaches us that God's saving purposes ultimately do not hand on any mere man."-50
"God never intended his people to come from one family, one ethnicity, or one nation. Just as the fall of Adam and Eve plunged the entire human race into sin, God's solution to the fall also has universal effects. While many tragically join the line of the Serpent and miss out on the blessing, the Old Testament is clear that no one nation-not even Israel-has an exclusive claim on God's promises. National borders will not contain his mercy."- 90
"Let's not make the mistake of thinking that God is like us."- 118
Recommendation?: This is an easy to read primer on Biblical Theology. It is helpful, concise, and easy to understand. However, because of the format and unwieldy nature of the content for communicating the ideas to others I cannot recommend this book without reservation. In my opinion, God's Big Picture by Vaugnn Roberts is similarly easy to read and is much more available to be distilled for other audiences. I would pick up that first.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

(NOTE: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book or a B. 3 stars means a very good book or a B+. 4 stars means an outstanding book or an A {only about 5% of the books I read merit 4 stars}. 5 stars means an all time favorite or an A+ {Only one of 400 or 500 books rates this!).

This is a great little book that ties the storyline of the Bible together.

The author begins: "Our view of the world begins with our view of God. The way we think about God shapes the way we think about everything else, along with the way we act and respond to every circumstance. Because of this, we need to get our thoughts about God straight at the beginning of our journey. In other words, as we set out to tell the story of the Bible, we have to begin with God. He is the Author of the Bible and the hero of every story found in it." (17)

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not that I'm a theologian by any means, but from what I can tell, Bruno's focus on key verses really works in giving us a good overview of the progression (and our regression) in the Bible, culminating in a glorious eternity in heaven for believers. The title is indeed slightly misleading, as other verses are referenced, but for all intents & purposes it holds true. Of course, he wouldn't want you to just read this book and think you have any kind of in-depth understanding of Scripture, but it will help you see its general flow. A key thing to know is that with all its twists and turns, nothing has taken God by surprise, and despite humanity's attempts to have things our way, the ultimate end (or, rather, eternity, since there is no end) of things will turn out just as he always planned.

[Gerald Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it possible to get the story of the Bible in just 16 verses? Yes it is and this book proves it. It’s a very good summary of the message of the Bible taking just the basic information. Obviously in 146 pages it can’t cover the 66 books in the whole Bible but if you have ever wondered what it’s all about but couldn’t face wading through it all or perhaps felt you could never grasp the message then this book is a great place to start. It’s a complete summary beginning in Genesis with God’s creation and then the fall of man, it moves into God’s dealing with man and the plan for salvation in short chunks that are easy to grasp. Each chapter has a summary sentence to reinforce the message to remind the reader where we are in the overall scheme of things. Highly recommended.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very good even if the name is misleading. There are 16 chapters to the book beginning with Genesis chapter 1 and going through Revelation chapter 21. However, the author uses much more than 16 verses to tell the story of the Bible and redemption in Christ Jesus.

Still, it is a short book and a fairly quick read. The chapters are short and to the point, and this would be a good book to give your friends, family and neighbors to introduce them to the gospel of Christ. IT does leave out a lot of the story of the Bible, but it does an excellent job of accomplishing what the author sets out to do.

[Miriam Valentini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend! Whether you've read the Bible a hundred times or never fully through, this book is great to have on the shelf. It takes you through the narrative of God's story, from beginning to end. Though there are many ways to do this, the author makes no pretence about his being the best or greatest. Yet the writing, examples, pacing are all so well prepared it keeps you on edge and in suspense, eating up every word and anticipating the every next chapter. It's an invitation to revisit the greatest story of all time and better understand its immense beauty and gravity.

[Elliana (The Real Count of St. Germain) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Bruno's The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses provides a foundational outline for the story of the Bible, highlighting key moments in the biblical narrative—Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration. Although the topics covered in this book may be too basic for those who have already engaged in theological study, it is ideal for new believers or beginner theologians seeking a deeper understanding of the story of Scripture and the overarching narrative of the Gospel found within it.

[John Pasquet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really solid overview of how the Bible fits together. It's not really deep, but that's ok. I appreciate the way he develops it. After the first chapter, he begins to write a summary paragraph. Then, after each successive chapter, he adds to that same paragraph. It's pretty intriguing and pretty effective.

You probably need a little foundation before diving into this, but if you're a new Christian, just read through it with someone who knows more about the Bible.

[Matt Koser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit, I was a little skeptical when I started this book. Obviously no overview of the Bible was going to compare with Dominion and Dynasty. But this one was incredible! And it was short. And it was readable. So not only was it helpful for me, but it’s one of those books that I’ll definitely use as a resource to give to others. I’ve already started wondering when to use it for a small group study…

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would be an accessible introduction for a young adult or a new believer to seeing the big storyline of Scripture. Covers the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New covenants. Most of the material is generic enough to be used from a dispensational perspective - there are a few points of disagreement or things that would need to be added/clarified.

Curious if there is something written on a similar level out there that is a bit more compelling.

[Kyle Halleck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic introductive biblical theology. Each chapter comes in bite sized pieces and is a great resource for someone wanting to better understand the overall storyline of the Bible before cutting their teeth on a more lengthy and in depth biblical theology.

Very easy to read and could be a great resource for new believers, believers wanting to get a better grip on the metanarrative of scripture, or for a Bible study where these verses and storylines can be fleshed out to greater extent.

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essentially a shotgun approach to biblical (linear) theology in 16 verses. Although the book can appear simplistic, the progression is well-paced and developed with helpful summaries of the "entire story" at the end of each chapter. If you are a serious reader, you will probably look for something a bit more academic, but Chris Bruno never becomes pedantic in the 127 pages.

[Ben Chidester · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, short overview of the main themes (including creation, redemption, sin and covenant) and narrative of the Bible. If I were to give a book to someone who is not yet literate in the Bible (especially how the Old Testament connects to the New) but is looking to become so, this is probably the book I would choose.

[Grace-Andie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief but touches on so many important biblical concepts !! Definitely will keep this in mind as an overview of God's work and His plan of redemption !! Would be excellent to explain the completeness if God's plan to unbelievers or new believers, but just as important as a reminder to mature believers.

[Evan Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on how much I enjoyed reading it, this is a two star. Based on how fundamental and “seeker” friendly it is, it’s a four star. So we settled in the middle for three. A great 100 page intro to Christianity, but not much more. Also the 16 “Verses” are actually 2-3 verse passages, which bothered me.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great overview of the Bible. I'm using the verses and summaries as a resource for Youth Group. I may even get a few copies to give out to some kids in Youth Group. However, I would note that this may be an easier read for someone who already has an understanding of the Bible than someone who is coming in blind.

[Aaron Wine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic little book on biblical theology. I would heartily recommend this to anyone, from junior high on up, if they want to get a good big-picture view of the Bible. Bruno does a great job of explaining Scripture as one beautiful, glorious story.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great for youth leaders and even youth to read on their own. Obviously you should still read the entire Bible but this books highlights 16 key verses that are an integral part of the teaching of God.

[Manuela Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great overview of the whole story of the Bible. It is concise and easy to understand. I highly recommend this for all, no matter where you are in your walk of life. Be sure to download the free study guide. The link is mentioned at the end of this book.

[Martha D'Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was lent to me by Lauren and I loved it so much. The chapters were only several pages long, making it easy to get through and low commitment.

He states how this book is for a first time Christian or been one for many years, which I whole heartedly agree with. With the 16 verses, you get a brief overview of the Bible and the ultimate plan that God has laid out for humanity and earth. I appreciate succinct information on theology like this because I often feel like I am missing some of the basic tenets of Christianity.

Bruno did an amazing job using different analogies to help explain complex terms and ideas. This is a great book for my bookshelf.