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Short Studies in Biblical Theology
The New Creation and the Storyline of Scripture
A Biblical Theology of the New Creation from Genesis to Revelation
"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God." --Revelation 21:3
The Bible begins with the story of one perfectly good God creating a perfectly good universe. Forming two perfectly good human beings in his own image--Adam and Eve--was the crown jewel of his creative expression. Through humanity's sin, however, God's creation fell into a fallen state--yet he promised to bring restoration. In this book, Frank Thielman traces the theme of the new creation through the Bible, beginning in Genesis and ending in Revelation. He shows us that at every turn, God invites his people to be a "kingdom of priests" (Exodus 19:6), exemplifying the new creation to a needy and watching world until the return of Jesus.
"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God." --Revelation 21:3
The Bible begins with the story of one perfectly good God creating a perfectly good universe. Forming two perfectly good human beings in his own image--Adam and Eve--was the crown jewel of his creative expression. Through humanity's sin, however, God's creation fell into a fallen state--yet he promised to bring restoration. In this book, Frank Thielman traces the theme of the new creation through the Bible, beginning in Genesis and ending in Revelation. He shows us that at every turn, God invites his people to be a "kingdom of priests" (Exodus 19:6), exemplifying the new creation to a needy and watching world until the return of Jesus.
- GenresTheology
144 pages, Paperback
Published January 12, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 22, 2021
I generally enjoy every work in this series. They are short books that are easy enough for a layperson to read while also being deep enough that it would work well for a scholar. For me, this one misses the mark a little. It does not mean that it is a bad book or one that you cannot glean anything from, but rather it just does not seem as polished.
I feel like the book skips around a little and while it appears to circle back to convey its point, it is often rehashing the same thing over and over. I know that writing a theology book would be no small task, but I think this one could have been slightly better. I cannot pinpoint exactly why it feels different for me, but it has something off about the way it reads.
Overall, I would rank this one as my least favorite of the series so far. It is a good addition, but falls short in its content and clarity.
This book was sent to me by the publisher for a fair and unbiased review.
I feel like the book skips around a little and while it appears to circle back to convey its point, it is often rehashing the same thing over and over. I know that writing a theology book would be no small task, but I think this one could have been slightly better. I cannot pinpoint exactly why it feels different for me, but it has something off about the way it reads.
Overall, I would rank this one as my least favorite of the series so far. It is a good addition, but falls short in its content and clarity.
This book was sent to me by the publisher for a fair and unbiased review.
February 9, 2021
This is a book in search of a topic. It sort of meanders through biblical history, stopping here and there (Isaiah, Matthew, Ephesians) to say good and true things about the gospel, but without any impelling force or reason for addressing this and not that. I struggle to see why it is even a part of this series. Thielman is a quality exegete and a clear writer; stick to his commentaries would be my advice.
March 17, 2021
As we read through the Bible, one of the important things to consider is how a particular passage is understood in the context of the whole story of the Bible. This is one of the reason’s I particularly enjoy the Jesus Storybook Bible, because as I’m reading the stories to my children, the words remind us how all of scripture is pointing to Jesus and God’s plan from the beginning, to be with his people.
“The New Creation and the Storyline of Scripture” by Frank Thielmen is part of the Short Studies on Biblical Theology series, which is a helpful collection for the lay person looking to understand a specific theme as it’s understood throughout the whole of scripture. This book takes us from Genesis to Revelation, tracing the theme of the new creation.
He starts at Genesis, where God creates the world and declares all things good. Then, things turn awry after Adam and Eve sin, they are banished from the presence of the Lord with both a curse, and a promise.
Yet, God’s good plan for his creation did not crumble after the fall. He chooses a people for his own, establishes the law, and we witness their very bumpy history, resulting in their exile from the promised land. The prophets though, sent with words from the Lord, admonish Israel, but also plant firmly the seeds of hope, the promise of a new king, a new covenant, and a new creation; a time when he will return again.
“Eventually, under his reign, God will restore all creation to the security, peace, and abundance of the garden in Eden, and God himself will be present there with his human creation.”
We discover that, “the Gospel begins and ends, therefore, with the claim that in Jesus God is once again “with” his people, as he was in the garden of Eden and as he would be, according to Jeremiah and Ezekiel, in the time of Israel’s restoration,” and that “followers of Jesus live between these two great events, and so they continue to experience the hardships of life within a world that is in rebellion against its Creator at the same time that they bear witness to the inbreaking of God’s new creation.”
This tension is so evident in our world today. As we move between the hope and suffering of our day to day, we realize the absolute beauty of the gospel as God continues his work in the world. We carry with us a light in the darkness, the “invitation to everyone to be reconciled to God and to join this community of newly created humanity.”
Understanding the storyline of scripture is an important skill for believers to learn, as we seek to dig into the Word, interpret and apply these words of truth to our lives. Placing the verses into the context of the Bible’s story helps us to understand their meaning and work them into how we live and love.
I think this book is a valuable tool, and you should read it if you are looking for a short book to give you a sweeping view of the storyline of the Bible. It wasn’t one of my favourites, the writing wasn’t as relatable and personable as some of the others in this series have been, which has helped me to engage more with the teaching. I give it 3 stars!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the Crossway Blog Review program, in exchange for an honest review. (https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/a-...)
“The New Creation and the Storyline of Scripture” by Frank Thielmen is part of the Short Studies on Biblical Theology series, which is a helpful collection for the lay person looking to understand a specific theme as it’s understood throughout the whole of scripture. This book takes us from Genesis to Revelation, tracing the theme of the new creation.
He starts at Genesis, where God creates the world and declares all things good. Then, things turn awry after Adam and Eve sin, they are banished from the presence of the Lord with both a curse, and a promise.
Yet, God’s good plan for his creation did not crumble after the fall. He chooses a people for his own, establishes the law, and we witness their very bumpy history, resulting in their exile from the promised land. The prophets though, sent with words from the Lord, admonish Israel, but also plant firmly the seeds of hope, the promise of a new king, a new covenant, and a new creation; a time when he will return again.
“Eventually, under his reign, God will restore all creation to the security, peace, and abundance of the garden in Eden, and God himself will be present there with his human creation.”
We discover that, “the Gospel begins and ends, therefore, with the claim that in Jesus God is once again “with” his people, as he was in the garden of Eden and as he would be, according to Jeremiah and Ezekiel, in the time of Israel’s restoration,” and that “followers of Jesus live between these two great events, and so they continue to experience the hardships of life within a world that is in rebellion against its Creator at the same time that they bear witness to the inbreaking of God’s new creation.”
This tension is so evident in our world today. As we move between the hope and suffering of our day to day, we realize the absolute beauty of the gospel as God continues his work in the world. We carry with us a light in the darkness, the “invitation to everyone to be reconciled to God and to join this community of newly created humanity.”
Understanding the storyline of scripture is an important skill for believers to learn, as we seek to dig into the Word, interpret and apply these words of truth to our lives. Placing the verses into the context of the Bible’s story helps us to understand their meaning and work them into how we live and love.
I think this book is a valuable tool, and you should read it if you are looking for a short book to give you a sweeping view of the storyline of the Bible. It wasn’t one of my favourites, the writing wasn’t as relatable and personable as some of the others in this series have been, which has helped me to engage more with the teaching. I give it 3 stars!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the Crossway Blog Review program, in exchange for an honest review. (https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/a-...)
March 23, 2021
The New Creation and the Storyline of Scripture is the third book I’ve read (and reviewed) from the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series by Crossway. So far, I’ve enjoyed and benefited from the books tracing an important theme throughout the Bible. That would include this book, which follows the prominent biblical theme of new creation. Of the three Short Studies books I’ve read, this is the most basic; new creation is a biblical theme many Christians are aware of already. If you are already familiar with the big story of the Bible, it’s a theme that’s not hard to see. So, I would recommend this book to someone as an introduction to biblical theology, someone who doesn’t have a good grasp of the overall storyline of the Bible.
This is by no means a negative thing; tracing the theme is both essential to the Christian worldview and beautiful to see in Scripture. From the moment the new creation fell under the destruction of sin, God put his plan into effect to restore it, from the proclamation of the coming one who would crush Satan’s head, to the establishment of the nation of Israel, to the prophecies of the prophets, to the miracles of Jesus, to the born-again followers of Jesus becoming “new creations,” to the vision of the New Heaven and New Earth in the Book of Revelation. As I said, it’s a beautiful and essential thing for Christians to understand, showing us how we can have both hope and joy in the face of current turmoil and suffering.
*Crossway provided me with a free copy for review.
This is by no means a negative thing; tracing the theme is both essential to the Christian worldview and beautiful to see in Scripture. From the moment the new creation fell under the destruction of sin, God put his plan into effect to restore it, from the proclamation of the coming one who would crush Satan’s head, to the establishment of the nation of Israel, to the prophecies of the prophets, to the miracles of Jesus, to the born-again followers of Jesus becoming “new creations,” to the vision of the New Heaven and New Earth in the Book of Revelation. As I said, it’s a beautiful and essential thing for Christians to understand, showing us how we can have both hope and joy in the face of current turmoil and suffering.
*Crossway provided me with a free copy for review.
December 20, 2021
This is another one that I’m going to buy for my Sunday School students (high schoolers and middle schoolers).
I was simply blown away by all the references to the Old Testament there are in the New Testament.
Even passages that I thought I was really familiar with had more depth to them than I previously thought — and they weren’t contrived by the author at all. Those means were always there. We just missed them because we didn’t understand the Old Testament.
I was left with the impression that almost every sentence in the New Testament somehow had meanings that tied back to the OT somehow.
And I didn’t even know that “The Whole Armor of God” in Ephesians 6:10-20 had an OT precedent in Isaiah 59.
See here:
Isaiah 59:15-17
Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him
That there was no justice.
16 He saw that there was no man,
And wondered that there was no intercessor;
Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him;
And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.
17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,
And was clad with zeal as a cloak.
There’s so many more.
Buy this book!
I was simply blown away by all the references to the Old Testament there are in the New Testament.
Even passages that I thought I was really familiar with had more depth to them than I previously thought — and they weren’t contrived by the author at all. Those means were always there. We just missed them because we didn’t understand the Old Testament.
I was left with the impression that almost every sentence in the New Testament somehow had meanings that tied back to the OT somehow.
And I didn’t even know that “The Whole Armor of God” in Ephesians 6:10-20 had an OT precedent in Isaiah 59.
See here:
Isaiah 59:15-17
Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him
That there was no justice.
16 He saw that there was no man,
And wondered that there was no intercessor;
Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him;
And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.
17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,
And was clad with zeal as a cloak.
There’s so many more.
Buy this book!
May 4, 2021
Thielman provides a helpful survey of Isaiah and then relates it to a survey of Matthew with regard to the New Creation. He then moves through Ephesians. As other reviewer’s have noted this is a little disjointed, but once you accept what he’s doing you will benefit from this brief but helpful overview.
Unfortunately, Thielman quickly claims without sufficient evidence that the Church is restored Israel. He boldly claims that many of the detailed, extensive, and expansive prophecies regarding the nation of Israel are now fulfilled in a spiritualized manner in the church during the inter-advent age. It is very hard to see at a textual and canonical level how the Church’s mission in the Book of Acts fulfills the detailed prophecies of the regathering, reuniting, resurrecting, and restoring of the nation of Israel in terms of ethnicity, nationality, and territory. It seems that a both/and versus an either/or position is best. On that level I would give this three stars but in terms of an enjoyable read regarding Isaiah and Mattthew I’ll let it stand at four stars.
Unfortunately, Thielman quickly claims without sufficient evidence that the Church is restored Israel. He boldly claims that many of the detailed, extensive, and expansive prophecies regarding the nation of Israel are now fulfilled in a spiritualized manner in the church during the inter-advent age. It is very hard to see at a textual and canonical level how the Church’s mission in the Book of Acts fulfills the detailed prophecies of the regathering, reuniting, resurrecting, and restoring of the nation of Israel in terms of ethnicity, nationality, and territory. It seems that a both/and versus an either/or position is best. On that level I would give this three stars but in terms of an enjoyable read regarding Isaiah and Mattthew I’ll let it stand at four stars.
August 8, 2021
Really enjoyed the way Frank Thielman went about this one. It was written simpler, and more high-level than some of the others, but I actually think the crispness and simplicity of this work is what made me enjoy it so much. It didn’t seem like Frank’s intention was to dive into a dozen rabbit holes of complexity; he just showed the storyline of Scripture in a clear and powerful way. Were there times when I wished he’d said more? Yes! This book gets five stars from me simply because of how easy to read and enjoyable it was. This one is easy to recommend and pass along, especially to Christians who may not be as well-versed in Biblical Theology quite yet.
May 10, 2022
A very clear, straight forward exposition of the overarching narrative of the Bible through the very applicable lens of new creation. Thielman surveys Genesis, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Matthew, Acts, Ephesians, Galatians, 2 Corinthians, and Revelation to show the broader arc.
Thielman is great at explaining the test. But a book at this level would have benefited by creative illustrations. It typically just reviews a selection of relevant Bible passages, but doesn't use the writing to address the reader directly or creatively.
Thielman is great at explaining the test. But a book at this level would have benefited by creative illustrations. It typically just reviews a selection of relevant Bible passages, but doesn't use the writing to address the reader directly or creatively.
April 2, 2025
Follows the storyline of the Bible, Genesis through Revelation, with the idea of new creation as its controlling image and central conceit. At 120 pages, it’s obviously very high-level— helpful for understanding the big picture, though other books provide a more satisfying level of detail. (I recommend the great Michael Williams book Far as the Curse is Found, for example.)
July 19, 2022
Great little book. Thielman does a sweeping overview (Biblical Theology) of the New Creation theme in Scripture. However, it’s also a great introduction of the main storyline of the Bible. I think this is a great intro to give to new believers or those wondering what the Bible is about.
May 1, 2022
An excellent overview of the storyline of scripture. In some ways the theme of creation/new creation is muted compared to what it could be.
May 26, 2022
Some good spots here and there but mostly suffers from a grasping over-realized eschatology with fabricated fulfillments that stops just short of full preterism.
April 28, 2024
Love these little books!
January 7, 2025
Good overview
July 23, 2025
You can read a longer version of this review at SpoiledMilks (07/22/25).
In New Creation, Frank Thielman explores how the Bible’s story centers on God restoring the world through Jesus. Though the term “new creation” appears only twice, Thielman shows it summarizes a key biblical theme.
From Genesis to Revelation, God promises to heal sin, reverse the curse, and dwell with his people. Thielman traces how Isaiah’s vision of a Spirit-filled king and renewed world is fulfilled in Jesus, whose death and resurrection bring forgiveness, new life, and the Spirit. Those united to Christ are already part of this renewed humanity and live by the Spirit while awaiting full restoration.
This short volume in the Short Studies series is accessible yet rich, making it useful for students, pastors, and everyday readers. Thielman connects the Old and New Testaments well, though some theological themes could use more depth. Still, this is a great introduction to the new creation theme and how it shapes Christian hope and life today.
Review Disclosure: I received this book free from Crossway for an honest review.
In New Creation, Frank Thielman explores how the Bible’s story centers on God restoring the world through Jesus. Though the term “new creation” appears only twice, Thielman shows it summarizes a key biblical theme.
From Genesis to Revelation, God promises to heal sin, reverse the curse, and dwell with his people. Thielman traces how Isaiah’s vision of a Spirit-filled king and renewed world is fulfilled in Jesus, whose death and resurrection bring forgiveness, new life, and the Spirit. Those united to Christ are already part of this renewed humanity and live by the Spirit while awaiting full restoration.
This short volume in the Short Studies series is accessible yet rich, making it useful for students, pastors, and everyday readers. Thielman connects the Old and New Testaments well, though some theological themes could use more depth. Still, this is a great introduction to the new creation theme and how it shapes Christian hope and life today.
Review Disclosure: I received this book free from Crossway for an honest review.
January 1, 2024
Excellent little book that traces the theme of the promised new creation from the fall onwards. A masterful exposition of scripture - loved his summary of the 7 messages of Isaiah as set forth by House. A story of hope for a broken and damaged world that we can taste the new creation now and confidently live in it in the future.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews