What’s the message of the Bible in one sentence? That’s the question Dane Ortlund asks at his blog, Strawberry-Rhubarb Theology, to many of today’s most respected pastors, biblical scholars and theologians in the evangelical world. Included are responses from Southern Seminary faculty members Thomas R. Schreiner and Mark A. Seifrid.
Schreiner, who serves as James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and associate dean of Scripture and interpretation, writes the following in response to the question:
God reigns over all things for his glory, but we will only enjoy his saving reign in the new heavens and the new earth if we repent and believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the crucified and risen Lord and who gave himself on the cross for our salvation.
Seifrid, who serves as Mildred and Ernest Hogan Professor of New Testament Interpretation, gives his summary in Latin:
Verbum caro factum est. [translation: “The Word was made flesh.”]
Ortlund includes other one-sentence summaries from notable evangelical figures such as Mark Dever, Andreas Kostenberger, John Frame, Greg Beale, David Helm and more.