From Adam and Israel to the Church | Reformed Theological Seminary

What does it mean to be created in God’s image? How has the fall affected this image? Who are the people of God? Addressing these core questions about spiritual identity, From Adam and Israel to the Church examines the nature of the people of God from Genesis to Revelation through the lens of being created and formed in God’s image. Benjamin Gladd argues that living out God’s image means serving as prophets, priests, and kings, and he explains how God’s people function in these roles throughout Scripture―from Adam and Eve to the nation of Israel, from Jesus to the church. The consistent call of the people of God is to serve as God’s image-bearers in the world. This first volume in Essential Studies in Biblical Theology lays a foundation for subsequent volumes, introducing key biblical-theological themes such as temple, king, priest, prophet, creation, and redemption. Essential Studies in Biblical Theology (ESBT), edited by Benjamin L. Gladd, explore the central or “essential” themes of the Bible’s grand storyline. Taking cues from Genesis 1-3, authors explore the presence of these themes throughout the entire sweep of redemption history. Written for students, church leaders, and laypeople, the ESBT offers an introduction to biblical theology.

The main storyline and big message of the Bible can be told from many different angles. Benjamin Gladd’s book takes a surprising approach, insisting that not only is Jesus God’s prophet, priest, and king―we too, as those created in God’s image and being conformed to the image of Christ, are to live as prophets, priests, and kings. The book is a remarkably comprehensive and compelling description of God’s work in the world.

Brian S. Rosner
Principal, Ridley College, Australia

Rare is the resource that brings together substantive biblical reflection with ecclesial sensitivity and relevance. That’s why I’m delighted to see the launch of the Essential Studies in Biblical Theology series. Each volume expounds a central biblical-theological theme in a way that helps pastors, students, and laypeople alike not lose the forest of Scripture’s overarching storyline from the trees of its myriad of motifs and subplots. And what better way to kick off such a promising series than with Benjamin Gladd’s fine study of the nature of the people of God from Genesis to Revelation through the lens of being in God’s image. Highly recommend!

Todd Wilson
President, Center for Pastor Theologians

An ambitious undertaking that makes an immense amount of biblical theology accessible to readers at any level. Gladd’s study of the people of God is clearly grounded in the biblical text, uses covenant theology with a light but precise touch, and seamlessly integrates practical application. Despite its focus on a single theme, it integrates numerous other themes along the way, and so is almost a whole-Bible theology in miniature.

Daniel Timmer
Professor of Biblical Studies in the Doctoral Program, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Professeur d'Ancien Testament à la Faculté de Théologie Évangélique, Montréal

In this concise, clear book Ben Gladd helps us understand the crucial connections between image of God and the roles of prophet, priest, and king. Gladd masterfully guides us through the Bible to see how Jesus, the true Israel, embodies and models these roles, which are now the calling of his church. I highly recommend this book as a guide for putting the whole Bible together with Jesus at the center.

Chris Bruno
Associate Dean and Assistant Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology, Bethlehem College & Seminary

From Genesis to Revelation, Benjamin Gladd deftly guides the reader through Scripture and unpacks the rich mosaic of the people of God. Giving attention to various canonical themes such as temple, image, Israel, king, priest, and prophet, Gladd not only shows how Christ fulfills them but also how the church―as the people of God in Christ―lives before him. Even those who disagree with some aspects of Gladd’s approach will be encouraged and challenged to ‘develop new creational patterns’ of living now while waiting for the not yet, when Christ comes again to make all things new.

Oren R. Martin
Assistant Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Boyce College

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