(6) What Is the Bible About?

The fourth article of the Belgic Confession is basically a list of Bible books. That might not appear to be very edifying. But the list is important. It distinguishes the Protestant Bible from the augmented Bible of the Roman Catholic Church. It also distinguishes canonical books—or those that fit the rule of orthodoxy, and apostolic testimony—from other religious writings.

And this list can, in fact, build us up. It can help us understand the two parts of our single Bible. The Bible tells a single story of how God saves sinners. The story's first part, the Old Testament, records the promise of redemption in which the hero Christ is somewhat concealed. In the second part, the New Testament, Christ does not abolish but fulfills the promises as the Savior of the world (Matt. 5:17). In both parts God tells us how to know and obey him.