Pointing to One

Having finished my first year at Bethlehem College & Seminary, the most important thing that I have learned is how the whole Bible points to one person, Jesus. Through my Old Testament Survey class with Dr. David Howard, we were able to see how the Bible’s narrative tarnishes every single character, except one. The ineffectiveness of Israel’s prophets, kings, priests, judges, and the whole sacrificial system points to the need for a better savior and deliverer, a better prophet, a better king, a better priest, a better judge, and a better righteousness. Through my Hermeneutics classes with Dr. Brian Tabb and Dr. Chris Bruno, we were able to see how Jesus fulfills all of these roles in the New Testament. Just as Jesus himself said to the Pharisees in John 5:39, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.”

Through these classes, I realized that the main goal of reading and understanding the Bible is not so that we can become good people or to give us an example of what righteous living looks like, but to know Jesus, who alone is righteous, and to trust in him through whom we have eternal life and true righteousness before God. Therefore, I have made it my goal to study the Bible in such a way that I will be able to help the church which God will entrust to me to know and trust Jesus more and more through the preaching and teaching of the Bible.

To all the donors who have given me the opportunity to pursue further theological education through Bethlehem College & Seminary, I want to express my thankfulness and deepest gratitude for your generous gift.