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BIBLICAL METANARRATIVE ESSAY
A biblical metanarrative is a story that unifies and ties together all parts of The
Bible, specifically the most significant being the creation, the fall, the redemption, and
the new creation. The Bible is a collection of stories and lessons that are meant to be
studied and correctly interpreted. It is important to become well acquainted with the
teachings within The Bible, to study them with intent and a prayerful heart, and to share
the messages found within with our families, our friends, and our children. Through
gathering knowledge of The Bible and its contents, we draw nearer to our Father in
Heaven who intended for us to know these things.
While viewing the “Understanding the Metanarrative” presentation within our
course, it helped me to better understand why it is useful to utilize the metanarrative as
there are 66 books written within time periods spanning hundreds of years, with authors
who have different personalities. The Metanarrative unifies all of those books and their
diversity collectively. “So, it would be safe to say that although we typically refer to the
Bible as one book, in reality the Bible is comprised of a collection of books”.1 It starts
with the creation in Genesis 1 and 2, with the creation of the Earth, man, and woman.
The creation of Adam and Eve led to the fall, where Eve was faced with the deception of
Satan. God offered his only Son who was persecuted and crucified on Earth, that those
who sinned would be able to be redeemed through the atonement.
For the first topic, I chose love. There are so many examples throughout The
Bible where God shows us love, and they are all throughout the story of creation, the fall,
the redemption, and the new creation. In Proverbs 3:12 it says, “For whom the Lord
1 Small & Etzel, 2016, p.22
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loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”2 He loves the
sinner, the good doer, the saint, etc., but doesn’t prize one over the other, as he knows
us and our needs individually. I can’t think of a greater example of love, than this: “for
god so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”3
For the second topic, I chose redemption. In the New Testament book of
Ephesians it says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace.”4 It also says in Psalm, “Let Israel hope in the
Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.”5 The
Lord, as is a common theme throughout these four major parts of The Bible, has always
offered redemption from sins. He does not want us to feel forgotten or abandoned just
because we are not perfect and has offered us the ability to draw closer to him through
his blessing of redemption. “The Bible is God’s delivered “word” to every human being.
It is full of portraits of His beautiful creation of every person, His unconditional love, His
invitation for all to receive His mercy and forgiveness of sins, and His ultimate plan for
all human beings who have ever lived upon the earth.”6
In order for each of us as individuals to fully grasp The Bible and its contents, we
have to be able to familiarize ourselves with the creation, the fall, the redemption, and the
new creation and recognize how they are all unified. The way we view The Bible affects
our relationship with The Gospel, our Father in Heaven, and the truths that we seek.
Utilizing the Metanarrative will not only allow us a deeper understanding and enrich our
2 Proverbs 3:12, (KJV)
3 John 3:16 (KJV)
4 Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)
5 Psalm 130: 7 (KJV)
6 Etzel & Gutierrez, 2017, p 39
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studies as we seek to draw nearer to Him, but we will also come to know of Him, and
will allow us to better share His words with those in our lives.
References
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Etzel, Gabriel, and R.N. Small. “Everyday Theology: Exploring the Christian Faith”.
(Nashville, TN: B&H Academic) 2016
Etzel, Gabriel, and Ben Gutierrez. “Theology Applied” (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic) 2017
Bible Gateway. KJV
