Running head: BIBLICAL METANARRATIVE ESSAY 1
Biblical Metanarrative Essay
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BIBLICAL METANARRATIVE ESSAY 2
Biblical Metanarrative Essay
Introduction
Reading the Bible from a shallow perspective often makes it a confusing undertaking,
especially after a failure to identify the vivid connection it establishes in all its stories. Such a
view necessitates the need for understanding the biblical metanarrative which is the unifying
story that brings the Bible’s four major parts together. The parts usually include Creation, Fall,
Redemption, and New Creation. Indeed, the metanarrative overcomes the view of the bible being
simply a collection of stories. It instead portrays it as a handbook for life, a crucial element in
humanity especially if interpreted correctly. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) says, “For I know the plans I
have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope
and a future.” It is through the metanarrative, therefore, that humanity gets to understand God’s
plan for the world and humanity.
Biblical Metanarrative
The Bible is a truly mesmerizing concept. Its authorship not only began thousands of
years ago but it was also by people from different places and times, and in different styles.
Despite this diversity, all the stories are unified into an overall story, the metanarrative. People
see the Bible as a single book but it is rather a collection of interrelated books (Small & Etzel,
2016). Therefore, believers should have an in-depth understanding of the metanarrative if they
are to comprehend the concept of God and the true meaning of being part of His creation.
The four primary parts of the metanarrative begin in Genesis with the creation story. It is
apparent that after creating everything God was pleased; “God saw all that he had made, and it
was very good” (Genesis 1:31 NIV). This continues with the fall of man after Satan’s temptation
necessitating the need for redemption. For this reason, God sends Jesus to die for the sins of
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humanity; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes
in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).
Grace
Grace is one of the recurrent aspects throughout the Bible. Various Bible authors talk
about the grace of God upon humanity. The grace is vivid with God’s love for human beings and
His attempts of restoring and redeeming humanity in numerous occasions. It is important to note
that without God’s grace, human salvation would have never happened. Although God was
pleased with His creation, He knew that man could not be perfect and thus sin would lead him
astray. Therefore, He had to devise a way of getting rid of sin, and this can be seen with the first
prohibition given to Adam and Eve. Genesis 2:16-17 states: “And the Lord God commanded the
man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die’” (NIV). However,
despite the warning, man still lost his way by committing the first sin. This was not the last time
man would sin against, God but the presence of God’s Grace made everything better. Apostle
Paul, writing to the Ephesians, says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and
this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV). Seemingly, God’s grace is an everlasting aspect available to humanity.
Love
Love is another particularly grounded concept throughout the Bible. The love of God for
man is evident from the time of creation where man was made in God’s image, to the coming of
Jesus Christ as the Messiah and redeemer of humanity. These and many other instances recorded
in the Bible reveal God’s profound love for humanity. In Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV), Jesus teaches
that love is the greatest commandment, surpassing or other laws. Besides that, the Bible says,
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“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him” (1
John 3:1 NIV). Most importantly, God is identified as the source of love in 1 John 4:16 (NIV) as
it is written, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in
love lives in God, and God in them.” Besides, Etzel and Gutierrez (2014) point out that the Bible
depicts God’s unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness for humanity. Ultimately, it is evident
that God’s love is sufficient for humanity, and it is through it that people remain nourished,
protected, and redeemed.
Conclusion
The biblical metanarrative is indeed the simplest means of understanding God’s message
to humanity. Comprehending the Bible undeniably requires Christians to fully acknowledge the
imminence of the four major parts of the metanarrative and their importance in unifying the
numerous Bible stories. Understanding the creation, fall, redemption, and new creation is crucial
in grounding a lasting relationship between humanity and God, and a plethora of aspects
including God’s love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness are there to bring people closer to the
creator. The presence of sin might weaken that relationship, but continuously trending on the
path of righteousness irrespective of one’s imperfection is an excellent way to lead one’s life.
The important point to remember is that God understood human imperfection even before He
created Adam and Eve.
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References
Bible Gateway. (n.d). The Bible. Online resource. Retrieved from
https://www.biblegateway.com/
Etzel, G. & Gutierrez, B. (2014). Theology Applied: A Living Faith. B&H Publishing Group
Etzel, G. & Small, R. (2016). Everyday Series: Theology. B&H Publishing Group
