Biblical Metanarrative Essay
Bible Metanarrative Essay
Kimberly D. Mosley
Liberty University
THEO104: Introduction to Theology Survey ( C11)
Richard McGee
9/30/2023
Introduction
The Bible has been the number one selling book for decades, and it's full of stories that
many people are told as a child. Some of us still hold on to those stories and apply them to our
lives, while others dissect them to prove that God doesn't exist. The metanarrative connects those
stories and helps with the flow of scripture. The story of the creation, the fall, redemption, and
new creation are seen through the lens narrative of God's grace and sovereignty.
Creation
How we all began is one of the many phenomena that have perplexed humanity for ages. While
many different religions have their account of how the world has already started, the creation
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Biblical Metanarrative Essay
found in Genesis 1 and 2 provides a profound perspective. In Genesis 1:1 it says, "In the
beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (The New King James Bible 1979). This
account was explained in Gabriel and R.N. Small book as the foundational belief that God, the
sovereign Creator, brought the world into existence through His divine word, ex nihlo and out of
nothingness. This account also provides a lens through which we can explore the profound
human existence and the origin of life while emphasizing the ultimate authority of the Creator
God( Etzel & Small, 2016). The creation reminds us of God's sovereignty and the need to restore
the fallen world.
Fall
Who thought eating a piece of fruit would cause calamity? God knew, so He instructed Adam
never to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:17, NKJV). This pivotal
event within the biblical metanarrative is significant (Etzel & Small, 2016). The Fall is rooted in
the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis,1979,3), which represents humanity's
rebellion against God's perfect order and the introduction of sin into the world. This terrible
event destroyed the strong relationship between humanity and God, distorting human nature and
purpose. Etzel and Small explain how this story reveals the profound impact of sin on the human
condition, affecting not only individual morality but broader social and cosmic dimensions.
Specifically, the Fall is an essential backdrop for understanding human tragedy, the nature of sin,
and the critical importance of God's redemptive plan.
Redemption
In Gabriel Etzel and R.N. Small's book "Everyday Theology," the biblical concept of redemption
is a central theme that resonates throughout the metanarrative of the Bible. Redemption refers to
the work of Christ that was on our behalf on the cross because sin caused us to be alienated from
God. Galatians 3:13 says: "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a
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Biblical Metanarrative Essay
curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"). The Old Testament
promises the fulfillment of those promises in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and
redemption emphasizes God's unfailing love and grace for humanity. Etzel and Small explain
how the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the final events in the biblical metanarrative,
offering redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God.
New Creation
Gabriel Etzel and R.N. In Small's book, "Everyday Theology," the biblical oncept of re-
creation emerges as an essential theme deeply rooted in the metanarrative of Scripture. The
authors emphasize that the biblical narrative goes beyond the fall and redemption to reveal God's
ultimate plan to inaugurate a new creation. In Galatians 6:15( AMP) it says: "For neither is
circumcision anything [of any importance], nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [which
is the result of a new birth—a spiritual transformation—a new nature in Christ Jesus]". We see
that it was through the work that Jesus did on the cross the one can be transformed into a new
creation. The authors( Gabriel Eztel and R.N. Small) explore how believers not only receive
God's salvation but also participate in the manifestation of the new creation, as they are called to
live according to the values and principles of the future kingdom of God now.
Biblical Worldview
In Gabriel Etzel and Guerez's "Theology Applied: A Living Faith," the biblical
metanarrative worldview is the foundational lens through which the Christian faith is understood
and applied to daily life. The authors emphasize the importance of seeing theology in the context
of the holistic biblical narrative, which includes creation, fall, redemption, and re-creation. This
metanarrative perspective frames a Christian's understanding of the world, addressing
fundamental questions of origin, identity, meaning, morality, and destiny. The biblical
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Biblical Metanarrative Essay
metanarrative of personhood emphasizes that human beings are uniquely created in the image of
God( Genesis 1:26), emphasizing their intrinsic worth and distinction from the animal kingdom.
Logically, it reveals the purpose of human life( Jeremiah 29:11) and emphasizes their
relationship with the Creator and following His divine order. Morality finds its roots in God's
immutable standards(1 Peter 1:15-16) expressed in metanarrative, which guides right and wrong.
Finally, the biblical narrative addresses questions of predestination by describing the hope of
eternal life and ultimate destiny( Psalm 37:5-6) before God for those who respond to the biblical
message of salvations, one's understanding of the biblical metanarrative profoundly influences
one's views on these worldview questions, providing a coherent and comprehensive framework
for organizing the biblical worldview.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the biblical metanarrative based on Genesis is also supported by
theologians Gabriel Etzel and R.N. Small, and Gabriel Gutierrez provides an example of the
foundations of human life. By talking about life and declaring God as creative sovereignty, we
are reminded of His supreme power and the urgency of dealing with the world's fallen state. The
Fall, Redemption, and New Creation stories reveal the consequences of human disobedience,
God’s plan of gracious redemption through Christ, and the promise of a renewed and harmonious
world. This metanarrative addresses fundamental questions of origin, identity, reason, morality,
and destiny and provides a framework for understanding and applying the Christian faith to our
daily lives.
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References
Thomas Nelson Inc. (1979a). Genesis 1:1. In . The New King James Bible
Etzel, G., & Small, R. N. (n.d.). Did God Create the World?. Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33542997-everyday-theology
Galatians 6:15 AMP - - bible gateway. (n.d.). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=Galatians%2B6%3A15&version=AMP
Etzel, G., & Gutierrez, B. (n.d.). Theology applied: A living faith. Logos Bible Software.
https://www.logos.com/product/201254/theology-applied-a-living-faith
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