Biblical Metanarrative Essay
Patricia Reyna
THEO 104: Introduction to Theology Survey
September 4th,2023
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A metanarrative is the overarching account or interpretation of events and circumstances
that provides a pattern or structure for people’s beliefs and gives meaning to their experiences.
(htt28) In a biblical setting, a metanarrative is the overarching story that covers the four
significant parts of the Bible. The four significant story-arches of the bible are creation, Fall,
redemption, and new creation. The holy bible which consists of 66 books in total, 39 books in the
Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament, has guided and shaped mankind to live a life
according to the will of our creator as well as fostering a close and loving relationship with the
creator. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and
not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” JER 29:11NJKV. (htt29)
According to the Understanding the Metanarrative presentation, a metanarrative is a
narrative or story that unifies the vast diversity of the Bible. The bible was written over a period
of two thousand years in three different languages Hebrew, Aramaic, and koine Greek. Each
interpretation of the bible, have the same message. An independent, unseeable entity who created
all that we see, who wishes to foster a close, loving relationship with its creation. The creation of
the planets and universe occurred when an independent being who has been described as
Yahweh which means “I am” or “I will be.” Alternately the name Adonai which translates to
“Lord or Master” in Hebrew, created the planets and all its inhabitants out of nothing or ex nihilo
in Latin. The first verse of the Bible starts not only with the assumption of a God (Gen 1:1, “In
the beginning God”), but also with His creative work (Gen 1:1, “created the heavens and the
earth”). (Etzel 2014)
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the original meanings of weresin
largely concerned with religious matters as "an offense against religious or moral law";
"a transgression of the law of God"; "a vitiated state of human nature in which the self is
estranged from God.” As Genesis 2:16-17 details, Since the beginning of His creation, The
Lord gave mankind, Adam and Eve, a very simple law to follow while in community with
The Lord, in the garden of Eden. Unfortunately, in Genesis 3:4-6, we learn how the serpent
convinced Eve to take a bite out of the forbidden fruit and offer it to Adam, introducing
mankind to sin. Prior to eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve were both living naked
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and unashamed as Genesis 2:25 states. As a result of their sin, Adam and Eve were cast out
of the garden and were left to till the land on which he was taken, Genesis 3:22-23.
The entire Old Testament is the history of God working through the Jewish people
to bring redemption through His Son Jesus. Like most early ancient society’s the Hebrew
people were nomadic tradespeople looking for progress in commerce and peace. By Exodus
3 we learn that the Hebrew people had fallen to slavery under the Egyptian pharaoh. One of
the most memorable stories of redemption in the Old Testament is that of an unlikely hero,
Moses which means “of water”, an orphan found in the Nile River as an infant
subsequently raised in the palaces of the pharaoh as detailed in Exodus 2:1–10. Moses is
given the herculean task of confronting pharaoh and demand the release of the enslaved
Hebrew people along with leading the enslaved Hebrew people out of Egypt. “The Lord
said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard
their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their [a]sorrows. So, I have come down
to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians” Exodus 3:7-10NKJV. Redemption did not
come easy for the Hebrew people. After the parting of the red sea in Exodus 14: 19-31, the
Hebrew people underwent a transformation. No longer where the Hebrew people will be allowed
to worship pagan gods. Exodus 20:3-10. As well as changing their identity from Hebrews to
Israel which means “one who wrestles with God” Coupled with understanding and accepting the
ten commandments on Mount Sinai in Exodus 19-24. As much as The Lord got the Hebrew
slaves out of Egypt, he also ensured through the ten commandments and what is known as the
“Law of Moses” our creator, purified the newly formed Israelites, leaving all remnants of Egypt
behind.
The hope and expectation of new creation is directly connected to the Israelites faith
in the lord to re-establish a new creation as illustrated in Ezekiel 36:24. The Narrative of
New creation is scattered all over the bible and for the following thousand years, The Lord
has revealed himself to us and laid out the path to complete redemption of the soul and
communion with the Father. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained
to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Luke 24:2. Some
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interpretations of the word “New Creation” are destruction of the old and starting anew,
like Noah and the flood in Genesis 7. God’s new creation is not of the destruction of this world
but rather it is a renewal. In other words, while the world and in turn, our lives are infected by sin,
it is still a life to be valued because it will all be redeemed.
Humankind has been attempting to find a meaning/purpose to one’s lives since the
beginning of time. Jewish & Christian followers believe that there is a higher source that we
answer to, and the goal of life is to harvest a close relationship with our creator and walk with
him throughout our lives in obedience to Yahweh’s commandments. Ken Hemphill defines
world view in his book, Life Answers as “a worldview, whether Christian or secular, is the
unifying perspective from which we organize our thinking about life, death, art, science, faith,
learning, work, money, values, and morals. A worldview is our underlying philosophy of life.”
(Hemphill n.d.) Since the first human, humankind has questioned the meaning of being human.
What is our purpose on this planet? How did we get here? Why are we here? In Judaism and
Christianity, God created mankind above the animal and man was created, “a little lower than the
angels” (Ps 8:5). (Weider n.d.) . 1 Kings 3:9 is a perfect example of the devotion and following
Jewish & Christian faithful believe in a higher power to let Him decide what is best and the
children of God (in this case Solomon) being the messenger. The real meaning of life must,
therefore, be viewed from the lens of, and be found in, the Life-Giver. (Christ1)
Possessing a sound biblical metanarrative is an ever-evolving practice because ultimately
it is up to the individual to make the choice to understand and accept Father as our creator and
real father which can vary depending on our current level of understanding. Reading the bible at
24 is not the same as reading the bible at 35. The bible, especially the Old Testament are the
inspired words of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV To understand the bible is to understand the
deep love our creator has for his children who will do anything to re-unite with his children. As
Jesus described eloquently in the parable of the sheep in Matthew 25:31-46. Understanding that
all that really exists is love. Through His words, we understand that God is love and will always
look out for his children. Our duty as children of God is to love ourselves, love our family and
community and most importantly of all love God with our whole heart.
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Bibliography
n.d. https://www.ldhr.org/vite-definition/metanarrative/.
n.d. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JER+29%3A11&version=NKJV.
n.d. https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/what-is-the-true-meaning-of-life-finding-
your-purpose-in-life.html#:~:text=The%20real%20meaning%20of%20life%20must%2C
%20therefore%2C%20be%20viewed%20from%20the%20lens%20of%2C%20and%20be
%20found%20in%2C%20th.
Etzel, G., & Gutierrez, B. Theology applied: A living faith. Chattanooga, TN: B&H Academic.
2014.
Hemphill, Kenneth S. n.d.Life Answers: Making sense of your world.
Weider, Ben Gutierrez and Lew. Finding Your Worldview: Thinking Christianly about the World
(B&H Academic, 2000), 67. n.d.
