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Biblical Metanarrative Essay
Katalina Macedo
Theology 104-B23
Professor Jon L. Estes
September 6, 2021
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Abstract
The 66 books that make up the Bible can be seen as separate books to the naked eye but by
taking a closer look at the major plotline of creation, fall, redemption, and new creation we can
see those common topics. The trinity and the concept of faith are evident in the entire Bible.
Each of these topics can be recalled back to something in the Old or New Testament proving that
all 66 books are connected in one way or another.
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The 66 books and the two covenants are all connected through the major movements the
creation, fall, redemption, and new creation. These four events all have the same main character
even if he is not physically present at that moment, our main character is Jesus, he can be
foreshadowed, promised, or physically represented throughout all 66 books. Since Jesus, is not
physically present through the Bible faith is what connected people to the trinity. The three parts
of God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all represented through the
Bible, each with their responsibilities.
The word trinity is not specifically used in the Bible, but it is a theological term. ((Etzel
& Small, 2016). The trinity can be seen throughout the entire Bible, each one is seen when their
role is needed. God the Father and God the Holy Spirit specifically can be seen in the first major
movement, creation, God the Holy Spirit was hovering over the waters when the Earth was
formless “Now the Earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and
the spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (New International Version, 2015, Genesis 1:2).
God the Father played the biggest role in creation, he created the first humans to walk the earth,
he created them to his likeness and gave them rule of all land, sea and animals (New
International Version, 2015, Genesis 1:26-28). The next major movement is the fall of humanity,
this takes place from Genesis 3 to the end of the old covenant. Throughout the entire old
covenant starting with Adam and Eve, humanity continuously disobeys God and the laws that he
has set. The Messiah is foreshadowed during the second major movement, in Genesis 22 Abram
is asked to sacrifice his only son in order to prove that he was faithful to God, this event can be
seen as a foreshadowing to when God the Son is later crucified. This second major movement
can be followed until the starting of the New Covenant. The first two movements alone can
connect the first 39 books of the Bible, but the story does not end there. The third major
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movement is redemption where the main character, Jesus, makes his physical appearance. Jesus
is sent to earth through Mary to bring redemption to the people of God and save them from
eternal death. God the Son preached, fulfilled prophecies from the old covenant and died on the
cross for those who have sinned against God. When believing in God and accepting him into our
lives we have now invited God the Holy Spirit to step into our hearts and make us a new
creation. New creation is the final major movement in the Bible, new creation refers to the new
heaven and the new earth that will be created when God returns but new creation can also refer
to the creation we become once we accept Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, the new creation has come: The old is gone and the new is here!” (New International
Version, 2015, 2 Corinthians 5:17), this verse and many others throughout the New Testament
show that in order to feel God the Holy Spirit we must first accept God the Son. The Trinity is a
big part of the Bible and is shown throughout all 66 books keeping them connected. All three
branches of God are seen and felt by all of those mentioned in the Bible. The trinity shows how
all the books in the Bible are unified.
Faith is a word that is thrown around a lot in the Christian community this word has a lot
of power to it and is mentioned multiple times throughout the Bible. Faith is defined in Hebrews
11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
(New International Version, 2015, Hebrews 11:1). Having faith did not start in the New
Testament but is also indirectly mentioned in Psalms 46:10 “He says “Be still and know that I am
God…” (New International Version, 2015, Psalms 46:10). In the Old Testament faith was
believing the God’s promises would be fulfilled and that he would answer prayers, this idea of
faith extends to the New Testament as well but adds in God the Son. Faith is a need and was
needed through each major event in the Bible. In the first two major movements, the creation and
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fall, faith was needed by the people to trust that God was going to send the prophet to fulfill
promises and that he was going to pull them out of situations. The redemption movement faith
was needed when Jesus asked people to do things like walk on water (Matthew 14) and feeding
5,000 people (Mark 6) those disciples of Jesus needed to have faith that he was going to do
everything he said he would and more. The major movement of new creation and faith play hand
and hand as well, those of us now living on earth have faith that God will one day return, and we
will be brought to a new heaven and a new earth where we will live without sin. In our everyday
lives, we walk by faith knowing that God is in control and that God the Holy Spirit is living
within us. Faith is seen in every major movement of the Bible as it brings reassurance to people
that God will do what he says, faith has never failed to prove God.
In conclusion, the two topics of the Trinity, and faith connect all 66 books of the Bible.
The metanarrative has multiple ways it could be connected. Each branch of the trinity is shown
throughout the entire Bible, and faith was proven to be used throughout every major movement.
The major movements of the Bible, creation, fall, redemption and new creation use both topics to
bring all the individuals’ books together.
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References
Etzel, G., & Small, R. N. (Eds.). (2016). Do Christians worship 3 Gods or One God?. In
Everyday Theology Exploring the Christian Faith (pp. 49–50). essay, B&H Academic.
Zondervan . (2015). New International Version .
