Considering its diversity and rich storyline, the Bible can be converted into billions of classic books of different genres. The foundation of all the stories created is to glorify God’s supreme authority since everything on the earth was created through him. Therefore, the Bible tells the same story based on the existence of the universe, with the protagonist being God (Goheen, 2007). Furthermore, both the Old and New testaments narrate a common story of how God’s people maintain loyalty as they anticipate his fulfillment which is often endangered by the environment of sin. Generally, it is a story depicting the true nature of man and that of God (Schreiner, 2006). Therefore, the Bible’s unified storyline is created by its authority, nature, and metanarrative, which enables different stories to correlate in a smooth sequence without contradiction.
The Bible is God in his nature, considering that he inspired everything written in it. As noted by Goheen (2007), the entire story in the Bible is about God’s purpose for his people and all creation. God is the single protagonist in the Bible, and he inspires everything in it by refining and purifying since everything identifies with him. God is truth, and anything that does not align with his rules does not understand truth. Every other story is created through God, like that of creation depicted in various scriptures, which then paves the way for other storylines to unfold, such as laws of truth and rewards for conformity.
Most Christians do not understand the Bible’s authority in their lives. According to Goheen (2007), the bible stories narrate universal validity claims and their influence on humanity. This factor indicates that the Bible is a grand story that depicts truth through a universal claim and an affirmation of humankind and its cultural diversity. However, the divergent ways of narration and modern stories of individualism have created the plurality of angels, making some people consider it a conventional novel. The Bible’s authority is also influenced by divine powers, which have helped establish the existence of man and his environment (Goheen, 2007).
Therefore, the Bible’s truth in justifying the universe’s existence proves it is a unified story considering that humanity is where the story of sin and redemption comes in. Additionally, the Bible’s metanarrative explains how it is a unified story considering the story is about creation, the fall of man, redemption, and restoration (Schreiner, 2006). The books in the Bible all have stories that transcend from creation to restoration.
Reflection
The Bible can be condensed to fit the theme of truth, who is God. The Bible’s message is for humanity to find a relation with God by understanding their existence. He is the creator who understands the origin of everything and can restore those who desire to connect with him. All the stories narrated in this holy book encourage the believer that even if they have sinned, they can be redeemed by the renewal of self. Most scriptural verses presented encompass the glory of God through vivid descriptions of the things he has done, such as creation. I have realized that everything presented in the Bible is methodological, beginning with simple and then more complex concepts. For instance, the book of Genesis covers all about creation and how everything and even sin entered the world. Deuteronomy is another book that emphasizes on redemption of the Israelites, which shows a cycle of the same story but in diverse aspects. This inclusive system has enabled the Bible to depict God’s greatness by explaining his restorative actions effectively.
Different Genres in the Bible but Unified Story
The underpinning of the different genres presented in the Bible is God. This holy book encompasses various writing genres, including historical narratives, law books, wisdom literature, prophecy, poem, and songs. All these are connected, considering the fact that they all address the glory of God through the depiction of various situations of life (Schreiner, 2006). These stories were inspired by God, who spoke to the authors through inspiration, the heart, mind, and imagination. For instance, wisdom literature provides a collection of different wise sayings that teach believers to live within the divine light (Goheen, 2007). Such principles are the foundations of truth which is God. The law codes found in the first books of the Old Testament provide the guidelines and duties of people who identify with God (Goheen, 2007). The Ten Commandments are examples of rules created and inspired by God for humankind. Through different genres, God is still the divine character who inspires and supports a unified story.
The Bible is a metanarrative of creation, the fall of man, redemption, and restoration. This story is narrated with the depiction of different scenarios but aligned to the same structure and glorifies only God. The narrations were all inspired by him through different people from diverse cultures, ethnicities, and even religions. Through this inclusive approach, a universal story is created that relates to everyone but maintains its divine power by revealing the true nature of God.
References
Goheen, M. W. (2008). The urgency of reading the Bible as one story. Theology Today, 64(4), 469-483. Web.
Schreiner, T. R. (2006). Preaching and Biblical Theology. The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, 10, 20-29. Web.