Reading the Bible in the Right Direction (Part 4) – The Overarching Story of Scripture
If you were to summarize the overarching story-line of the Bible, what would you say? What if you had to do it in only one sentence? I will attempt to do exactly this in only seven words and I have a hunch my conclusion will be somewhat surprising to many.
But before I divulge my answer, I should note that this post is part 4 in a larger series concerning what I am calling “Reading the Bible in the Right Direction.” By this I am referring to the narrative order given in the Bible, most basically, Old Testament first, New Testament second. The ideas, stories, concepts, and expectations formulated in the Old Testament must be the primary base from which we interpret and understand the New Testament, rather than vice versa. More can be read on this in the previous posts, but now I am concentrating on concisely explaining the overarching storyline of Scripture. Understanding and interpreting the New Testament in light of this narratival framework causes the Scripture to first of all, make much more coherent sense, and second, to come alive in its intended dynamic vigor. This approach is critical because the early apostolic community, the original hearers of the New Testament, indeed, the people who wrote the New Testament, would have approached and understood the Bible in this way. They would have come to the New Testament writings living within the story of Israel, deeply entrenched in its expectations, animated with its hopes yet vexed with longing for this yet unfinished drama to come to its appointed consummation.
I will first give my seven word summary of the Bible’s story and then explain it. Here it is: God sends humanity to rule the earth. Surprising, eh? Yet if we read the Bible’s opening and closing remarks, we see that this is the original intent for God’s creation, and this intent comes to pass. Everything else that happens in the Bible is a subplot to seeing this overarching plot line find fulfillment.
When approaching a story and attempting to summarize its plot, a simple system has been developed to diagram the plot by identifying the six main components of the story:
1) The Sender, who commissions an
2) Agent, who is sent by the sender to accomplish a
3) Task, for the benefit of the
4) Receiver
5) An Impediment attempts to block the accomplishment of the task and only through the aid of the
6) Helper, is the agent able to accomplish the task.
This can be illustrated with a diagram, using the story of Little Red Riding Hood as an example.
Now what happens if we apply this type of plot analysis to the Bible? We would have to start at the very beginning – in Genesis 1. In verses 26-28, we are told that the original commission of humanity is to rule over the earth. This of course does not mean that they should function as exploitative tyrants. In Genesis 2:15 humans are told to cultivate, expand and grow the Garden of Eden. Rather than tyrannical domination, these verses mean the original purpose of human beings was to be the co-regents of God’s gracious, loving and life-giving rule, expanding both the Garden of Eden and their habitation (through having children and a family) to fill the earth with the glory of God. We often think of both the original creation and the Garden of Eden as being perfect and then subsequently getting spoiled. The texts more so tell us about something that, though perhaps not having particular flaws, was an unfinished project. The earth needed to be subdued. The garden needed to be cultivated. The ground needed to be worked. The earth needed to be inhabited. In other words, human culture, in all areas, needed to be developed and matured as part of God’s unfolding purpose for the earth. The task of humans was then, in cooperation with God, to work on this creation project and ultimately bring it to completion (i.e., “fill the earth”).
Under our schema from above this would make the main components of our plot:
Sender – God
Agent – Humanity
Task – rule
Receiver – the earth
Hence my summary, “God sends humanity to rule the earth.” Now, it doesn’t take long to realize that this plot gets at least somewhat derailed rather quickly. However, we know this plan does not come to an end, not in Genesis 3, and not anywhere else in history. We can be assured of this because the final narrative sequence in the Bible, in Revelation 22, immediately before the concluding epilogue, says of redeemed humanity on the renewed earth, “and there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever” (Rev. 22:5). The original plot succeeds! Humanity is sent to rule the earth, and apparently, whatever happened between Genesis 4 and Revelation 21 succeeded in restoring this original storyline and bringing it to fulfillment (although perhaps, it is arguable that Revelation 22 still does not yet show a complete “fulfillment” but that humanity’s gracious rulership of the earth will continue into the ages to come).
So far we’ve only named four of the main six components of our plot. The impediment is readily identifiable. Genesis 3-11 documents the downward spiral of humanity, not in the gracious expansion of God’s life giving presence, but in the exploitative, pernicious and cancerous expansion of violence, sin, hatred, alienation and death. In a word the impediment, is sin. But note in our storyline what sin is the impediment to. It is not the impediment to getting into heaven, but rather it is what blocks, even destroys the development and expansion of a communal cultural life on earth infused with God’s goodness, truth and beauty.
So who is the helper? Enter Abraham in Genesis 12. It seems easy to completely disconnect Genesis 12 from Genesis 3-11, as if perhaps it was just the next event in history. But Genesis 12 is a dramatic turning point in the book, both in terms of its content and the overall biblical plot. Genesis 1-11 covers a very long period of time and many generations in rapid succession. Genesis 12-25 covers the life span of one person. We also notice the issues that arise in Genesis 12 parallel those in Genesis 1. Abraham is unable to have children yet God promises he will be the father of many nations, akin to the original command to be fruitful and multiply. Abraham is told he will be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth. This parallels the blessing humanity received in Genesis 1, and the curse that came upon the earth in Genesis 3. Abraham’s promise concerns “the land.” Interestingly enough, this is the same Hebrew word as “earth,” thus forming at least a intriguing linguistic connection. All in all, Abraham (and thus his progeny, the nation of Israel) are God’s response to Genesis 3-11. God’s plan to reestablish the original plot and purpose for humanity is to be executed through God’s covenant people. God’s answer to the problem of sin is the covenant.
It also doesn’t take long to realize that this new plot line (Plot Level 2) was riddled with difficulty, whether it be family dysfunction, political conflicts, military engagement, or agricultural disaster, only to find the family of Abraham, God’s agents of reconciliation and restoration, to be held captive as slaves in the nation of Egypt. Enter “Plot Level 3″ – God sends a helper to bring deliverance to his people, in this case Moses. But as the story of the Old Testament progresses, the people of Israel get into one mess after another, usually related to wide-scale national sin. The people who God raised up to be his answer to the problem of sin, themselves became part of the problem. So God sends helper after helper, whether they be judges, prophets, kings (the epitome of which was David), to preach repentance to God’s people and to bring them deliverance from their enemies. The function of this “Plot Level 3″ however, was always to restore “Plot Level 2″ – Israel being a “light to the nations” and bringing “blessing to all peoples of the earth.” The purpose of this “Plot Level 2″ was always to restore “Plot Level 1″ – God sends humanity to rule the earth.
The final helper in this sequence (Plot Level 3) was none other than Jesus himself. This can be seen in Jesus’ resoluteness that he came only to help the “lost sheep of Israel” (Matt. 10:6; 15:24), as well as the emphasis that Jesus had come to save Israel (Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:68; 2:25). Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, “Plot Level 2″ has been restored because Jesus then sends out his company of 12 Jewish young men with a task to “make disciples of all the Gentiles/nations” (Matt. 28:19). Interestingly enough, in Acts 1, the apostles ask Jesus, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus answers in his usually interesting fashion, here by giving neither a clear yes or no answer and then continues, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Many people assume that Jesus’ answer is “no,” as in “you are stuck on thinking about politics, but I am going to have you go around and preach a new spiritual, inward reality.” It seems rather, if we compare the second half of his answer with our plot diagram, if twelve representatives of Israel are being sent out to “disciple the Gentiles” through preaching to “the remotest parts of the earth,” then the answer to their question is more like “yes, but not in the way you are thinking.”
So then, Jesus, through his death and resurrection, restores Plot Level 2. The ultimate goal of redemptive history however, is the recovery of Plot Level 1 – and human beings restored to gracious rulership over the earth. Rather than develop this here, in what is already a too-long blog-post, I will quote four passages that demonstrate this cosmic aspect of redemption’s goal. These passages are often enigmatic when the Bible is read in context to overarching stories that are in fact foreign to the Bible (i.e., the stories of Western affluence, escapism, rationalism, secular hedonism, etc.). However, when read starting with the narrative framework of the Old Testament as the foundation, these passages make perfect sense:
Acts 3:19-21 – Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of the restoration of all things that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.
Ephesians 1:9-10 – he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Colossians 1:19-20 – For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Romans 8:19‐23 – For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Links to earlier parts in the series Reading the Bible in the Right Direction: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Related posts
« Resurrection and New Creation (Part 1) – The Jewish Concept of Resurrection
Prayers for Revival – the Fire of Love and Holiness »
Comments
Comment from Richard
Time: October 31, 2009, 2:24 pm
Well, I definitely have to credit Richard Middleton on this one, since he is where I got most of this from. Check out his whole article here: http://www.luthersem.edu/ctrf/JCTR/Vol11/Middleton_vol11.pdf. My initial thoughts on Abraham and the covenant, as well as Acts 1 can be credited to Tom Wright.
Comment from Tim Gierschick II
Time: November 13, 2009, 3:37 pm
Richard, a great post which I’m still absorbing. Your seven word synopsis brings to mind a favorite passage in Jeremiah, where God’s people are called to work for the prosperity and peace of the city in which they find themselves.
Comment from Jeff
Time: January 12, 2010, 2:05 pm
I once introduced a missions talk I was giving by asking the audience, “what is the very first verse in the Bible that reveals the Gospel?” I was expecting people to guess Gen 3:15 (crushing the head of the serpent), but I was going to push them back to Gen 1:26 (someone actually got it, which surprised me a bit).
According to Titus 1:2, God cannot lie. If He cannot lie, then when He said, “Let us make man… and let them rule,” there was no plan B when the Fall happened. Humanity was going to rule the earth, or else God was a liar. Therefore, the whole story of redemption all the way down to the cross, the empty tomb, and the Second Coming, was contained in seed form in that single divine statement. The God who cannot lie is determined to have human beings ruling on the earth, and He has paid the most extravagant price imaginable to make it happen. Hallelujah!
Comment from Nathalie
Time: January 12, 2010, 9:40 pm
Wow…this one will take a while to absorb. After reading this I find it bewildering how we ever wandered so far from the story of God’s original plan for humanity and made the gospel to be about saving our souls so we can get into heaven. And along the same lines as Jeff…when did the OT plans and promises suddenly become nullified or allegorized because of the coming of Jesus? How did we even get to thinking so differently from what the Bible lays out?
Well either way…I loved this post! I love having a narrative framework when reading the Bible…and when looking at my own life!
Comment from Gary
Time: January 13, 2010, 5:55 am
What if we (the royal we…. as in the western church) stopped using the bible as if it were a daily one liners and catch phrases to make it through today (like Confucius’s sayings or the proverbial fortune cookies) and we actually got caught up into God’s redemptive plan for humanity, or God’s corporate purpose for humanity, pre, during, or post curse. Christianity would look alot less like individualized escapism and more like the God who created us in the first place.
If anything this post made me upset about the way God’s beautiful word are minimized and reduced to means to fulfilling our own desired ends, rather than letting it be the lifter of our heads to something that is so much bigger than our bad days and daily grindings.
Well said again Richard. I love this post.
Comment from Sarah Beale
Time: January 13, 2010, 8:47 pm
This was so good, i have never thought of God’s plans for us so systematically.. very mind opening! it is so crazy how we can so easily forget the purpose in which God made us for in light of his clear mission statement all through the bible. He wants to rule and have partnership with us! I love that you included the passage in Romans.. all creation groans for us to get this plan God purposed from the beginning! Good stuff!
Comment from Chris
Time: January 14, 2010, 12:34 am
Im going to rule the earth… in partnership with Jesus!! I have to say that when you said we would be surprised at your 7 word summary, I didn’t think i would be. But I was!! Its so true that we are command to rule and subdue the earth, yet it seems to be so far from my mind. I always think of Jesus ruling the earth, but I seldom see myself ruling the earth with him. (Also, I was wondering, if Adam and Eve were mandated to have offspring, or was that a mandate that only came after the flood??). I also, enjoy the diagrams, and for me a visual learner, it helped me follow you better.
Comment from Jennifer
Time: January 14, 2010, 7:47 am
All right, I enjoyed this post. I do not have much to say; I know the statements you stated are true; I just cannot think of anything to say. I like the part about the garden how it still needed to be worked it was not perfect. Adam and Eve still had tasks they needed to do.
Comment from Emily
Time: January 14, 2010, 9:56 am
Oh my goodness…you have a way of making things clear. It’s weird to me, and offensive, that the whole plot was that we would rule the earth. I feel like that should be blasphemy because…who are WE?! But what a merciful, good God, even though we messed it up so many times. It’ll still turn out like he planned. Wow. I love HIM!!!
Comment from Melissa
Time: January 14, 2010, 12:59 pm
I’m a little confused. Why is it all for the benefit of the earth? I know that I might sound harsh or like I don’t love our planet but, I’m not sure that I understand. You said that the “receiver” of God’s purpose for us being on the earth is the earth itself. I know that we have a dynamic responsibility to care for the earth and that God really DID tell us to subdue and rule it. However, I’m having a hard time thinking that the whole reason for creation is the earth. I might be missing your point, and I really don’t disagree with most of what you’re saying, I guess I’m getting at, why is it about the actual physical earth? I know we will live here forever and that God loves it, He did make it and say it was good after all, but is there nothing more to our purpose than caring for the land we live on? Am I completely missing the point?
Comment from Jesse
Time: January 14, 2010, 1:49 pm
Out of all your post’s on ” reading the bible in the right direction” this one is by far my favorite. I love how clear the big picture is when you look at the beginning and end of the story. Bringing that into perspective causes everything in-between to be so much more alive and purposeful, especially the first coming of Jesus. I especially enjoyed your comments about Jesus’ response to the disciples in Acts 1 as I have heard many people preach this passage differently.
Comment from Chris Minch
Time: January 14, 2010, 2:15 pm
“God sends humanity to rule the earth.”
I guess I’m in the same boat with Melissa. I don’t see anything wrong with your analysis of the overall story or themes… and it does bring clarity to the passages you mention… and I really like that you have the ability to communicate with clarity… It may be that I don’t get what the “rule” part of that summary means. Does that include how we carry our hearts towards one another and our relationship to God?
Comment from SilverRain Lee
Time: January 14, 2010, 11:09 pm
This article reminds me the Systematic Theology class that I had with you! You called the course’ name differently, but I don’t remember what it was.
Anyway.. It is such a joyful news for ESFPs to know that Christian spirituality is not really about high and lofty, mystical, untouchable conceptual, philosophical, surrealistic halo, but it is also very practical and physical, realistic, concrete reality which is about real, literal rulership over the land (earth). Since we-ESFP are not really into those “SPIRITUAL” stuffs, knowing that the overarching storyline of the Bible, the grandiose plot has something to do with human’s physical activities is comforting and liberating me from vain attempt to be like someone else in order to be more spiritual and to live out as an authentic Christian. : )
I do agree with the every single part of this post and those 4 passages in the end do make sense. I just want to spread this liberating gospel to those who are wishing to go to heaven someday and striving so hard to be better conducting Christian all the time.
While reading this I was moved by striking thought of what part of plot this generation is living in. Wow! Jesus restored the plot level 2! Hooray! 
Already but not yet! Animated yet vexed! The final scene of this epic is being unfolded and we are in it on the stage! And ‘the Maker of this plot will enter into the stage soon. Then the end of the plot of the Biblical story will finally come. (Excerpted, from C.S. Lewis’ Problem of Pain. my paraphrased version. I read it in Korean, so I don’t know how English says)
Comment from Tyler
Time: March 15, 2011, 1:56 pm
A Disagreement:
Your seven word description of the story of the Bible is very hard for me. Now, I may be misunderstanding what you mean by “rule the earth” and all the send, sender, receiver language, but to me it almost seems like your view of the story of Scripture is God sends humanity (away from Himself like the mother of the daughter in Little Red Riding Hood) to have a certain relationship with the earth (and maybe one another). The relationship however that humanity seems to have with God is simply being sent by God to live a certain task out for the earth. Do you really believe that the purpose of everything is for humanity to be sent by God to rule the earth? Do you really think that the storyline of the Bible is for the earth to receive something? Do you really think the storyline of all things is for humanity to be sent by God for something else, namely the non-sentient albeit fiercely beautiful earth? This is very difficult for me to believe. Clearly, the earth receiving something is a storyline of Scripture, for the trees truly will clap and the hills sing, creation’s groan will be ended and the leaves of the Tree of Life will heal the nations, but THE story line of Scripture? That’s tough for me.
Being a person who believes that the point of my life is relationship with God firstly that then leads to right relationship with all others and all else, this seeming orientation of the story of the Bible is difficult for me. If this were true, why did Jesus say the greatest commandment was to love God? Why not say, the greatest commandment is, “Rule the earth”? If loving God is simply a means of causing us to be the people who cause humanity to rule the earth, then why say loving God is the greatest commandment? If loving God is simply the success of Plot 2 to produce Plot 1, then why call it the greatest?
I would have said, “God creates humanity to live with Him and one another on the earth, forever increasing all that is good.” I believe everything is relationally theological, so it is difficult for me to think in any way that does not place relationship with God as primary if not entire (all else hinging on it). In my own self-perspective even, I see chasms of desire for ruling but an at least equally strong desire for relationship with God. Obviously, I can’t refute your statement that God’s command to Adam and Eve was rule the earth, be fruitful and multiply; it was not, “live in relationship with each other and Me on the earth.” But your quote from Revelation does include relationship with God in an overt way. Revelation 21:3, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.’” At the least, I would say that this must be an equally important storyline of Scripture: God desiring to dwell with humanity, not just God sending humanity to rule on earth. I truthfully, though, writing this, want to be very open to receive even more correction from your insight.
Comment from Kendall Beachey
Time: March 15, 2011, 4:39 pm
It is amazing how much a simple outline makes sense of things. I find the negitive reponse this brings, (“what the gosple is humanity ruling the earth… don’t you mean Jesus, right?”) indicitive of how much we simply don’t read the bible in the right direction. I remember talking about this once, and as I was drawing out the diagram and wrote “Abraham” someone responded with “Don’t you mean Jesus?” It sort of took me aback. Our rush to “get to the end of the story” so often sidetracks us from actually understanding what the story was about all along. Which is sort of interesting, We claim to be overjoyed about the climax of the story yet we walked into the movie halfway through and don’t even know who the main players are. There is someting so refreshing about the gosple being “this-worldly” and real and earthy. I thing Jeff commented on another post that it makes him want to be a farmer, and I real understand that. The whole thing makes so much moresense, especially when we consider all the OT prophesy about the land producing, the thorne and thistle being taken away, every man under his fig tree, etc.
Comment from Brother Yoon
Time: March 15, 2011, 7:08 pm
Your charts and explanations are helpful to see an overview of the OT storyline. It is satisfying to know that our future involves the earth and that I will not be a disembodied spirit simply resting in heaven, but I still wonder what ruling the earth will look like.
Comment from Kay
Time: March 15, 2011, 11:34 pm
First, thank you for the visuals! I love visuals. I don’t think I would’ve been able to understand w/o them. Second, wah?! Your summary of the bible is new to me. The statement isn’t new, but to say that it’s the main point of the entire bible is new. And, as is the case with all new concepts, I need some time to really take it in. I don’t see clearly how the ending passages are saying the summary statement, but it’s probably b/c I need more understanding on them (I’m still pretty new when it comes to learning how to study/read the bible). Also, when I first read your statement, I thought “but that sounds like humanity is the point of everything. Isn’t it all about God, not man?” But then I realized that you weren’t saying everything is about us (humanity). You were only saying that the plot of human history is centered on humans ruling earth. God is still has the preeminence in everything.
Comment from Spencer Baker
Time: March 16, 2011, 4:11 am
I was reading Middleton’s article a few days ago and was struck with the hope of believing that God’s plan was to have us rule the earth. Middleton talks about how creation started in a garden and ends in a city, and he says, “Creation was never meant to be static, but was intended by God from the beginning to be developmental, moving toward a goal.” The amazing part about this is that despite the sinfulness and brokenness of this world, there is still hope and life and beauty to be found in it. God hasn’t given up on the earth or the people on it. He’s still working to bring us back to that first plotline, that we might live forever on the earth and rule and reign with him.
Comment from Kara VanHover
Time: March 16, 2011, 1:14 pm
The plot analysis is a clever yet clear way to explain the story line of Scripture. “God sends man to rule the earth” may seem simplistic, yet Scripture testifies that this truly is what the plot of humanity boils down to. Looking at history through this bottom-line lens can help bring perspective to our daily lives and help explain how they fit in to the grand scheme of things. It helps us answer the questions “What am I here for?” and “Where am I going?”
Comment from Katie Thompson
Time: March 16, 2011, 1:51 pm
This is so good. The diagrams and outline are helpful. I need more understanding and knowledge about the OT storyline, but I want to keep this in my mind as I begin to read through the OT. I want to look at God’s kindness to give man the task to subdue the earth and His great mercy throughout history, and how He is faithful. I kept thinking about the servanthood of Israel that they are the covenant people that God has chosen to execute His plan to re-establish the purpose of humanity (this is restated from what you said in the “who is the helper?” paragraph). And all is done through Jesus who is the One who reconciles all things both in heaven and earth. I do not fully get it, but I want to know more.
Comment from Kristina Wu
Time: March 16, 2011, 2:09 pm
This is a bit confusing to me because the way that I read it, it sounded like you were saying that humanity ruling the earth was the end in and of itself? But I thought even humanity ruling and reigning the earth was unto something greater, like being able to do these things WITH Jesus.
I think I need further clarification..
Comment from James Kufeldt
Time: March 16, 2011, 2:19 pm
I love stories and I especially love the story of redemption. One of the things that I love most about it is its simplicity. The idea that the 66 books of the Bible can be effectively summarized in 7 words makes me giddy.
Comment from Matt Dettman
Time: March 16, 2011, 2:27 pm
Having been a reader primarily of the New Testament and of Old Testament narratives, this plot summary which includes the Old Testament, has always bewildered me. I mean that flow chart would not have come easily nor was it immediately obvious. It become obvious after several multiple readings of the Psalms and of the Prophets. Another careful read of Deuteronomy will eventually show the obvious cycle, culminating with chapter 28, where the curses for disobeying God are laid forth. As always, starting with the Old Testament provides the fundamentals for the answers found in the New Testament.
Comment from Lauren
Time: March 16, 2011, 2:34 pm
I feel like a little kid reading my favorite bed-time story again! I want to read this story over and over in as many forms as possible until I see my own daily life completely consumed in God’s unfolding plan of restoration1
I may slightly disagree on the nuances of “humanity’s gracious rulership of the earth “. But I guess you didn’t fully develop this theme, so I shouldn’t assume I know what you mean by this phrase. I would like to know more on what you see specifically as the task given to man.
Comment from Jonathan Toenniges
Time: March 19, 2011, 2:53 pm
I like this too. It is such a premier truth in Scripture, but so overlooked (by me at least). To have this end in mind is so helpful to life. It gives context for the work Christians do today whether it be in the marketplace, the church, or the farm. 
We were created to rule on the earth in total righteousness, sin and Satan and the lost are impeding us, but these impediments are soon to be removed so we can fulfill the creation mandate in fullness. It is exciting !
Comment from Ben Varner
Time: October 31, 2009, 12:16 pm
Wow! This was an amazing post!