What Is Meant by the “Storyline” of the Bible, and How Does Biblical Theology Trace It from Creation to Christ?
Biblical theology is the theological interpretation of Scripture in and for the church, approached with historical and literary sensitivity and guided by the Bible’s overarching narrative. One of its core aims is to trace the “storyline” of the Bible—from the first chapter of creation to the coming of Christ and beyond—showing that the Scriptures, though diverse in authorship and style, form a unified, God-centered story. This narrative is not simply a record of ancient events; it is the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan, culminating in Jesus Christ and shaping the life of His people.
1. Nature and Function of the Bible’s Storyline
The “storyline” of the Bible refers to the grand narrative that unites all 66 books into a coherent whole. This is more than a loose collection of moral lessons or historical accounts—it is the progressive revelation of God’s purposes in creation, redemption, and restoration.
Key features of the storyline include:
Unity – A single divine Author oversees the whole, ensuring that the message is consistent from Genesis to Revelation.
Diversity – Individual authors, genres, and settings contribute unique theological insights that enrich the whole.
Progression – God’s plan is revealed over time, with later revelation building upon earlier promises and events.
Fulfillment – The Old Testament anticipates, and the New Testament announces, the completion of God’s saving work in Christ.
This framework is essential for biblical theology because it prevents the isolation of texts from their larger context and ensures that interpretation remains connected to God’s overarching purposes.
2. From Creation to the Fall: God’s Good World and Humanity’s Rebellion
The storyline begins in Genesis 1–2, where God creates the heavens and the earth and declares them “very good.” Humanity, made in His image, is given a mandate to fill, subdue, and rule over creation as His representatives. Creation is the theological foundation for everything that follows—revealing God’s sovereignty, goodness, and design for human life.
The turning point comes in Genesis 3, when sin enters through human disobedience. The result is alienation from God, each other, and the created order, along with death and suffering. Yet within this judgment, God announces hope: the promise that the seed of the woman will crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). This “protoevangelium” becomes the earliest thread of the Gospel woven through the storyline.
3. Covenants, Kingship, and Prophetic Hope
Biblical theology traces the unfolding story through God’s covenant dealings with His people:
Abrahamic Covenant – God promises land, descendants, and blessing to Abraham, with the goal of blessing all nations through his offspring (Genesis 12:1–3).
Mosaic Covenant – At Sinai, God redeems Israel from Egypt and gives His law, calling them to be a holy nation (Exodus 19:4–6).
Davidic Covenant – God promises that David’s throne will be established forever, pointing to a future messianic king (2 Samuel 7:12–16).
The prophets interpret Israel’s history in light of these covenants, calling the nation back to faithfulness and announcing a future work of God:
A new covenant written on the heart (Jeremiah 31:31–34).
A Spirit outpouring bringing renewal (Joel 2:28–32).
A suffering servant who bears the sins of many (Isaiah 53:4–6).
This covenantal and prophetic structure sets the stage for the arrival of Christ as the fulfillment of God’s promises.
4. Fulfillment in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ
In the New Testament, the storyline reaches its climax:
Christ as the Last Adam – Obeying perfectly where Adam failed (Romans 5:18–19).
Christ as the True Seed of Abraham – Bringing blessing to all nations (Galatians 3:16).
Christ as the Greater Moses – Delivering His people from sin and death (Hebrews 3:3–6).
Christ as the Son of David – Reigning on an eternal throne (Luke 1:32–33).
His death and resurrection are the decisive turning points of redemptive history. In the cross, sin is judged and God’s justice is satisfied; in the resurrection, new creation life begins. Biblical theology insists that all earlier parts of the story find their meaning in Him—not by forcing Him into every text, but by showing how each part contributes to the whole Gospel narrative.
5. The Church’s Role and the Storyline’s Future Horizon
The storyline does not end with Christ’s ascension; it continues in the mission of the church:
Acts records the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
The Epistles instruct the church on living faithfully in light of Christ’s reign.
Revelation gives the final vision of new creation, where God dwells with His people and all things are made new.
In this way, biblical theology situates the church in the “already” of Christ’s finished work and the “not yet” of the kingdom’s consummation. The storyline points forward to the day when Christ will return, evil will be defeated, and God’s purposes in creation will be fully realized.
