what is metanarrative?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 01:12AM Metanarrative : “Any founding or overarching story that gives rationale and legitimation for a particular worldview, perspective, or value system....
Metanarrative is very important concept to grasp in order to understanding scripture. We need to ask what was the overarching story of the Jewish nation in the Old Testament. Whether we like it or not we must understand that the story of the Jews is their metanarrative. We need to ask 'what was the story of the Jews that Jesus engaged when He entered the scene?' We must learn the perspectives of 'the Herodians', or 'the Pharisees', or 'the Caesars' during the life of the Christ. What did they believe to be the truth that legitimized their actions and behaviors? Why did they feel they were 'in the right' when they confronted Jesus. When we learn the 'why' of their behaviors we can begin to understand the reason Jesus spoke to them the way He did.
Summarily the Jews were about visitation and vindication. God was coming to 'set the world to rights' as he had during the Exodus event. Any Pharaoh would fall. Deliverence was the hope. They were to return to the glory days of King David and even more. Some (the Herodians and the bulk of the Sadducees) would accommodate to the super power and 'wait it out'. Others would be more withdrawn and 'nationalistic'. Such were the Pharisees, Essenes (to a greater degree towards separatism and isolation) and Zealots (to a greater degree revolutionary). The first two were what we might consider in our day believers in the sovereignty of God. He, Himself, would come in due time. The later was inclined to help Yahweh get the job done. They were impatient and eager for the day. We might think of them as similar to the 'liberation theology' of more recent times.
Rome was about colonization and conquer. They were intent on becoming the greatest kingdom of all time. They were destined to rule as empire. Others could accommodate or die. Rome was about power.
Audience and context changes everything. To read scripture without them is to a degree an act of futility and an exercise in frustration.
We will always land at the wrong conclusions.
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