Exploring the Bible story as a chiasm

I have not often made this so explicit, but I tend to view the Bible story as a five act drama with a chiastic structure.

I would illustrate it most simply as follows:

In each act there are high points and low points.

The Creation story tells of humanity and the fall. It begins with God calling humanity to act as priests within creation at large. But then there’s the fall, the banishment from Eden, and an ongoing slide into more and more corruption that climaxes first in a devastating flood, then later with God scattering the nations and leaving them to their own devices.

The Covenant story tells of Israel and the exile. It begins with God forming of a new people, who later come to be known as Israel, to act as priests within humanity at large. But even they fall into corruption, which eventually leads to exile. And even when the people return from exile, to Judea and Jerusalem, God’s glory does not return to the Temple.

The Christ story tells of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It begins with God sending Jesus to heal the sick, eat with the alienated, and announce the kingdom of God. But then opposition grows, and he is beaten and crucified. But in a stunning twist God raises him from the dead. It is in this twist that the story of Jesus, Israel, and Humanity are reframed.

The Church story tells of the church and its mission. It begins with God calling the church into a new covenant in and through Christ and sending it out to bear witness of the resurrection in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. And this is the part of the story that we find ourselves in.

The Coming Soon story tells of Christ’s return and the final judgement. It offers glimpses of the things to come and things already upon us. Of both the renewal of creation and the final defeat of Satan, sin, and death. It leaves us with a challenge and a hope. The challenge of answering God’s call. And a hope grounded in Christ crucified, an event already accomplished.

Looking at the story this way helps me to understand why the apostles framed the story the way they did when they shared it with different groups. Amongst other Israelites, Peter shared the good news in terms of the covenant (B) and the renewal of the covenant (B’) through Christ. Amongst other nations, Paul shared the good news in terms of the creation (A) and the renewal of the creation (A’) through Christ. In every case, however, it should be observed that Christ (C) was shared as the climax and turning point. The good news is ultimately about Christ, whatever perspective we’re approaching it from.