Bible Interpretation, Student Workbook, SW05

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B I B L E I N T E R P R E T A T I O N

family, is vindicated by God and elevated to power at the right hand of the Pharaoh).

3. Genres suggest that God’s truth can be communicated in various forms of literary text, all of which, in spite of their differences, are inspired by God and communicate his message in Christ.

II. Forms of Biblical Genres – What Are Some of the Most Important Forms of Biblical Genre We Can Study?

Literary Criticism Focuses on the Study of Genres in Biblical Study

Literary criticism also recognizes the existence of a variety of literary forms or genres in which a biblical text may be written. In some instances, entire books belong to a single genre, such as historical narrative (1 Samuel), poetry (Psalms), wisdom (Job), prophetic oracle (Amos), Gospel (Matthew), letter (Romans), or apocalypse (Revelation). Yet within these larger works are found smaller literary forms: creation myths; genealogies; narratives relating the stories of individual figures, such as Abraham or Joseph; legal codes; testaments; psalms; proverbs; prophetic oracles; miracle stories; parables; prayers; hymns; exhortations; and warnings. This list is not comprehensive, but it does suggest that the Bible, rather than being a single literary genre, contains many genres and subgenres.

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~ R. Holladay. “Biblical Criticism.” Harper’s Bible Dictionary . P. J. Achtemeier, ed. (1st ed.) Harper & Row: San Francisco, 1985, p. 131.

A. Narrative – stories of the events and characters in the Bible, either historical or imaginative

1. Types of narrative

a. Historical Narrative – e.g., OT stories, Acts, the Gospels, the Resurrection Narratives