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

8. Characteristics of biblical poetry

a. Imagery and Action – focus is made on concreteness and movement, not abstraction (e.g., Ps. 1.1-3)

b. Parallelism – restating in the second line what was stated in the first (e.g., Ps. 59.1)

c. Reinforcement – a particular message or theme is reinforced in every line and phrase (Ps. 55.6)

d. Contrasts – opposites set beside one another (e.g., Ps. 1.6)

III. Purpose – Why Do Different Biblical Genres Exist, and Why Is the Study of Biblical Genres Important?

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A. To fulfill a particular need (contextual or occasional nature of all literature)

Every part of the Bible was written in a particular context to speak to a particular audience who had particular needs and issues that the text was designed to address.

1. To inform : Romans (prose), Proverbs (proverbs or sayings), Acts, historical works

2. To legislate : Leviticus, Deuteronomy

3. To warn : Prophetic books