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

Biblical Literature: Interpreting the Genres of the Bible

Segment 2: Interpreting Narrative and Prophecy Genres in Scripture

Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

“Special hermeneutics” refers to those special rules and procedures that enable us to interpret the literary forms of the Bible. Such a hermeneutic is important, especially as we begin to use these rules in our interpretation of the various types of biblical literature. Narrative is a particular type of study, and is the foundation of story theology, which argues that God has provided a record of his work in the story accounts of the Bible. Story theologians recognize the significance of story, how (among other things) they introduce us to sacramental presences, are normative for the Christian community, and produce theology, ritual, and sacrament. Prophecy is another genre of biblical interpretation, which offers truth about God and the universe, and manifests itself in personal and literary modes. Apocalyptic literature is a sub-genre of prophecy, an element seen in the two main types of Jewish apocalypses, in the OT book of Daniel, and the most distinctly apocalyptic book in Scripture, the book of Revelation. We will interpret prophecy and apocalyptic genres of Scripture well if we focus on the person of Jesus Christ, refer the prophetic messages to the call of the Kingdom of God, and emphasize the fulfillment of God’s sovereign purposes even in the face of evil, suffering and injustice. Our objective for this segment, Interpreting Narrative and Prophecy Genres in Scripture , is to enable you to see that: • “Special hermeneutics” refers to those specific rules and procedures that enable us to interpret the literary forms of the Bible. • Narrative is the most common form of genre in Scripture, and includes stories and story accounts which are either historical or imaginative. • Story theologians focus on narrative accounts in Scripture, and begin their work of interpretation with general assumptions of story theology, which include the idea that God’s primary way of recording his person and work is in light of story accounts in Scripture. Other assumptions include the idea that all theology is reflection on the stories of the Bible, that biblical stories that refer to historical accounts are reliable and accurate, that stories are written with artistic skill and mastery, that we encounter God in the story

Summary of Segment 2

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