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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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DISTINCTIONS OF
GENRES OF THE BIBLE Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. DEFINITION OF GENRE A. Genre [zhahn-ruh]
is a French word that means kind, sort, or type. B. Genre is a category of artistic, musical,
or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or
content. (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary) C. Genres of the Bible are the distinctive
styles of writing or literature used by the authors of Scripture. II. EXPLANATION OF GENRES OF
THE BIBLE A. First, we must realize
that when we speak of genres or different types of literature in the Bible we
are not denying the inspiration of Scripture. 1. The
inspiration of Scripture means that the Bible is God’s Word. In 2Ti 3:16, we
learn that everything in the Bible is “God-breathed” (theopneustos, theo -
God & pneustos - from pneō means blow or breathe). What this
means is that Scripture originated from God. 2. So then, does God Himself use different
types of genres in communication? The answer is “yes” specifically because He
desires to communicate with mankind. God, who created man in His own image,
gave man a rational mind, will, speech, language, and the ability to
communicate experience, emotion, knowledge, and truth. 3. 2Pe 1:20-21 teaches that though man is
not the origin of Scripture, God used his language and situations as a
vehicle to carry His truth. a) … God
gave man language for the purpose of being able to communicate with him. God
created man in His image, which included the power of speech, in order that
God might reveal His truth to man and that man might in turn offer worship
and prayer to God. (Ryrie, Basic
Theology, pg. 128) B. Looking at the Bible from
a literary aspect does not deny the inspiration of Scripture, but becomes a
vital prerequisite for understanding God’s means of communication. 1. It is
hard to find a page in the Bible that does not make at least some use of the
resources of language that are distinctly literary. (ibid, pg. 28) 2. Jehovah has been pleased to give us the
revelation of His mind and will in words. It is therefore absolutely
necessary that we should understand not merely the meanings of the words
themselves, but also the laws which govern their usage and combinations. (Bullinger, E. W. (1898). Figures of Speech used
in the Bible, electron. ed.) III. DIFFERENT GENRES OF THE
BIBLE A. What are some of the
different genres used in the Bible? Many categories, variations, and titles
describe the different genres in literature and the Bible. Though we may not
also be able to decipher them by name, it is readily easy to recognize that
differing styles and figures of speech are being used. 1. Similarly,
one finds that the major genres represented in the Bible are familiar to all
students of English and other world literatures. Prose and poetry, narrative,
history, drama, parable, symbolism, allegory (used comparatively rarely in
the Bible), aphorism, epic, debate (in the literary sense of débat
[dee'-bah]--Job may be said to have initiated the form in world literature),
and exposition--all of these, plus a few others, are found in distinguished
form in the Bible. It is, indeed, essential to a proper interpretation of a
particular portion of Scripture to be aware of the form used at that point. (Linton, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol
1, elect. ed.) B. The following are some of
the basic types of genres in the Bible: 1. Narrative a) A
narrative is a style in which a story is prominent and its structure is
conveyed by setting, characters, plot, and theme. b) Much of the Bible is written with a
narrative or story genre though it certainly does not mean it is fictional
(imagination or untrue). c) In fact, much of the Bible, the Gospels,
and even the Historical sections are included in a narrative genre because of
human experience and biography. d) Some of the main books that contain
narrative would be Genesis through Nehemiah, Gospels, and Acts. e) Jn 9:1-41 is an example of narrative that
includes setting, characters, and plot, to highlight emphatically a spiritual
theme. 2. Poetry
a) Poetry is
a style that is intended to be lyric (songlike) and
therefore is rich with encomium (praise) as well as divine wisdom. b) Much of the “Psalms” (sacred songs or
hymns) are joyously lyrical and heavily metaphorical and filled with literary
devices such as parallelisms and metaphors. c) Some of the poetical books in the Bible
are called “Wisdom Literature” because of the proverbial style of
communicating truisms. d) Practically all of the books of the Bible
contain some style of poetry but the main poetical books would include Job,
Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. e) Pr 8:1-9 is a poetical section that uses
personification, parallelisms, and imagery. 3. Parable
a) Parable
is a style similar to narrative only shorter and utilizes common everyday
imagery to teach moral lessons. Parable is a transliteration from the Greek
word parabolế and literally means to throw (bollō)
alongside (para). A parable then means to throw a common image
alongside a spiritual truth. b) On one hand, the imagery of everyday life
makes it easy for the common man to grasp the illustrations. c) On the other hand, sometimes the moral
meanings can only be interpreted by those with who are spiritually
regenerated and have spiritual insight (Mt 13:10-15). d) Parabolic language is found in most books
but especially the Gospels of Jesus, historical writing, and certain
prophetic sections in the Bible. e) 2Sa 12:1-13 illustrates the dynamic
influence of everyday imagery to evoke emotions from a moral lesson. 4. Visionary
a) Visionary
is a style that is exceedingly symbolic with vivid imagery often concerning
future events and sometimes of global proportion. b) It would especially include prophetic
writings of persons (Jesus Christ, Israel etc.) or events (Christ’s 1st
and 2nd Advents, Millennium etc.). c) It frequently projects apocalyptic warnings, promises,
purposes, and can include cataclysmic events on a cosmic level. d) Most visionary genre is contained in the
prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah,
Micah, and Nahum.
It would most certainly include the book of Revelation. e) An example of prophetic and visionary
symbolism is found in Re 19:11-21. Even though this section is symbolic
visionary, it is prophesying a literal future event known as, “the Second
Coming of Christ” (cp. Ze 14:1-4). 5. Epistolary a) Epistolary
is a style in which a letter is written by a specific person to specific
readers. It is personal, informational, and didactic, though literary devices
are commonly used. b) This form can be highly instructional,
doctrinal, and theological, while being personal and implicational. c) Most of the NT was written in epistolary
form such as Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2
Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1,2 & 3 John, and Jude. d) Most epistolary forms begin with a
greeting consistent with that day, a personal and didactic body, and ends
with a benediction or salutation. |
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