How biblical genre guides understanding of the Bible

Over a year ago, a lady asked a challenging question during a church event I was attending. The question has stuck with me. It was something along the lines of ‘How could David lie and cheat and yet we are told that lying is a sin? How could he do it and I can’t?’ I think her point was that the Bible is supposed to teach us, so what is that part teaching us – that lying is ok?

Being unprepared for the question, I only recall that we bumbled through an answer and commiserated later. I feel a bit more prepared to answer such a question now! The Bible is a book from God that describes how he loves us. This means that there are numerous examples of how humans have missed the mark, sinned, fouled out, and more – while God has steadfastly remained by our side, pursuing us even. The Bible is a book of laws, but not only a book of laws or prescriptions.

So, what do the accounts of David and others tell us? How am I supposed to read the Bible if not looking for instruction? The answer is that the various types of literature, or genres, in the Bible require us to read them with different lenses.

Let’s consider the various types of genres in the Bible, one by one: narrative, law, poetry, wisdom, prophesy, gospels, epistles. I’ll go ahead an state that even the genres are not agreed-upon by all. Some gather law and narrative together and maybe call it history, others put poetry with wisdom. The gospels are a type of narrative, but I’ve listed them separately because of the biographical nature of them as well as the importance of the individual they tell us of.

Narrative

Narratives are historical accounts, or factual retellings of what really happened. They are stories of events and people as they lived their lives and interacted with God. These records of what people have done are generally descriptive. Not all (in fact, few) are examples of what should be done –but rather merely telling what was done.

What narrative tells us about God: shows God active in people’s lives.

Law

The law was given by God to his people and are instructions or commands on how to live. The law was generally moral (how to live), ceremonial (worship), or civil/judicial (govern/protect Israel). Some historical events are interspersed among the law, but most are prescriptions on how to live a godly life. When considering the books of law, it is important to consider if they were written for a particular audience or a universal audience.

What law tells us about God: community, caring for others, and justice are important to him; lays out way to reconcile with God when mistakes are made (humans sin).

Poetry

Poetry is scripture written in verse form. There are subtypes of poetry within genre, such as lament and praise. Most of the poetry in the Bible is contained in the book of Psalms. The poems draw on the emotions of the writer and their circumstances as well as God’s relationship to them, both the person and circumstances.

What it tells us about God: God hears us in all our moods and emotions and responds in love.

Wisdom

Books of wisdom in the Bible are among the more challenging to understand. It uses more literary devices, such as contrast, and it can be difficult to discern the point of view. So, to best understand it, it is important to note who is speaking and what the perspective is- correct and godly or not. These books include principles of life which are generally true, but are not intended to be universal or prescriptions for life.

What it tells us about God: there are ways to live well in life and when it does go well, he is with his creation in suffering.

Prophecy (including apocalyptic)

Prophecy is another biblical genre that is challenging to read and comprehend; it recounts messages from God about the future, and some are visions. Prophetic writing may include symbols that are difficult to interpret. Apocalyptic prophecy tells of the specific future generally called ‘end times’, or the time period that refers to the return of Christ.

What it tells us about God: he cares for his people and desires for them to live into the calling to be his people; he actively seeks to draw his people back to him, as a parent reigns in a child.

Gospels

The four gospel accounts of the Bible are exceedingly well known, by name if not content. They contain historical narrative and eyewitness accounts but also proclaim Jesus. The intent behind these narratives is to know Jesus as Lord, Messiah, and King.

What it tells us about God: shows who God is; eyewitness accounts of who he is and how to live as his beloved people.

Epistles/Letters

The final of this list is the epistles, or literature in letter form. They include teachings and doctrine written in letter form. The letters, found in the New Testament, explain the gospels and beliefs that are introduced in them. Most of the letters were written to specific audiences for specific circumstances. If they seem to diverge in meaning or prescription, consider the circumstances of the specific people and issues.

What it tells us about God: God actively encourages and instructs his people in living Christ-like lives, especially in relationships with him and others.

Biblical Genre

As mentioned, biblical writings do not neatly fit into one category and done. Some overlap or have portions of another within them, some are disputed as to which type they may be. As we read, however, the genre can help us understand what the scripture reveals about God and how to read that type of book. Reading a historical account, like the encounter of David and Abigail, is different from reading Psalm 42. I’ve read numerous times that we must consider if the scripture is descriptive or prescriptive when understanding it, and the genre is a huge clue to answer that with confidence. By using genre to understand what we are reading, we have another tool to interpret the Bible well.

Books by Genre

Narrative: Genesis and parts of Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Jonah, and Acts of the Apostles

Law: Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, parts of Exodus, Genesis sometimes included here

Wisdom literature: Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes

Poetry: Psalms, Song of Solomon, Lamentations

Prophecy: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Revelation, parts of Daniel

Gospel: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Epistle (letter): Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, Jude (Acts sometimes included here)