Literary Forms

Genesis is spiritualism, theology.

Genesis is not science. It was written before modern science

Old Testament

• Myths

  • sacred stories that use symbols to teach a truth about the world

  • often tell the origin of a custom, natural phenomenon, the world, a name

• Law

  • rules telling us how to behave

  • appear as commands

  • may be written as a list

• Genealogies

  • accounts of a family history

  • a list of the members/ancestors/descendants of a particular family

• Poetry

  • written in stanzas

  • need not rhyme or follow rhythm

• Prophecy

  • primary purpose is to make known God’s will for the people

  • prophets are spokespersons for God

  • oracles of judgment OR of salvation

• Narrative

  • written in story form

  • may include dialogue and interaction

New Testament

• Parable

  • short story that teaches a lesson about our faith

  • fictional narrative the function like an extended simile or metaphor

• Epistle

  • a letter

  • a written message - teaching or an answer

  • follows a pattern: opening —> Thanksgiving —> body of the letter —> closing

• Apocalyptic

  • involves the revelation of secrets of the world- heaven, angels, politics, historical events, etc.)

  • future tense

You will treat others kind, and with the same respect you would give yourself.