Literary Genres

Introduction

The Bible is a diverse collection of texts that features a variety of literary genres. Understanding

these genres helps to interpret the scriptures more accurately and appreciate their richness. This

concise guide will cover the main literary genres found in the Bible, providing definitions,

examples, and key characteristics for each.

1. Narrative

Narrative is the most common genre in the Bible. It includes historical accounts, stories, and

parables that depict events and convey moral or spiritual lessons.

Key Characteristics:

• Chronological sequence of events.

• Involves characters, settings, and plots.

• Often includes direct speech and dialogue.

• More concerned with teaching us how to know and properly relate to God. In other

words, historical description is less important than the theological message.

Examples:

• Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Ruth, 1 and 2 Kings.

• New Testament: The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), Acts of the Apostles.

2. Law

The books of the Law, also known as the Torah or Pentateuch, contain legal instructions and

guidelines given to the Israelites.

Key Characteristics:

• Commandments, ordinances, and rituals.

• Moral, civil, and ceremonial laws.

• Often framed as direct speech from God to the people.

Examples:

• Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

3. Poetry and Wisdom

These books contain poetic language, proverbs, and philosophical reflections on life, suffering,

and divine wisdom.

Key Characteristics:

• Uses parallelism and imagery (often metaphors and similes) to create connections in the

text. Poetry forces readers to slow down and consider these connections:

o Comparisons (Ps. 1- happy/righteous man compared to a flourishing tree)

o Negation/Contrast (Ps. 1-Contrasting the righteous and wicked)

o Elaboration/Explanation (Ps. 1- elaborating how the happy man doesn’t walk,

stand, or sit where he shouldn’t)

• Exploration of themes such as love, justice, and human experience.

• Often written in a lyrical and expressive style. Emotional language over mere prose

description.

• Often uses voicing to provide context to non-narrative settings.

o Psalms of David like Ps. 23 or 51 creates context using David’s life.

§ Psalm 23- By God’s direction, David went from a lowly shepherd boy to

Israel’s ideal King. Along the way, God delivered him from those who

threatened his life (Goliath, King Saul, even David’s son Absalom). Who

better to speak about God being his shepherd all the days of his life than

David?

§ Psalm 51- The voicing here should cause readers to reflect on 2 Sam. 11-

12, where the story of David’s sin with Bathsheba (11) and God sending

Nathan the prophet to confront David over his sin (12) cause David deep

sorrow and repentance.

• Voicing also occurs when biblical authors change grammatical person (1st, 2nd,3rd person)

or gender (masculine, feminine).

o Ps. 95- What begins as a typical praise hymn takes a dramatic turn as the psalmist

shifts to warnings in the middle of verse 7. Beginning at verse 9, the shift to 1st

person speech (I, me) dramatically reveals that these warnings come directly from

God.

o Lamentations- Each of the five chapters of Lamentations alternatives grammatical

voicing of person (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and gender (masculine, feminine, ungendered)

which makes the book read like a conversation.

§ Lam. 1- feminine suffixes personify the desolate city as a grieving woman

crying out to God.

§ Lam. 2- 2nd person masculine suffixes depict God’s response.

§ Lam. 3- 1st person masculine suffixes make it seem like Jeremiah is

voicing this lament.

§ Lam. 4-5 read like standard laments, where 3rd person voicing reflects the

faith community’s collective laments to God.

• Primary psalm forms:

o Praise hymn (orientation)

o Lament (disorientation)

o Thanksgiving (reorientation)

o Wisdom/Instructional psalm

Examples:

• Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Job, Lamentations.

4. Prophecy

Prophetic books contain messages from God delivered by prophets, often addressing current and

future events.

Key Characteristics:

• Divine revelations and visions. Prophets are mouthpieces for God.

• Calls to repentance and warnings of judgment.

• Promises of hope and restoration.

• Less concerned with foretelling future events. Instead, prophecies concerning the future

function to motivate proper responses (repentance, faith) in the present.

Examples:

• Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel.

• Minor Prophets: Hosea, Amos, Micah, Malachi.

5. Gospels

The Gospels are accounts of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They

provide a narrative history and theological insights.

Key Characteristics:

• Focus on the person and work of Jesus (Theological Biography).

• Combination of narrative, parables, and discourses.

• Reflect different emphases and purposes of the authors.

Examples:

• Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.

6. Epistles

The Epistles are letters written by apostles to churches and individuals, offering guidance,

instruction, and encouragement.

Key Characteristics:

• Address specific issues and questions of the recipients.

• Includes theological teachings and ethical instructions.

• Often structured with greetings, body, and closing remarks.

Examples:

• Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians.

7. Apocalyptic

Apocalyptic literature unveils divine mysteries and visions concerning the end times,

characterized by symbolic imagery and prophetic revelation.

Key Characteristics:

• Use of vivid and symbolic imagery.

• Focus on the end of the world and the establishment of God's kingdom.

• Messages of hope and perseverance for believers in times of persecution.

• Cosmic imagery often functions to “pull back the curtain” on current and future events to

reveal God’s perspective on the situation.

• Apocalyptic literature is less concerned with providing a detailed account of end-times.

Instead, apocalyptic literature functions to reorient the faith community amidst suffering

and hardship.

Examples:

• Daniel, Revelation.

Conclusion

By understanding the literary genres of the Bible, readers can better grasp the context and

meaning of the scriptures. Each genre offers unique insights and contributes to the overall

message of the Bible.