Lesson 5: Introduction to Genre
OT Genres: Narrative
The Bible reveals how God displays his glory by redeeming a people for himself in Christ. That work takes place in history. Thus the Bible’s “skeleton” consists of narrative literature. OT narratives recount the series of characters, actions, and events that tell the story of God’s redemptive work in human history, especially Israel’s history.
Remember that OT narrative is never merely history. Biblical authors proclaimed God’s glory in Christ through narrative forms. Thus, we must read OT narratives seeking not merely to understand the facts of the story but seeking to understand the message the biblical author intended to communicate. For example, Ruth 1:1–5 does not simply recount a series of introductory facts. The author of Ruth intended to communicate a message through the narrative of Elimelech’s faithless flight to Moab: In times of trouble, there is no life outside of the Lord and his promises.
Keys to Interpreting OT Narrative:
- Determine boundaries and interpret episodes.
- Determine the boundaries of an episode and its scenes.
- Look for bookends—that is, repeated phrases or words that bracket the beginning and end of a unit.
- Look for shifts in time, location, main character(s), and themes.
- Discern how that episode fits within the larger narrative.
- Identify the thematic threads that weave through several units, linking them together (for example: “redemption” in the book of Ruth).
- Remember: God is always the main character.
- The Bible is first and foremost God’s revelation of himself.
- God is the main character of every biblical narrative, even when he is not named explicitly.
- Note when God speaks, and when others speak about God.
- Identify the other main characters.
- Look for editorial comments about the characters.
- Note what characters say and do. In OT narrative, actions and words define characters.¹
- Distinguish descriptions and prescriptions.
- Read OT narrative in light of the Law, especially the Book of Deuteronomy.
- Expect biblical authors to highlight God’s faithfulness, along with human faith, sin, and unbelief.
- Don’t assume that an action is prescribed just because it is described!
- Summarize the main conflict.
- Does the conflict get resolved? How?
- Does this conflict/resolution anticipate Christ? (We will consider this question in greater detail in lesson 7.)
- Summarize the main message.
- Look especially to the speech of a main character or direct comments from the author. These often contain the main point of a narrative episode.² Authors of biblical narrative usually do not feel the need to give direct comment, so when they do it is significant.
- What does this episode tell us about God and his promises?
Genres within genres
Narrative literature often contains sub-genres, where an author uses a different genre within the larger narrative. Consider J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. As a whole, it is a narrative that moves toward a climax and resolution. But within that storyline, Tolkien skillfully weaves in genealogies, historical records, songs, letters, reported dialogue, and poems that amplify the larger narrative. We could call each of these features "sub-genres."
Similarly, biblical narrative often contains many sub-genres including genealogies, songs, poetry, blessings, prophecies, sermons, and covenants.³ Biblical authors often used these sub-genres to reveal the meaning of the narrative. We see an example of this in Exodus 14 and 15. Exodus 14 narrates the account of Israel crossing the Red Sea. Exodus 15 proclaims the meaning of that narrative.
Take a closer look by reading each chapter and noting the similarities and differences. Click the link below to open Exodus 14. You can add a second column with Exodus 15 to compare them side-by-side.
List three ways the accounts in Exodus 14 and 15 are similar.
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List three ways the accounts in Exodus 14 and 15 differ.
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How does Exodus 15 help reveal the meaning of Exodus 14?
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