Biblical Genre

 The New Testament (and the Old Testament as well) contain writing of a wide variety of genres, including narrative text, poetry, parables, prayers, songs, apocalyptic writings, and letters. In addition, in the New Testament, some of the writing records quotes from the Old Testament. Knowing the genre of the writing we are reading can increase our understanding of the text in several ways. 

·        Knowledge of the genre can help us understand the purpose of the writing. For example, a parable would not be used to share historical information, but instead to make illustrate a point that might be hard to grasp without the illustration the parable provides.  When we know that purpose of a parable, we can let go of the idea that a historical event is being shared and instead look for the deeper truth conveyed.

·        Another way knowledge of the genre is helpful is that each genre uses different tools to convey a point. Apocalyptic writings could use symbolism; knowing that helps us to understand the message in the text. If we approach Revelation as narrative text instead of apocalyptic writing, then I think we are bound to misunderstand what is being written.

T   The genre can also help us to understand the targeted reader of a text. A letter is written to a person or a group of people.  When we know that, we can take time to learn about the intended audience of the writing, and this will help us to understand the message and why it was written.

In short, I think we get caught up in defending the Bible as true, when what we should be doing is searching for the truth in it. Genre can help us to find the truth.