One of the most important things to learning to properly study, interpret and teach the Scriptures is to understand that God not only chose to use men to actually pen the words, but that these men chose to use many different literary forms or literary genre to write God’s word within. This is truly one of the more human sides of the Bible.

In order to communicate His word, God moved men to write in narrative history, genealogies, prophecy, laws of all sorts, parables, letters, poetry, proverbs, biographies, etc.In order to properly understand God’s word, the student of the Bible must not only know a few general principles to guide them in their studies, but they must also have some basic guidelines for reading and studying the major forms of literary genre in the Bible. You simply cannot approach a narrative history and a parable in the same way.

Gospel Each of the writers was writing to a

different audience with a different perspective of the life, teaching and ministry of Jesus. Within the Gospels we can find two basic elements: the stories about Jesus (narrative) and the sayings of Jesus (direct teachings and parables.)

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Narrative History - purposeful stories retelling the

historical events of the past that are intended to give meaning and direction for a given people in the present.

Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, Jonah, Haggai, some of the Prophetic writings, the Gospels, Acts

Prophecy - a prediction made under divine

influence and direction The Prophecy Given To David (2 Sam.

7:13-14)The prophet Nathan said to king David, ‘He is

the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son.’ The immediate reference is to Solomon, but the ultimate reference is to the Lord Jesus, as the author of Hebrew indicates.

Law - a rule of conduct, moral principle,

etc., derived from a generally recognized concept of universal justice.

The Ten Commandments (also called the Decalogue) were given to Moses, the great leader of the Hebrews, over 3,000 years ago after the Hebrews were delivered from slavery in Egypt.

Sermon - a speech of a serious or solemn

kind of pronouncement. The Sermon on the Mount is a

collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, which emphasizes his moral teaching found in the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 5, 6 and 7).

Letter or Epistle - a written or printed message, usually

of a personal nature or concerning a specific subject.

Epistles are letters written by an Apostolic leader to a definite target audience.

b) Some Epistles were meant for only one hearer (1 & 2 Timothy, Philemon) and somewhere meant to be for the general church public (Romans, Ephesians, Hebrews).

Proverbs - prose or poetic statements or

maxims for instruction. They are filled with advice about

attitudes and decisions in everyday life. As a whole, they are not highly theological, but generally practical in nature, trying to guide their readers to healthy attitudes and decision making for a successful life.

Parables - short allegorical stories told to

bring out a moral or religious truth.

“A parable is an earthly story with a spiritual truth.”

Lost sheep, Marriage feast, Mustard seed, Prodigal son

Psalm - a sacred song or poem are basically the hymns and prayers

of Israel as written by David and others whoministered before the Lord in the Tabernacle of David during that period of Kingdom History. They are not so much words from God to men, but more words to God from men or they are words about God to men.

Identify the Literary Form or Genre1. Matthew 7:1-5

2. “A wise son makes his father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.”

3. I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!” Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem; Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together;

4. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5. Zechariah 11:12-13

6. To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you, if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate.

7. Luke 21:29-338. “The path of the wicked enter not, walk

not on the way of evil men; Shun it, cross it not, turn aside from it and pass on.”