What Are The Genres Of The Bible?

The Bible’s genres fall into eight broad categories that help us contextualise these ancient writings: law, Historical Narrative, Wisdom Literature, Poetry, Prophecy, Gospel, Epistles (or letters), and Apocalyptic writings. Each book has themes within the genre, and that help us frame our understanding of the 66 books of the Bible.

Below is a table of the books that fall into each genre along with a short guide of guiding thoughts when considering each genre.

Law

The “Law” books, also known as the Pentateuch or Torah, include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books lay the foundation for the relationship between God and His people, Israel. They contain narratives about creation, the patriarchs, and the Exodus, but their primary focus is on God’s laws, including moral, civil, and ceremonial codes. These laws were given to guide the Israelites in their worship of God and in their relationships with others. These writings form the basis for rituals and behaviours to act as one of the earliest codes for following the God of the Bible as revealed to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The bulk of these writings emerge under the guiding hand of Moses and are refined within the community as they begin to understand how to be the people of God.

The law, as the Apostle Paul notes later in the Bible, acts as a backdrop to highlight God’s standard and the way in which humanity continues to fall short.

Reading Considerations: When reading the Law, consider the historical and cultural context. Some laws were specific to the ancient Israelites, while others reveal timeless moral principles. Understanding their fulfilment in Christ is incredibly important. We should be careful of attempting to translate all of the writings in the law books as a standard for living without first considering the teachings of Jesus. There are many writings in the law books which are consistently violated in our context and are perhaps impossible to sustain, such as not wearing fabrics with mixed threads. If you’ve ever worn poly cotton, you have breached the law! So, wisdom in understanding context and application is highly recommended!

Historical Narrative

The historical books tell the story of God’s people from the conquest of Canaan in the Book of Joshua through to the early Church in the Book of Acts. These include stories of battles, kings, prophets, and the nation’s struggles and successes. The primary purpose is to show how God interacts with humanity over time, guiding, correcting, and fulfilling His covenant promises.

Reading Considerations: When reading historical narratives, remember they are descriptive, not consistently prescriptive. They show what happened, not necessarily what should happen. Look for the overarching themes of God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and justice. Remember that the history of the Bible records both good choices and poor decisions and how people navigated their faith through these.

Wisdom Literature

Wisdom books like Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes offer reflections on life, suffering, and the search for meaning. They contain practical insights, questions about justice, and meditations on God’s nature. They explore the complexities of human experience and the pursuit of a life aligned with God’s wisdom. Again, some are contextual, but they offer timeless ancient principles that help us reconcile the difficulties of the human experience.

Reading Considerations: Approach wisdom literature as poetry and meditation. It offers general principles, not guarantees, so don’t treat the advice in Proverbs as absolute promises but as reflections on how life generally works under God’s rule. In these writings, you will find metaphor and hyperbole. If something appears figurative and imaginative, the chances are there is some imagination needed when considering how best to apply it.

Poetry

The poetic books include Psalms, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations. These books express deep human emotions, ranging from joy to sorrow, love to anger, and hope to despair. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, they explore the human experience in relation to God. They are highly creative in their description of God and use imaginative language when trying to make sense of the nature of God in relation to deeply emotional experiences.

Reading Considerations: Read these books with an appreciation for literary devices like imagery, parallelism, and symbolism. The emotions and metaphors are not always literal but point to deeper spiritual truths. Let them guide your own reflections on faith, worship, and emotion. Remember, God is not literally a strong tower; he is like it. We are not literally eagles, but we might feel the freedom of flight as we worship God. These are all descriptions that help us base our experiences on God.

Prophecy

Prophetic books, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the minor prophets, contain messages from God delivered through prophets. These messages often call people to repentance, warn of impending judgment, and offer hope for restoration. Prophecy frequently includes both immediate and future fulfillments, including Messianic predictions. They speak of what is to come in the future and what consequences there might be if wisdom is to be ignored. They are cautionary and hopeful in nature.

Reading Considerations: When reading prophecy, discern between short-term and long-term fulfilment. Prophets spoke to their own time, but their words often carried forward-looking promises, especially regarding the coming of Christ. Pay attention to symbolism and repeated themes like judgment and redemption. Again, there is usually a heavy use of pictures and metaphor so be cautious about overly literal interpretations.

Gospels

The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are accounts of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each Gospel presents a unique perspective on Jesus’ identity and mission, highlighting different aspects of His teachings, miracles, and the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy. They are the centrepiece of the Bible (despite them not appearing until 2/3rds of the way in). They highlight Jesus and the revelation of God to humanity; all scripture is to be viewed through the teachings of Jesus.

Reading Considerations: Approach the Gospels with an eye for Jesus’ humanity and divinity. Consider how each writer emphasises particular themes (e.g., Matthew’s focus on Jesus as the fulfilment of Jewish prophecy or John’s emphasis on Jesus as the Son of God). Reflect on how Christ’s life and teaching shape Christian faith and practice. The overarching theme is God revealing himself personally to humanity, calling them to repentance and allowing them to experience his grace and forgiveness through the work of salvation achieved in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Epistles

The Epistles are letters written by early Christian leaders like Paul, Peter, and James to churches and individuals. These letters provide doctrinal teaching, ethical instruction, encouragement, and correction. They address specific issues within early Christian communities but offer timeless wisdom for the Church.

Reading Considerations: Again, they are writing to a particular context, and often, we don’t have much understanding of the letters the writers are responding to. Be cautious of ignoring the cultural context, as some teachings were very specific to circumstances happening within the early church.

Apocalyptic Literature

Apocalyptic books, such as Daniel and Revelation, are filled with vivid imagery, visions, and symbolic language about the end times, God’s ultimate victory, and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. They often convey a message of hope and encouragement to those suffering persecution, promising that God will ultimately triumph.

Reading Considerations: Apocalyptic literature is highly symbolic, and the images should not always be interpreted literally. Consider the historical context of the writing and the broader biblical narrative of God’s final victory over evil. Focus on the themes of hope and God’s sovereignty rather than trying to pinpoint specific modern events.