I think that it is very safe to say that very few readers of the Bible recognize or even pay any attention to the various literary styles in which the Bible was written. The tendency is to read without even asking the question "What type of literature is this?" I could be entirely wrong, but I suspect that the reason for this is because most Bible readers consider Scripture to be a book of faith, and not a literary document per se. The only two alternatives for them would then be, the Bible as a literary document vs. the Bible as a theological document.
This writer does not make that distinction. As a member of the faith community, I acknowledge the Bible as a document which informs, and to a certain extent, forms and shapes our faith. The Bible, along with tradition, experience, and other branches of knowledge, is the foundation and the root of what we believe and practice. At the same time, the Bible comes to us in various literary genres, as will be apparent to those who take the time to focus on the literary makeup and content of Scripture.
Some believers may think that to acknowledge the different types of literature that appear in the Bible, will result in either not considering the Bible to be a divinely inspired document, or as a book whose content and message has no relevancy for our time. Subsequently, they may even believe that to take the literary approach to the Bible, will result in erosion of the basic tenets of the Christian faith. This writer does not believe that. If anything, it is apparent to me, that to consider the Bible a divinely inspired document does not cancel or rule out the utilization of different types of literature.
In addition to that, it testifies to the sovereignty of God to employ different approaches and methods to convey the divine message to us.
It is hoped that when we acknowledge the diverse literary genre in Scripture, that our faith would be strengthened. In that spirit, then, I call your attention to the various type of literature that is in the Bible.
1. Prose- Prose is the ordinary language that describes events, people, places, and things. It comes in narrative form. It is the type of language utilized in the field of history and the social sciences. If we could describe it in street terms, I would call it "straight up." It is sequential, and in most cases, a literal description of events that have occurred.
2. Poetry- Many portions of the Bible are written in poetic terms. Examples of these are the Psalms and the Song of Solomon. The Song of Solomon is full of romantic language which describes the love between a man and woman from a divine standpoint.
3. Legend- A legend is the story of something that may or may not have happened, but which nevertheless contains a lesson to be learned.
4. Myth-Normally, a myth is taken to mean something which definitely did not happen, but like in the case of legend, contains a lesson to be learned. In the case of religion, a myth is a sacred story about something that may or may not have happened, but that points beyond itself to a higher principle which can inform the faith. Some religionists, Bible scholars, and theologians consider the stories of the snake in the Garden of Eden, Balaam's donkey speaking to him, Jonah being swallowed by a fish, the virgin birth of Jesus, and even the resurrection, to fall into this category.
The questions for you, the reader, are the following:
1. Does acknowledging the various literary forms in the Bible amount to a denial of its divine inspiration?
2. Will acknowledging the various literary forms in the Bible strengthen or weaken your faith?
3. Does it really make any difference, at the end of the day, what type of literature appears in the Bible?
Please share with us where you stand on these issues. Your input is very valuable.
Grace and peace,
Juan Ayala-Carmona
No comments:
Post a Comment