Biblical genre

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A Biblical genre is a particular style of writing in Biblical texts which reveals differences of intent, meaning, authorship, register, tone, formality and formatting.

Biblical genres are a part of broader types of literary genres which are discussed elsewhere in relation to the discipline of comparative literature, but Biblical genres (along with genre in many other sacred or religious texts) are unique in one sense because of the very high esteem and spiritual value which Biblical scriptures are given by Christians and also some secular archaeological-literary historians. (See Biblical inerrancy, Word of God)

Sometimes coming as a surprise to those unfamiliar with the Bible, the Bible is a collection of many books which all have different genres and sometimes sub-genres (eg see for example the Book of Revelation compare the epistle-like chapters 2–3 to the apocalyptic prophetic sections in chapters 4 - 22; or Jesus' Parables with Narrative). The authorship and compilation of the Bible span a period of several hundred years and under several different authors.

In a purely literary comparison, the Qur'an is mostly a recitation of Allah speaking to a single author Mohammed in a teaching or instructional manner, which does not vary as significantly in genre as the Bible. Another distinction that is often misunderstood in relation to differing Christian and Muslim views towards their scriptures is in the sense that to the Christian, the Bible reveals Jesus as the living 'Word of God' eternally seated in heaven whereas to the Muslim, Mohammed reveals the Qur'an as the living 'Word of God' eternally resting in heaven. This also partly explains why translation of the Bible is such an imperative for Christians in that it is a bridge or gateway towards relationship with Jesus himself. Whereas to the Muslim the Qur'an in its Arabic form is the purest expression of God's gift to humanity—translations into other languages are seen as being of slightly less worth.

Biblical genres include:

Narrative, History or Story (Genesis and most of Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Jonah)
Law (Leviticus, Deuteronomy)
Wisdom literature (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes)
Poetry (Psalms, Song of Solomon, Lamentations)
Prophecy including major and minor prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)
Apocalyptic (Daniel, Book of Revelation)
Parable (within the Gospels)
Epistle (Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Phillipians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, Peter, John, Start of Book of Revelation)

It should also be pointed out that some books may be classified differently according to genre. Some people will consider most or all of the Bible as myth or purely fiction with a moral teaching and hence forth will not consider classifications of various parts of the Bible in the same way seen above. Some might classify Ruth and Song of Solomon as Romance literature.

Biblical genre

See also