The Bible is one book made up of 66 smaller books with distinct genres differing from each other. To interpret the Bible accurately, we must understand the nature of genres and how the Bible is organized.
Romans 1:1-7
The Bible’s Composition
- 1 Narrative
- 2 Testaments
- 66 Books
- 39 Old Testament Books
- 27 New Testament Books
- 1,189 Chapters
- 31,173 Verses
- 773,692 Words
The Bible’s Composers
- Kings to Shepherds
- Scholars to Fishermen
- Prophets to Generals
- Tax Collectors to Doctors
- Cupbearers to Priests
The Bible’s Content
- Over a 2,000 Year Period
- On 3 Different Continents
- In 3 Different Languages
The Bible’s Categories
- Old Testament
- Law
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- History
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- 1 Samuel
- 2 Samuel
- 1 Kings
- 2 Kings
- 1 Chronicles
- 2 Chronicles
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Esther
- Wisdom
- Job
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Songs
- Prophecy
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
- Law
- New Testament
- Gospels
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- John
- Acts
- Acts
- Letters
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- 1 Thessalonians
- 2 Thessalonians
- 1 Timothy
- 2 Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon
- Hebrews
- James
- 1 Peter
- 2 Peter
- 1 John
- 2 John
- 3 John
- Jude
- Revelation
- Revelation
- Gospels
The Bible’s Genres
- Genre is “a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content.”
- Particular genres used in the Bible are not typically used in our society.
The following missteps are provided in Plummer’s 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible:
Genre Sample Texts
- Historical Narrative – Genesis; Mark
- Genealogy – 1 Chronicles 1-9; Matthew 1:1-17
- Exaggeration/Hyperbole – Matthew 5:29-30; 23:24
- Prophecy – Isaiah; Malachi
- Poetry – Joel; Amos
- Covenant – Genesis 17:1-4; Joshua 24:1-28
- Proverbs/Wisdom Literature – Proverbs; Job
- Psalms and Songs – Exodus 15:1-18; Psalms
- Letters – 1 Corinthians; 2 Peter
- Apocalypse – Daniel; Revelation
- Misunderstanding the genre of a work can result in skewed interpretation (e.g. Judges 11:39).
- Mislabeling a biblical genre can be an underhanded way of denying the text’s truthfulness (e.g. Matt. 12:40-41).
- Principles for interpreting genres can be misused to excuse oneself from the demands of Scripture (e.g. Matt. 5:42).
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
