Understanding Literary Styles
Distinct Writing Styles of the Bible
From cover to cover the Bible tells one unified story and does this in more than one way. Over 1500 years God inspired forty people to write His Word using a variety of distinct literary styles to communicate to people in a way they would understand. Commonly used in their culture, the original hearers would’ve been familiar with these styles and would’ve known how to read each appropriately for their intended purpose. Just like we know what to expect and how to interact with a cookbook, novel, news report, or satire.
Each literary form is carefully selected and crafted into an inspired piece of art. The Bible is a masterpiece where two or more literary styles may be interwoven within one book, that invites the reader to share and identify with an experience in a way that relates to life today. To honor the intent and purpose the author had in mind, we're going to take a closer look at the 9 major literary styles found in the Bible, so we can read them for all their worth today.
LAW • NARRATIVE • POETRY • WISDOM • PROPHECY
GOSPELS • PARABLES • LETTERS • APOCALYPTIC
1. LAW
In the first five books of the Old Testament, God gave laws to the Israelite people. Although often referred to as “The Law,” these books are largely narrative illustrating that God’s law is relational in nature and cannot be interpreted outside of God’s story.
How is it unique?
Hebrew law is unique because it is an integral part of the old covenant, which outlined the relationship between God and His people. Because Jesus fulfilled the Law, or the terms of the old covenantal relationship, we are now in a new covenant relationship with God through Jesus.
What was its purpose?
Even in the Old Testament, obedience to the Law was not a means to salvation, rather it was God’s gift to the Israelites to set them apart as a nation for His glory and to serve as a guide to love God and love others well.
Why should I read it today?
Although we are not expected to keep Old Testament law today, it would be difficult to appreciate our need for Jesus and the significance of the new covenant without first understanding the purpose of the Law in the Biblical story.
How do I get the most out of it?
What is the spirit of the law? Why did God give this law?
What does this show us about God’s character and desire for His people?
How does Israel’s failure to obey God’s law show us our need for Jesus?
How does loving God and loving your neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40) fulfill all the Laws?
2. NARRATIVE
Over 40% of the Old Testament is considered narrative, which are stories of God’s people in the past. The Bible tells thousands of small stories that each contribute to one Big Story of creation, fall, redemption and restoration.
How is it unique?
Every story has a plot and characters. The historical stories in the Bible don’t shy away from telling us what actually happened nor do they paint its characters in a picture of perfection.
What was its purpose?
The problem in the biblical story is our sin that separates us from God. Narrative helps us know a patient and faithful God as we see Him carry out His plan of redemption throughout history.
Why should I read it today?
Rather than instructing how to live our lives, biblical narrative helps us reflect on our lives and failures through the flawed characters of the Bible and learn from their stories. It’s also a powerful reminder that God uses and restores the broken and He can do the same for us today.
How do I get the most out of it?
What is the purpose of this story? What is God doing and why?
How does this fit into the Big Story of the Bible? How does it point to Jesus?
What does this tell us about the character of God?
What can I learn from the mistakes and actions of the Biblical characters?
What would the original audience have understood that I miss because of cultural differences?
3. POETRY (PSALMS)
Poetry is truth, feelings, or experiences expressed through imagery and symbolic language and is found in a collection of 150 inspired Psalms and throughout the rest of the Bible.
How is it unique?
Poetry (Psalms) are unique because rather than being God’s spoken word to people, they show inspired people speaking to God (or about God) in song, poem, and prayer.
What was its purpose?
Poetry has a rhythm and structure that helped people remember God’s Word at a time when written copies, reading, and writing were rare. The psalms were used as a prayer book for personal use and for worship when gathered together. People could turn to different types of psalms in different seasons: lament (e.g. 3; 44), songs of praise (e.g. 8;145), thanksgiving (e.g. 30, 67), royal (e.g. 2, 110), wisdom (e.g. 37, 49), amongst others.
Why should I read it today?
Poetry (Psalms) invites us to express ourselves and relate to God in a real and authentic way and they can serve as a guide to purposeful worship and intimate prayer.
How do I get the most out of it?
What is God’s purpose for including this poem/psalm in the Bible?
What is the intended meaning of the symbolic language used (e.g. hyperbole, imagery, metaphor)?
What type of psalm is it (e.g. lament, praise, thanksgiving) and how was it used back then?
How did the psalmist relate to and affirm God (must read the whole psalm)?
4. WISDOM
Wisdom literature is discernment and applicable truths given from God to man that can help guide our lives today. In most cases, these truths are captured in Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.
How is it unique?
Wisdom literature unpacks how the world works, provides guidance on common sense areas of life, and addresses life's mysteries and philosophical questions, like “What is the purpose of life?” The books in this literary style give us practical application for today, and most importantly, how to have awe and reverence toward God.
What was its purpose?
Most writings that capture wisdom provide “prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young,” and provide additional wisdom to those that are already wise (Proverbs 1:4-5, NIV). The heart of all wisdom literature is answering the question: What does living well in this world look like?
Why should I read it today?
Wisdom literature helps direct our hearts and actions in everything we encounter in our daily lives. It helps reveal guidance of how to make better choices - right vs. wrong, wise vs. foolish, and addresses tough questions that many of us have contemplated around if there is a God, if God is just, and why suffering in this world happens.
How do I get the most out of it?
What is the overall message of the book?
Who is speaking, who are they speaking to, and what message are they trying to get across?
Is this message providing guidance, or is it debating life’s meaning or purpose?
What practical wisdom did I learn that I can apply to my life today?
How can I alter my life, character, or actions based on what I learned?
Interested in learning more about wisdom literature, check out A Heart for Wisdom: A Study Guide & 24-Day Reading Plan on Job, Proverbs, & Ecclesiastes.
5. PROPHECY
God used hand-selected prophets to communicate messages from Him. There were hundreds of prophets throughout Jewish history, 16 of whom would have their own named books in the Old Testament.
How is it unique?
The writings of the major and minor prophets used powerful imagery and language to communicate God’s messages to His people, the majority being the Israelites. Prophets were held to a high standard, meaning any prediction delivered could never fail or he could be put to death (Deuteronomy 18:18-20).
What was its purpose?
Prophets were used by God to teach Israelites how to be righteous (have right-standing with God), as well as show God’s sovereign control over events. God also used prophets to foretell specific future events that would come to pass, which included God’s rescue plan that would save the world.
Why should I read it today?
While these messages from God were captured at specific times and places in history where the significance of the message would be impactful to the original audience, we can see the fulfillment of many of the prophecies in the Old and New Testament, which helps us understand the reliability of God’s Word.
How do I get the most out of it?
What larger themes jump out as I read?
How would this have been heard by the original audience?
What do we learn about God and what He wants from us?
Why did God speak this message to those people at that time and how does this reveal God’s heart?
How is Jesus revealed?
6. GOSPELS
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote the “good news” about Jesus and the Kingdom of God, which is collectively known today as the Gospels and make up the first four books of the New Testament.
How is it unique?
The four gospels together tell one unified story of Jesus Christ, yet each is shaped in a unique way and each with its own distinct perspective on how to highlight Jesus and His character.
What was its purpose?
Not only are the Gospels biographies about Jesus, they also include teachings from Jesus, and bear witness to Him as the Son of God and the Messiah that fulfilled the Old Testament.
Why should I read it today?
The same questions that were asked back then are still asked today. For nearly 2000 years the Gospels have given eyewitness accounts that answer questions like - Who is Jesus? Why did He come? Did He really raise from the dead?
How do I get the most out of it?
Who wrote it and why did he write it?
Who was the audience and what should I know about their culture?
What emphasis does the author place on Jesus?
How does the author persuade you to believe in Jesus?
Interested in a more in-depth Bible study in a Gospel, check out the 6-week Upper Room Bible Study focused on John 13-17.
7. PARABLES
Jesus masterfully told around 40 parables in the Bible as stories and illustrations to communicate a message about the nature of the kingdom of God or to understand and respond to Jesus’ ministry.
How is it unique?
Parables often had a shock value. Like a good joke, the ending wasn’t what one expected and it’s only impactful if you understand the reference points - which is much harder for us removed from their culture by 2000 years and reading the stories instead of hearing them.
What was its purpose?
Parables were told to get a response. Every detail did not have hidden meaning, rather the point was understood in a way that touched the conscience and made people consider their own actions more than being told what to do ever could.
Why should I read it today?
Jesus captured the imagination with parables, encouraging people to think and ask questions and make their own discoveries. Parables can do the same for us today and give us a fresh perspective on what God is doing.
Parables of the Bible
See a Comprehensive List of the Stories and Illustrations by Jesus
How do I get the most out of it?
Who is the audience and how would the original hearer have heard this? How does the parable influence and challenge the original audience’s thinking?
What cultural reference points would the original hearer have known that I miss?
Does the parable have characters and how are they described?
Does the parable have an unexpected ending that highlights the point Jesus was trying to make?
If Jesus were to make this point today, what parable might He tell?
Interested in a more in-depth Bible study on Parables, check out the 13-week Parables Bible Study.
8. LETTERS
Twenty-one of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament are letters (also called epistles) from the apostles to the early christians and churches in the first century.
How is it unique?
Generally speaking, the gospels focus more on what Jesus did, whereas the letters interpret the significance of what those events meant and helped guide the early Christian church, and their leaders, after Jesus ascended to heaven.
What was its purpose?
Most of the epistles were written to address a specific situation in a specific area, such as a misunderstanding, poor behavior, or incorrect doctrine and also addressed broader themes of Christianity for the church as a whole.
Why should I read it today?
Reading the letters is like hearing one side of a phone conversation - we hear the response and answers, but it’s up to us to figure out what prompted it on the other end. The instructions may apply to similar situations in our lives and our churches today.
How do I get the most out of it?
Treat the letters as you would any letter today - read the whole thing in order.
Get to know the recipients and the authors history with them.
What instruction is given and why was it needed?
What cultural truths belong to the first century and which transcend time and culture?
9. APOCALYPTIC
Often called “revelation,” this literary style is prophetic writing that is captured in both the books of Revelation and Daniel.
How is it unique?
Apocalyptic is symbolic and metaphorical in nature, which focuses on future events to come, specifically at the end of time when Jesus Christ returns. These writings reveal the invisible spiritual war that is taking place between God and Satan and describe earthly events from a heavenly perspective.
What was its purpose?
These writings are meant to encourage believers in Christ to understand the gravity of what will happen to those that don’t believe in Christ, and ultimately the victory that God has over Satan.
Why should I read it today?
We get a deeper understanding of the unseen battle that will take place as God takes victory over the new heaven and earth, and because of it, the urgency we should have to share Christ with others. It also helps us realize that God has ultimate control over all of creation.
How do I get the most out of it?
Take note of words that signal symbolic language (“sign,” “signify,” “like,” and “as”).
What conflict do you notice between good and evil?
How is God’s triumph over evil and Satan described?
What do you learn about God’s sovereignty and triumph over evil?
RELATED CONTENT
Authors of the Bible
Learn the Authors of Each Book
How to Study the Bible
Access the CHARA Bible Study Guide
Layout of the Bible
Connecting the Table of Contents to the Story of the Bible
Parables of the Bible
A Comprehensive List of the Stories and Illustrations by Jesus