Understanding Narrative Texts

Studying narrative passages for sermon preparation.

Wayne McDill, Expository Preaching 2, SEBTS

Cautions about Narratives Texts

 Do not interpret biblical narratives allegorically.
 Do not miss the larger context of the book.
 Do not overlook clues in the text as to its place in the larger story.
 Do not overlook original writer and readers, with the historical
context and purpose of the book.
 Do not read contemporary understandings into the story.
Cautions about Narratives Texts
 Do not expect a narrative text to “teach” in the way didactic
passages do.
 Do not fail to check theological truths you see by other passages
that express them explicitly.
 Do not overlook dialogue for theological content.
 Do not interpret as normative what may be only descriptive.
Cautions about Narratives Texts
 Do not expect the Structural Diagram to be as helpful, even though
you may use it.
 Do not assume the intended meaning to be moralistic.
 Do not interpret the meaning to be historical only.
 Do not overlook the purpose of God as reflected in the story.
Common Elements in Narratives
Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament

 Scene: what took place at a particular time or place, a new scene

indicated by a change in time or place
 Plot: the movement of events and episodes as they emerge in the
story, toward a climax and resolution
 Point of view: the perspective from which the story is told
Common Elements in Narratives
Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament
 Characterization: the actors in the story as revealed by their actions
and speech and by what is said about them by others
 Setting: the historical situation in which the story takes place
 Dialogue: the speech of the various characters in the story
Common Elements in Narratives
Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament

 Leitwort, or Key-wording: repeated use of the same word or pattern

of words at key points in the story
 Structure: the arrangement and relations of the various parts of the
story
 Stylistic and rhetorical literary devices: expressions of the writer’s
style, such as repetition, omissions, chiasm and irony.
Analyzing Narratives for Preaching
Analyze narratives using the following categories:
 Setting--the social, historical, geographical situation of the story
 Plot--the story line in the text and its context
 Characters--the various actors in the story and their part
 Relationships--the nature of the relationships between characters
Analyzing Narratives for Preaching
 Motives--the inner motivations of characters as they are suggested
in the story
 Surprises--unexpected twists in the story that add interest and
reveal the writer’s intentions
 Divine Involvement--the points at which God intervenes in the story
 Theology--the theological truths revealed in the story
Setting : the life context
 Research the historical era in which the story took place.
 Identify geographical features that affect the story and characters.
 Interpret the significance of social customs for the story.
 Note religious, political, economic, racial, and other elements.
Plot : the narrative story line
Examine the story as to these phases:
 Situation: the setting, background, characters
 Stress: the trouble that gives the story its interest
 Search: various solutions explored in the story
 Solution: resolution of the stress
 (New) Situation: circumstances following episode
Characters : the parts they play
 Identify all characters and do a biblical “background check” on each.
 Describe each character as he or she is presented in the story and
in other texts.
 Examine other episodes involving this person for additional insight.
 Consider each character as to his or her part in the drama of the
episode.
Relationships : how they relate
 Discern the connections between the various persons in the story.
 Trace their relationships back to other episodes for insight.
 Characterize the present relationship as to its emotional dynamic.
 See how attitudes and actions are revealed in the dialogue.
Motives : why they do so
 Analyze the very human motives that are apparent in the
characters.
 Consider how various motives affect interpretation and action by
actors.
 Notice how what they say may mask what they actually intend.
 Examine motives for godly intent or selfish intent.
Surprises : twists and turns
 Interpret the significance of the surprise element for the storyteller.
 Analyze how any surprise may have affected the original
audience(s).
 Note any correlation between the surprises and divine intervention.
 What does the surprise element reveal about God or human
nature?
Divine Involvement : God
 Identify points in the story where God seems to intervene.
 Classify supernatural aspects as of a miraculous or more ordinary
nature.
 Interpret the story from the viewpoint of God’s purpose and
character.
 Consider the impact of God’s action on characters and plot.
Theology : the story’s message
 Remember that narrative texts illustrate or demonstrate rather than
teach Bible truths.
 Identify theological themes you can see in the story, with particular
attention to dialog.
 State a central truth and secondary truths from the story and check
them by other texts.
 Interpret the story in terms of a trustGod appeal rather than
dobetter or belike appeals.
Steps in Analyzing a Narrative
 Outline the narrative in terms of the scenes as they are distinguished
in the text .
– A scene can be identified by a change in place or time.
– Each scene has its own wholeness and purpose.
 Interpret the outline of scenes as they reveal the plot of the story.
 Plot the story with these phases: situation, stress, search, solution
and (new) situation.
Steps in Analyzing a Narrative
 Identify other features you can discern in the text: characters,
relationships, motives, surprises, divine involvement .
 From the context, try to discern the text writer’s purpose for including
the story.
 Identify the main theological theme and what the story illustrates
about that subject.

Tell me the old, old story . . . again.