Bible Knowledge

Form 1
Chapter 2
TYPES OF LITERARY FORMS OF
THE BIBLE

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Compiled By: Peter Chitaya

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 TYPES OF LITERARY FORMS OF THE BIBLE

OBJECTIVES
By the end of this chapter, the student should be able to:
1. describe types of literary forms of the Bible

CONTENTS
• identifying and describe the types of literary forms of the Bible
o narratives
o Poetry
o Songs
o Oracles
o parables

Literary forms of the bible

- This is the literature text
- As such just like other literature books it is filled with many kinds or
types of language
- It has narratives, poetry, songs, oracles, and parables among
other literary forms
(a)narratives
- Narratives are account (stories) of what happed in the past about
nation or a person.
- This is the most comm0n literary6 form in the bible since god acts
in the arena of human history
Examples of narratives are
• The story of Jacob and Laban
• The story of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt
• The congest of Canaan
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 • How Solomon built the temple
significance of narratives
- They pass on history from one generation
- One is able to deduce that God controls human history
(b) Poetry
- Poetry is the collection of poems. It promotes the listener leader’s
imagination or emotion in so doing it is the most effective way of
communicating Gods message
- Although some books are fully poetry. e.g. Psalms, song of songs,
Lamentation; a large portion of the prophetic literature (e.g. most
of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Micah, obadiah, Nahum)
contain poetry.
(c) songs
- A song of short piece of music with words that you sing
- The songs are used convey messages to the Almighty God

Significance of poetry songs: They are used for

- Praising God
- Entertaining people during ceremonies
- Conveying massages to the authorities
- Composing songs
(d) oracles
- An oracle simply means a speech, delivered by a human being, that
claims to be a massage from god
- Oracles are prophecies made on behalf of god
- They are normally warning issued to people on what would happen
in the future because of disobeying god
- They are used to predict the future
- Normally they begin with “the Lord says… or end with the Lord has
spoken. e.g. Isaiah 1:18,6,8,40:1.

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Significance of oracle
- They are used by god to address his people
(e) Parables
- A parable is imaginary story with some teaching about the Kingdom
of God
- A parable is normally used to teach a truth or to answer a question
- The lesson in a parable is usually made at the end.
Significance of parable
- Attracts the attention of the listening
- Listeners understand the massage easily
- Listeners remember the massage easily
- Avoids debates and discussions
Unit reviewing questions
- Briefly explain any three literary forms in the bible
- List two examples of each of the following literary form in the bible
(1) poetry and songs
(2) parables

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