Welcome to our Fall Open Study Series The Bible & Creation.

Welcome to our Fall Open Study Series

The Bible & Creation

Historical Narrativesvs

Figurative Literature

Historical Narrativesvs

Figurative Literature

How Can We TellThe Difference?

Tonight’s Study:

Defining the TermsDefining the Terms

Literary Genres in the Bible(from new ISBE, ed. G.W. Bromiley, 3:145-146)

Literary Genres in the Bible(from new ISBE, ed. G.W. Bromiley, 3:145-146)

Epic Drama Bible viewed as a wholeHistory Pentateuch, Kings, Chron...Lyric Poetry Psalms, Prov, Neh 9:6-37... Short Stories Historical & parabolicDrama JobBiography Gospels & many smallerEpistle By Paul, Peter, John...Apocalypse Revelation; some prophets

Historical NarrativeHistorical NarrativeMajor portion of Scripture contains history

Many books are historical as a whole Others contain historical narratives though together

with other types of literature (Dan.)Historical narratives in Scripture show:

Evidence in context of obvious intent as history Selective inclusion of events to maintain unity,

continuity, comprehensibility & vividness Factual accuracy

Figurative or Non-historical TextsFigurative or Non-historical TextsFigurative language is frequent in Bible

Imagery (metaphor, simile, synecdoche, irony, metonymy, hyperbole, parallelism…)

Symbolism & visions (Ezek. 1:4-28; Rev.) Presence of figurative language in context does not

demand whole context is figurativeBible also uses non-historical stories

Fables - feigned story or tale (human qualities given to non-human animals or things)

Allegory - figurative application of real facts Parable - real life events compared to spiritual

How Can We Tell The Difference Between Them?

How Can We Tell The Difference Between Them?

Know & Respect Author’s Purpose(from Hermeneutics by D.R. Dungan, 176-184)

Know & Respect Author’s Purpose(from Hermeneutics by D.R. Dungan, 176-184)

How can we know the author’s purpose?By writer’s statement or other authoritative sourceCarefully consider the immediate contextRemember the Bible must harmonize with itselfCompare other statements of same author on subjectCompare statements on same subject of other writers

speaking with equal authorityUse common sense within bounds of caution Interpret figurative language by laws governing it

Knowing Figurative Language(from Hermeneutics by D.R. Dungan, 195-203)

Knowing Figurative Language(from Hermeneutics by D.R. Dungan, 195-203)

How can we know figurative language?The sense of the context will indicate itWhen literal meaning of word or sentence involves an

impossibility If literal meaning makes a contradictionWhen Scriptures are made to demand that which is wrongWhen it is said to be figurativeWhen the definite is put for indefinite numberWhen it is said in mockery

Principles Applied to FablesPrinciples Applied to Fables

Very rarely used in Scripture Judges 9:6-21 Trees making king over them 2 Kings 14:8-10 Thistle instructs the cedars

Obvious marks of being non-literal:Writer states purpose of figurative storiesImmediate context shows they are not literalLiteral interpretation involves impossibility

Conclusion: Must be figurative, not history

Principles Applied to AllegoryPrinciples Applied to Allegory

Also rarely used in Scripture Gal. 4:21-31 Sarah & Hagar = two covenants

Obvious marks of being non-literal:Writer states purposeWriter says it is an allegoryImmediate context shows it is not literalMust interpret by rules governing figurative


Principles Applied to ParablesPrinciples Applied to ParablesOften used in Scripture

Matt. 13:1-23 Parable of the sower & interp. Matt. 13:24-43 Parable of tares & others

Obvious marks of being non-literal:Writer states they are parablesWriter states the purpose of the parables & gives

interpretation of intended meaningImmediate context shows they are not literal


Applied to Symbolic VisionsApplied to Symbolic VisionsCommon in apocalyptic and prophets texts

Ezek. 1:4-28 Beginning visions of the book Daniel 8 - 9 Visions declaring future action Revelation “What thou seest, write…”

Obvious marks of being non-literal:Writer states they are visionsImmediate context shows they are not literalLiteral meaning would involve impossibilityLiteral meaning would conflict with other texts


Contrasting Historical NarrativesContrasting Historical NarrativesGenealogies

Gen. 5:1-32 Adam to Noah Luke 3:23-38 Genealogy of Jesus

Historical events relating to Bible’s theme Exod. 1 - 14 Egyptian bondage & exodus 1 & 2 Sam. Life & kingship of David Kings & Chron. History of Judah & Israel Gospels & Acts Life of Jesus & begin church

Miracles showing power & confirmation 2 Kgs. 20:1-11 Shadow returns for Hezekiah Mark 2:1-12 Healing of paralytic

Historical Narratives in GenesisHistorical Narratives in GenesisGen. 1 - 2 Creation accountGen. 3 - 4 Man falls from God due to sinGen. 5, 10, 36, 46 GenealogiesGen. 6 - 9 Flood of world & Noah savedGen. 11 Babel & confusion of languagesGen. 12 - 25 Life of AbrahamGen. 27 - 35 Life of Jacob (Israel)Gen. 37 - 50 Lives of Joseph & his brothers

Which are not intended & written as history?

Know & Respect Moses’ PurposeKnow & Respect Moses’ PurposeHow can we know Moses’ purpose?

By writer’s statement or other authoritative sourceCarefully consider the immediate contextRemember the Bible must harmonize with itselfCompare other statements of same author on subjectCompare statements on same subject of other writers

speaking with equal authorityUse common sense within bounds of caution Interpret figurative language by laws governing it

Recognizing Figurative LanguageRecognizing Figurative Language

How we know Genesis history is literal or notThe sense of the context will indicate itWhen literal meaning of word or sentence involves an

impossibility If literal meaning makes a contradictionWhen Scriptures are made to demand that which is wrongWhen it is said to be figurativeWhen the definite is put for indefinite numberWhen it is said in mockery

Modern Voices of Confusion

Modern Voices of Confusion

Denial of Literal Creation AccountDenial of Literal Creation Account

What is it about 6 literal 24 hour days that is sooooooo important.... Here's what I'm comfortable with. My God could have created in the twinkling of an eye, even that expresses the passing of time and overstates the time He actually needed but it's the best I can do. The fact is that he took some time that is described Biblically as 6 days followed by a day of rest. Whether the days are literal or figurative and whether they are consecutive or not doesn't really matter. God took some time rather than creating instantly, that's all we know and the specifics are interesting speculation but really unimportant.

Denial of Literal Creation AccountDenial of Literal Creation Account

May I suggest that it would be a misuse of the text to understand this passage from the Hebrew psalmbook in literal terms? It is poetry and should be understood accordingly; poetry is not the proper choice of literary techniques when one's purpose is to be understood literally.

Denials of Literal Creation AccountDenials of Literal Creation Account

"I believe that a strict literal interpretation of Genesis 1-2 combined with dogmatic Young Earth creationism must lead inevitably to a direct contradiction between the Bible and science. I don't believe that the Bible's authors were particularly concerned about history, chronology and the age of the Earth. Old Testament Israel was too involved in the process of attempting to form a functioning society in a violent world to concentrate on questions regarding the origin and development of the Earth and human society."

Hill Roberts“Literary Crafting of Genesis 1-3”


Marks of Intentional Literary Crafting Are ObviousTen-fold “tol e’ dat”Seven day (3+3+1) symmetryRepetitive phrasingRepetitive unfolding from voids to fullness (be dusk, be dawn, Day!)Thesis – antithesis comparisons (e.g., innocence to guilt, the two trees, etc.)

Degradation from Transcendent Creator making garden, to Created Man banished from garden

“The more an author works at the form, the more plausible it is that he is stepping away from the zero point (i.e., the simplest meaning, HR).” Henri Blocher, In The Beginning

Something to RememberSomething to Remember

It is true that earlychapters of Genesis

show careful craftingof form & content

Example: “God”appears exactly 70

times between1:1 & 4:26

Question:Does the crafting

of the message proveit is not literal orthat it is divinely

guided?



In earlier times “God spoke in various ways” Heb 1:1 OT is not written in the bland manner of our modern western languages and literature. Ezekiel (visions), Chronicler (history), Luke (compilations), Preacher (meditations), Wisdom Lit., Poems, Songs, Lists, Sermons, Directions, Arguments, Prayers, Blessings, Curses, Funerals …

Literary Factors that Enter Into those “Various Ways”Words: Metaphors, Styling, Semantics, Historical Backgrounds, Cultural – all color words’ meaningsConstructions: lexicography, grammatics, merisms, contexts…

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Capture and collection of (approved) oral stories from the forefathers (the Patriarchs)Reuse of existing cultural traditions, reformulated in accord with God’s directionFigures: Hebrew was a “word picture” language of metaphors – hieroglyphs, without the pictures. Why?Anthropomorphism is prolific, especially so for descriptions of God (e.g., molding Adam from clay)Genre: Prose or Poetry? Figurative or Literal? (both are gross oversimplifications of the problem)Conceptual: Abstract or Concrete (Hebrew uses very concrete terminology, even for very abstract ideas)

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Excessive literalism misses the forms intentionally put into the text, while excessive symbolism takes as symbol what is not. (Nor would it have been so taken at the time.)

Genesis 1–3 is a highly crafted piece of literature. It is not “just a simple little bible story”.

What was obvious to them, may not be so obvious to us. The student must be aware of the intentional

crafting if he is to understand the intended theological meaning.

Problems with Hill Robert’s Interpretation of Genesis 1 - 3Problems with Hill Robert’s

Interpretation of Genesis 1 - 3 It rejects obvious & stated meaning for deeper

“theological meaning” It is based on subjective & personal interpretation It disregards nature of Genesis as literal history It fails to respect other texts affirming historicity It does not harmonize with other Bible teaching It evidences growth in figurative interpretation by

adding Genesis 3 (what is next to go same way?)It is tacit denial of divine, verbal inspiration

Examining the Genesis Account

of Creation

Next Week’s Study:

Welcome to our Fall Open Study Series The Bible & Creation.

Documents

Transcript of Welcome to our Fall Open Study Series The Bible & Creation.