Untitled Lesson

Literary Forms in the Bible

Literary Forms

• The Bible uses many literary forms

to communicate the Word of
God.

1. MYTH:
• Traditional stories about the

deeds of God.

• They explain natural phenomena

(ex. Origins of the universe).

2. Law:
• Rules of behaviour and

conduct created by God.

• God gave the Torah (first law)

to the Hebrew people.

• Torah=Pentateuch (Christians)

first 5 books in Bible.

• Christians believe the law has

aided the Good News of
salvation as proclaimed by
Jesus (in Gospels).

3. HISTORY:
• Stories about the past in

chronological order

• Bible is NOT a history

textbook, it contains
history of the Jewish
people.

• Books from Joshua to 2

Maccabees= historical
books

4. LETTER:
• Written message

often personal in
nature concerning a
specific topic.

• 21 books of the New

Testaments are ALL
letters.

5. LIST:
• Itemized series of

names or objects
recorded in a specific
order.

• Most common list in

the Bible=
genealogies
(ancestry)

6. PARABLE:
• Greek word “parabole”

= “comparison”

• Stories that use

comparisons to teach us
a message.

• Jesus used these to

teach people about the
coming of the kingdom
of God.

• They can be found

throughout the Gospels.

7. PROPHECY:
• A message from God

directed to
humankind with the
help of an
intermediary
(prophet)

• Christians believe that

in Jesus all prophecies
are fulfilled.

• Last 18 books of the

Old Testament are
concerned with
prophecy.

8. PSALM:
• A sacred

song/poem

• Used to praise and

thank God, seek
forgiveness OR
asking for
something.

• They are one of the

most important part
of Christian worship.

9. PROVERB:
• A short saying of wisdom
• It expresses a well- known practical truth OR

fact

10. SERMON:
• A serious and long

religious speech

• Ex. Jesus’ “Sermon on

the Mount”; the
Beatitudes (Gospel of
Matthew)

11. Drama:
• A story about people’s

lives, including dialogue
and interaction.