The document discusses various literary genres and forms found in the Bible, including aetiology, metaphor, allegory, apocalyptic literature, history, legal codes, poetry, midrash, parables, epistles, and gospels. It emphasizes how each genre helps to communicate the divine message and reflects on the human experience and historical contexts. Additionally, the document highlights tools for literary analysis, such as literary criticism, narrative criticism, and rhetorical criticism, which enhance understanding of biblical texts.

1. THE THREETHE THREE
WORLDSWORLDS

2. II. The World of the Text:
1. The
Bible as
LiteratureIn many societies, such as
Israel, many types of utterance
were strictly tied to particular
settings, and followed highly
stereotyped patterns. This
alludes to the so-called Sitz im
Leben (situation in life/historical
setting).

3. Literary forms / genres of
the Bible
1. Aetiology:
Etiology (alternately aetiology,
aitiology) is the study of
causation. It is derived from
the Greek meaning
'concerned with causes', and
so can refer to myths as well
as to medical and
philosophical theories.

4. In connection to this, as a
literary genre, it is a story
which attempts to
explain the origin
or the cause of a
phenomenon of nature,
condition, custom or
institution. This type of
literature allows reader to
realize how God
communicates.

5. 2. Metaphor
- boldly and warmly declares that one thing IS the other.
The LORD is my shepherd I shall not
be in want. 2 He makes me lie down
in green pastures, he leads me
beside quiet waters, 3 he restores
my soul. He guides me in paths of
righteousness for his name's sake. 4
Even though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil, for you are with me; your
rod and your staff, they comfort
me…6 Surely goodness and love will
follow me all the days of my life, and I
will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
(Ps 23).

8. 3. Allegory
It speaks of similitude which involves levels of
meaning. It can also be understood as an
extended metaphor or symbol that aims at
establishing a relationship between two objects
in a systematic manner. Conversion is expected
after reading the message.
Ex. Hosea 2 where his marriage story serves as an allegory of God’s
relationship to Israel as a nation

9. Formal Level (Referent) Actual Level (Meaning)
King
Son
Feast
Servant
Invited Guests
Those accepting the invitation
Wedding garments
Excluded guest
God
Jesus
Banquet
Apostles
The Nation of Israel
Church (converts)
Righteousness
Those found unworthy

10. The allegory of the
vine and the branches
in John 15, for
example, develops the
metaphors of Christ as
the true vine (vs. 1,5),
the Father as the
vinedresser (vs. 1),
and believers as the
branches (vs. 5).

11. 4.Apocalyptic
It is the revelation made by God concerning hidden things
employing all kinds of imagery and symbolism which
appeal to the imagination of the ancients: visions, dreams,
numbers, colors, fantastic beasts, and bizarre figures

12. Apocalyptic writing is found in Isaiah, Daniel,
Ezekiel, Zechariah, parts of the Gospels and
Revelation.
Mt.24: 6-7; 27- 31
Wars, famines, earthquakes,
son of man coming

13. 5.History
It has a framework of events.
It pertains to reports that are
written with more literary
elaboration. It focuses on a
particular subject or
historical era. A rudimentary
plot entails a movement of
scenes from tension to resolution.
It also records the dialogue and
speeches of the characters
involved. In addition to this, a
historical account also includes
dramatic literary touches.

14. Exodus 14 where the writer
reports about the escape of the
Israelites from Egypt and how
the Pharaoh chased them in the
desert.
2 Kings 17:1 is also a good
example. It states that in the
twelfth year of Ahaz King of
Judah, Hoshua son of Elah
became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned nine years.
Other examples include 1 Sam.
11:1-11; 2 Sam 9-20; 1 Kings1-2;
2 Sam. 11:1-12:25; 1 Kings 22:1-
38; 1 kings 12:1-20,20:1-43; 2
Kings; Ps. 78, 105, 106; and Judge
9:1-21.
Exodus 14 where the writer
reports about the escape of the
Israelites from Egypt and how
the Pharaoh chased them in the
desert.
2 Kings 17:1 is also a good
example. It states that in the
twelfth year of Ahaz King of
Judah, Hoshua son of Elah
became king of Israel in Samaria,
and he reigned nine years.
Other examples include 1 Sam.
11:1-11; 2 Sam 9-20; 1 Kings1-2;
2 Sam. 11:1-12:25; 1 Kings 22:1-
38; 1 kings 12:1-20,20:1-43; 2
Kings; Ps. 78, 105, 106; and Judge
9:1-21.

15. under History

16. 6.Legal codes/Law
(covenant Treaties)
This literary type speaks of
laws, commandments, rules
of conduct. It points even to
rules governing physical
hygiene and dietary
regulation. This serves as
guide to ones day-to-day
living.

17. 7. Poetry/Songs
In its most general stance, poetry is
sophisticatedly structured and compact.
Hebrew poetry is no exception in this
regard. Poetry is highly stylized language
that usually easy to distinguished from
prose stories It is consists of parallelisms,
balance, rhythm, and it makes use of
metaphors, similes, and other
exaggerations. Again, through this type of
literature we realize how God
communicates His message in varied ways
so as to address different types of people in
the most particular manner.
Examples of this type are found in the Book of Psalms;
poetic passages in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Job

18. 6 Though he was in the form of God, JESUS
did not regard equality with God something to be
grasped.* 7 Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form
of a slave, coming in human likeness;*
and found human in appearance, 8 he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.*
9 Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name* that is above every
name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bend,* of those in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord,* to the glory of God the Father
(PHILIPPIANS 4:6-11)
The early Christological Hymns of
the First Christian Community

19. Wisdom Literature is focus on questions
about the meaning of life (Job,
Ecclesiastes), practical living, and
common sense (Proverbs and some
Psalms ).
Wisdom
I undertook great projects. I built houses and planted vineyards…
I bought slaves, owned herds, amassed silver and gold…
I denied myself nothing… and what does pleasure accomplish?
It was a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
(Ecc 2:4-11)
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied
with his income. (Ecc 5:10)
under poetry

20. "Naked I came from
my mother's womb,
and naked I will
depart. The LORD
gave and the LORD
has taken away;
may the name of
the LORD be
praised.“
Job1: 21

22. 8. Midrash:
It is the retelling of a
Biblical story with the
aim of bringing out
its meaning for later
generations. Thus, it
has edifying lessons
or meditations on an
earlier biblical
utterance.
Matthew 1:22-23 engaged in a prophetic
Midrash by quoting Isaiah 7:14.
Matthew says, “All this took place to fulfill
what had been spoken by the Lord
through the prophet: Look, the virgin shall
conceive and bear a son, and they shall
name him Emmanuel.”
The same evangelist gives us another
example by interpreting the words of
Hosea (11:1 is a statement that refers to
the Exodus of people of Israel from
Egypt) to apply to an event that happened
in the life of Jesus in Matthew 2:14-15.
The evangelist goes on to say, “Then
Joseph got up, took the child and his
mother by the night, and went to Egypt,
and remained there until the death of
Herod. This was to fulfill what had been
spoken by the Lord through the prophet,
‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

23. 9. Parable
It is a short narrative in the form of an extended
metaphor that makes a moral or religious point by
comparison with natural or homely things. It
subverts worldly values and invites conversion by
a reorientation to the values of the Kingdom. It
also uses short stories to teach a truth or answer
a question. While the story in a parable is not
historical, it is true to life, not a fairy tale. As a form
of oral literature, the parable exploits realistic
situations but makes effective use of the
imagination.

24. 10. Epistle or Letter:
It is a formal letter, especially
applied to ancient writings of
sacred character or of literary
excellence. It alludes to
correspondence of a prophet (for
the Old Testament) or apostle
(for the New Testament) to
another person or to a
community on a doctrinal or
pastoral matter

25. 11. Gospel
It literally means good news since the Greek word
euangelion from which it is derived means
"good news" or "glad tidings. The Gospels
are writings that are primarily containing accounts of Jesus’
life. It does not communicate a strict biographical account
but rather a collection of Christ’s
teachings and ministry. Each of the Gospels
would elucidate the account in different view points. These
books are neither merely mythical nor simply historical
since they have theological intentions
that are historical in nature

28. 3 Basic Tools
in Literary Analysis
1. Literary Criticism
It is concerned with the style, structure, and
distinctive language of a given text. It includes
philology
1. Literary Criticism
It is concerned with the style, structure, and
distinctive language of a given text. It includes
philology

29. 2. Narrative Criticism
a.analysis, both ancient and modern, and communicates the
biblical message in the form of story and personal testimony
which can reshape or influence the world of the reader
a.It analyzes the plot of the text that has a beginning, conflict,
climax, and an ending.
a.The signifier (i.e., the narrative discourse) and the signified
(i.e., the content of the story). The passage from the signifier
to the signified takes place through the reader's creative
activity.
2. Narrative Criticism
a.analysis, both ancient and modern, and communicates the
biblical message in the form of story and personal testimony
which can reshape or influence the world of the reader
a.It analyzes the plot of the text that has a beginning, conflict,
climax, and an ending.
a.The signifier (i.e., the narrative discourse) and the signified
(i.e., the content of the story). The passage from the signifier
to the signified takes place through the reader's creative
activity.

30. Rhetoric as an art of persuation- rhetoric refers not so
much to “literary artistry” as to the disciplined art of
persuasion, as practiced and theorized by Greeks and
Romans of the classical and Hellenistic periods.
Rhetorical criticism, in this regard tended to focus on
the evidences of the influence of classical Greek and
Roman rhetoric on New Testament texts. Rhetorical
criticism studies both stylistics issues and the
intentionality of the text.
Rhetoric as an art of persuation- rhetoric refers not so
much to “literary artistry” as to the disciplined art of
persuasion, as practiced and theorized by Greeks and
Romans of the classical and Hellenistic periods.
Rhetorical criticism, in this regard tended to focus on
the evidences of the influence of classical Greek and
Roman rhetoric on New Testament texts. Rhetorical
criticism studies both stylistics issues and the
intentionality of the text.
3. Rhetorical Criticism

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