THE BIBLE
WHERE DID IT COME FROM?
"Thy
word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path"
Ps 119:105
The question we are examining is a broad
one which can be approached from several different viewpoints as
follows:
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A LITERARY
PERSPECTIVE
The books of the Bible are not only remarkable pieces of
historical and religious evidence for faith, but are also
remarkable literary pieces that reflect different styles of
writing scholars call different literary
genre.
Under different historical and religious circumstance writers of
the Bible chose to express their theological thoughts and
concerns in a variety of literary styles, each literary style
chosen to suit the need.
We must stress, however, as we briefly consider each of the
literary styles of the Bible that behind them all was a
significant theological purpose.
That theological purpose was heightened and dramatized by the
literary style.
Each literary style was well know, recognized, and appreciated
by the religious community for whom it was written.
We should look at Scripture as literary works as well as
religious or theological works since different literary types
(genre) convey a certain kind of message.
The Bible is a literary work, so when trying to understand it
one must seek to understand how literature works.
The question we are attempting to understand here relates to
where the Bible came from. It came out of an attempt
to describe in
literary form
deep religious and
spiritual emotions and needs.
We should then attempt to understand how literature presents
those theological or religious spiritual needs.
When looking at the historical books of the bible, such as
Joshua, or 1 Kings, we should remember that behind the
historical concerns and interests lie deep theological motives
and motifs. Behind the great poetical works such as
Psalms, lie deep religious expressions and truths. Behind
the seemingly historical framework of Acts lie attempts to
defend the Christian faith. Behind the assumed
biographical interests of the Gospel stories lie deep challenges
to faith.
Our point here in understanding how the Bible came to us as
literature we must look beyond its literary form for the
theological truths the literary form carries.
There is more to defining the literary genre (style) of certain
books such as history, poetry, gospel, and epistle than mere
literary interests. We must understand how the writers
used their literary heritage as theological vehicles of truth.
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