How to Study the Old Testament Genres, Part 1: Law
The chapter focuses on the genre of law and aims at addressing the confusion that might arise between the Mosaic covenant and the genre of law. God gave the law to the Israelites as His chosen nation in a bid to reach other nations through them. Obedience to the law leads to blessings, while disobedience opens doors to curse. The general nature of the law represented in this chapter is that it reveals the guilt of humankind before God. The study of law can be done in steps that include observation, interpretation and correlation, and application. Therefore, chapter 32 deals with the genre of law in the Old Testament.
Chapter 33: How to Study the Old Testament Genres, Part 2: Narratives
The Bible comprises several stories written to pass different messages to its readers. A bigger percentage of the Old Testament comprises stories that happened at different timelines, and this chapter provides details on understanding the genre of narratives. The study of the narrative genre takes more of observation, interpretation, and application. To observe a narrative, a learner should consider the events happening before, during, and after the narrative to connect with the real meaning of the story. The events in the narrative are essential in the interpretation stage as they explain how the narrative applies to the life of a Christian. Generally, the chapter aims at creating a sense of theologizing Old Testament narratives instead of moralizing them.
Chapter 34: How to Study the Old Testament Genres, Part 3: Wisdom and Poetry
Chapter 34 focuses on the books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon, which represent the genre of wisdom and poetry. The observation bit of wisdom and poetry pays attention to Who, What, Where, When, and Why because the two genres are not as straightforward as those of law and narratives. The chapter gives details about obtaining principles from passages found with the genres of wisdom and poetry. The application bit comes after successfully observing and interpreting the message contained in the passages. Generally, the study of the genres should lead to a successful interpretation of the passages and a change of perspective to God’s way of viewing matters.
Chapter 35: How to Study the Old Testament Genres, Part 4: Prophetic Literature
Most people believe that the genre of prophetic literature is complicated. Chapter 35, however, presents details about the simplicity of studying prophetic literature. The chapter focuses on prophetic passages found in the books of Jonah, Isaiah, Micah, and Zechariah. The observation of prophetic literature begins with the understanding of the roles and types of the prophets involved in coming up with the concerned passage. The relationship between the prophet and his audience gives a clear focus on the meaning of the passage in question. Therefore, the interpretation of prophetic literature lies in the ability to understand the prophet and his audience. Generally, the chapter connects the role of prophetic literature to the law.