Biblical Genres

He was known as the Rabbi of Nazareth, although he was born in Bethlehem and his ministry had spread out from Capernaum as the center of it. He was misunderstood in various ways, especially by the religious leaders of the time. He pointed out their hypocrisy while they tried to earn the favor of God though legalism, but at the same time they had very little compassion for the outcasts or others in suffering.

Ravaged by one brother, silenced and betrayed by another, and abandoned by her father, Tamar—once beloved daughter of the king of Israel, and healer of the court—suddenly finds herself in exile, fleeing for her life. But the story continues where the scriptures end: a dangerous journey and tenacious pursuit of her true identity and calling brings her full circle, to her rightful place in the kingdom.

Long-time Bible teacher Kristie Anyabwile discovered as she prepared her lessons that a single inductive approach doesn’t do justice to the variety of genres that make up the Word of God. Because Scripture is a collection of writings that spans 1,500 years, many literary styles are represented, and each must be taken into account for the fullest understanding of God’s Word. Kristie shows you the immense value of studying the Bible literarily—that is, according to the literary style presented in a particular book, chapter, or passage.

Consider how the world would react or the concerns that would be raised if Jesus were a woman teacher and prophet today. That is a question I address in my book Jaycee. Serenity is a tiny town in which the story takes place. (Anywhere in the United States.) The problems and challenges that Jaycee and her companions encounter are contemporary and relevant to us today. I've long questioned why women aren't permitted to be priests and why they aren't as revered in the Catholic Church as males have been for centuries.

James ben Joseph wrestles with the pain of his older brother's death. He never believed Jesus was a rebel, but his brother's radical teachings drew dangerous attention from the Pharisees. Traveling to Jerusalem for Passover, James hoped to convince Jesus to abandon his reckless ideas and come home. Betrayal and conflict led to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, and to protect his family, James turned his back on his brother. As rumors spread that Jesus has risen from the dead, James' sorrow mixes with fear of persecution.

St. Michael the Archangel is a humble being who was not initially a warrior angel, nor was he granted the title of saint or even the general of the celestial armies. His beginnings were as a newly created angel placed in the choir of archangels. Like us humans, he also had doubts about what his full potential could become, although he was content as an archangel. Eons passed since the creation of time itself, and Michael was selected to become a warrior angel in the celestial army commanded by General Azrael at the time.

In order to understand, appreciate, and faithfully preach the word of God, pastors must discern the literary nature of the Bible. Instead of just acknowledging the various genres of Scripture, pastors and teachers should allow these genres to influence how the text is approached and communicated. In The Beauty and Power of Biblical Exposition, they will learn how to both read and preach the Bible as a literary anthology.

Only one person understands Noah’s gifts with the animals — Jeremiah, the mute shepherd who has been her field companion for years. After the walls of Jericho collapse, God stays silent in the battle of Ai, leaving Jeremiah wounded and Noah’s marital status in jeopardy. But Noah remains faithful to God and her animals and trusts that she will be able to forge a future with her sisters, even when enemies abound. Will the daughters of Zelophehad be able to settle their land together, or will Noah get left behind, trapped in the tent of a troublemaker?

Two families' lives are turned upside down when a man from Nazareth enters the region along the Sea of Galilee, teaching, healing, and performing great miracles. The religious leadership is at odds with the stranger. Yet, even they will be confronted with having to decide whether he is who he claims to be. All of their decisions will be the difference between life and death.

"Evas bog" er en åbenbaring. Ikke fordi den har emne fra Biblen, men fordi Marianne Fredriksson er en ægte og stor fortæller. Hun beretter om, hvordan Eva havde det, da Kain havde slået Abel ihjel, og Adam bare gik ud i lunden og talte med sin gud. Ingen i familien kunne leve videre uanfægtet, og for Eva var det nødvendigt at søge tilbage til barndommens Paradis - eller hvad det nu var - og ind i sig selv. Det bliver en lang rejse, indimellem skræmmende og undertiden betagende, men til slut kan hun vende hjem og fortsætte det liv, som er hendes.

Daniel’s meteoric rise in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court is a two-edged sword. Yahweh has greatly blessed Daniel and his friends, and they have found much favor in the eyes of the Babylonian king, but it has come at a cost. Daniel has made powerful enemies who seek to destroy him and any influence he has over the king of Babylon. Dark forces are moving into position around Daniel. Envious men want nothing more than to see him and his friends dead.

In the ancient hills of Moab, Ruth witnesses the brutal reality of sacrificial worship. Shocked and disillusioned, she renounces the gods she once held sacred, seeing them now as instruments for power and control rather than sources of spiritual guidance.

What can we learn by watching Jesus respond to his mother, when she asks him for help, and he changes the water into wine? What is Jesus saying to Nicodemus, “the up and in,” about being born again and the Spirit? And with the “the down and out” Samaritan Woman at the Well, Jesus shows us how to effectively reach those who have been wounded by religion and relationships.

Very little is known of Mephibosheth from Biblical history. We know that he lived during the rise of the new city of Jerusalem, lived in the palace of David, and undoubtedly witnessed the building of Solomon’s Temple. He would have known of David’s adultery with Bathsheba, his songs and psalms, and the challenges to his power from his son Absalom and others. How did this man, falling from prince to pauper, from able-bodied to a cripple, then restored to the king’s palace, navigate such a turbulent journey?

Book three of the Rise of Daniel follows Daniel, Jeremiah, and Nebuchadnezzar through the dark period of the Babylonian Captivity. Daniel has gained favor within Nebuchadnezzar’s court, but this creates envy in those who resent his rise to power. An array of evil spirits arises against him, threatening to destroy him, his friends, and his people. Daniel walks a thin line of survival where a single misstep could see him consumed by the evil spirits seeking his life. Such is the danger that even his friendship with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah is in jeopardy.

For centuries, biblical historians have pondered the enigmatic origins of the Gospel of Matthew, the foundational text capturing the adult life of Jesus of Nazareth. With no original manuscripts discovered, speculation abounds, with the earliest known fragment dating back to 260 CE. Now, amidst shifting scholarly consensus, a riveting narrative emerges to explore the genesis of this pivotal scripture.

Book one of the Rise of Daniel follows Daniel, Jeremiah, and Nebuchadnezzar at the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity. Daniel, merely a boy of fourteen, is thrust into a world of conspiracy and evil when Jeremiah the prophet predicts the coming of the powerful Babylonian prince, Nebuchadnezzar, to conquer Jerusalem. The kingdom of Judah has turned her back on the God of Israel, trusting in the Egyptians and the gods of the heathen nations around them.

Jesús de Nazaret, rodeado de un nutrido grupo de seguidores, llega a Jerusalén, donde anuncia el advenimiento del reino de Dios, se enfrenta a los cambistas del Templo y declara que los judíos no han de pagar tributo a Roma. Su actividad despierta recelos tanto entre los romanos como entre los sacerdotes judíos, cuya autoridad Jesús pone en entredicho. Unos y otros deciden capturarlo, y el prefecto, Poncio Pilato, lo sentencia a morir en la cruz. Tras ser ejecutado, sus seguidores, horrorizados, se dispersarán y regresarán a Galilea, de donde la mayoría procede. Jesús ha fracasado.

O evangelho segundo Maria Madalena é um retrato feminista, corajoso e sensual de uma mulher livre, cujo papel na fundação do cristianismo acabou sendo apagado ao longo dos séculos pelos homens da Igreja.

After first sharing King Josiah with my friends as a manuscript, they were at the same time impressed and amazed, as several asked me how I was able to write such an intriguing and brilliant novel. The truth is that aside from my knowledge of Josiah as a historical figure, and my willingness to write, I can take very little credit for the story itself as it was not so much a work of my imagination but flowed out from a much deeper place within.