The Law, Literarily

 

   As promised, here is a mini literary lesson about genre. Followers of Inside Story are reading Leviticus this week. One of the five books in the Bible categorized as “Law.”  These books were written by Moses between 1445 and 1405BC,  also called the Pentateuch. The laws recorded here can be sorted into three categories: moral, civil, and ceremonial. Understanding these categories help  us understand which laws apply to today.

   When reading or studying any book of the Bible, it is helpful to remember that the Bible was written to be read  aloud. It did not have chapter or verse breaks; it was on long scroll. Translators added chapters and verses much later. Moses read the laws to the people;  they didn’t have a hard copy in their hands.

Secondly,  the Bible is primarily written as stories, speeches, or poetry. It will aid your understanding  to know which you are reading.

   And finally; as you read,  think about the connecting theme of the passages in the genre.

       The Law books consistently focus on a Sovereign God, the great I AM. And every law points to the sin of putting any other Gods before Him.

   It’s obviously overwhelming and all-consuming to think through the following suggestions for every passage of the law, so,   choose one chapter from Leviticus this week and consider the following questions.

  DIVE DEEP  

·       Decide if the passage is a speech or a story.

·       Imagine what is happening to the people at this time in history.

·       How does this speech or story connect to the theme of  ‘no other Gods” ?

·       Why did God make this law?

·       Does He repeat it anywhere else?

   Comment on my FB or message me through TonyaAnn.com.

  Keep Reading!

 

The Bible as Literature

    Thanks to my friend, Kathy Brahmer, for telling me about a book called Literarily   How Understanding Bible Genres Transform Bible Study by Kristie Anyabwile (https://kristieanyabwile.com/). Not surprisingly, I was intrigued.

   Anyabwile hypothesizes that the variety of genres that make up the word of God  need to be studied the way one studies literature. The study of poetry is different from the study of history,   which is different from the study of biography  and so forth. Anyabwile makes a case for the value of studying the Bible according to the literary style of the book.  I obviously agreed with her when I wrote  Inside Story.

   Literarily is  the study of the form and structure of the writing. Specifically God’s Holy Word. It is a deeper dive into Biblical genres.  

    The Bible is literature,  not just a book but a library of sixty-six unique books with a consistent theme. A genre approach to reading the Bible is helpful to the new reader and adds insight to the experienced reader. The human authors of this inspired text become real as we read the words with an understanding of genre. It makes sense of confusing sections.

     Over my next several posts,   I’ll be correlating some of Anyabwile’s  insights with mine. They will post to coincide with the Inside Story reading chart. If you aren’t using Inside Story,  no worries, considering the genre of the book you’re reading will enhance the experience. You may decide to try a genre reading plan.

Keep reading!  

   

Road Trip

  I’ve been out of pocket for a few weeks. Spent my annual week at Royal Family Kid’s Camp in Missouri (see forthechildren.org for more info),  attended an anniversary celebration for my cousin,  had some quality time with extended family and good eating with friends. I drove over two thousand miles in 17 days. A trip I’ve done several times before. As I planned my return, I mapped a different route from OKC to Denver, but circumstances sent me back to boring, flat land I35 to I70 across Kansas. It was the same scenery;  the same gas station stops and the drive through at Steak n Shake in Goodland. The obligatory stop at the last Braums before Colorado in Salina, Kansas, and decision to take backroad 83 instead of 70 into downtown Denver. It was the usual road trip.

  How many times do we take the same way to work every day,  the same road to our summer cabin,  the same itinerary  to Grandma’s house,  same street,  same turns, same stoplights? Most of us travel the same route day after day. It’s familiar, it’s easy and the car practically drives itself.

  Last year I was bored with the “same ole” when it came to Bible reading. That’s why I wrote Inside Story: 52 Weeks in the Word. (See https:TonyaAnn.com). I was looking for different. A different trek through the same ancient words. A reader recently messaged me that she was using Inside Story for her year’s Bible reading. “It’s as though I’m on a journey that I’ve been on many times but taking a different route. So many new and interesting things to see,” she said.

   If you’ve never read the Bible completely before,  try the genre reading plan. You won’t get stuck in the wilderness right away;  you’ll get some breathing room in heavy prophecy, and you’ll find Jesus in every book.

   If you are an avid Bible reader,  it’s time for a different route through familiar territory.

     Inside Story is undated so can be started with your school year,  your birthday,  your fall Bible study group or TODAY! Ask for it at your favorite Indie bookstore or log in to Amazon prime!

Keep Reading!