As you can probably tell from the dozens of book reviews I have written, I love to read, and reading has been one of my favorite hobbies ever since I was a child. I like to read all kinds of different books, from Christian living and theology to classic fiction and mystery, from nonfiction and memoir to dystopian and romantic suspense.
I read different types or genres of books for different reasons. If I want to grow in a particular area of my faith, I’ll pick up a Christian living book. If I want to read something engaging and entertaining, I’ll grab a fun novel. If I want to learn about something in culture or politics, I’ll choose some nonfiction. And if I’m looking for an easy, comfort read, I’ll turn to a book I’ve read many times before.
Every book genre is different from the others, and they each have a particular style and purpose. And it’s the same with the Bible. The Bible is one book, but it contains several different genres with completely different styles, tones, and features. As Kristie Anyabwile argues in her new book, Literarily, knowing the genre of each biblical book is the only way we can truly understand the messages of the Scriptures.
Many Christians view reading and studying the Bible as simply a spiritual task, and they believe the only way we can understand it is through visions, revelations, and mountaintop experiences. We can only grasp Scripture’s true meaning when we become spiritually attuned with God and He shows us the way. But this is not completely accurate. After all, the Bible is a book that tells a story. As Kristie mentions in the book,
“Studying the Bible is primarily a spiritual exercise that uses the intellect.”[1]
Yes, the Bible is God’s way of speaking to us and revealing who He is. We do need the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance to understand what’s written within it. And its purpose is not just to transform our actions, but to transform our hearts. But all of this does not mean that we can get out of using our brains. God gave us our brains to study His Word and understand its purposes. Kristie writes that we can do this by understanding biblical genres.
In Literarily, Kristie examines and analyzes all ten genres of Scripture: law, narrative, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, gospels, epistles, and apocalyptic literature. In each chapter, she explains what each genre is all about, provides genre-specific details to keep an eye out for as you read, and guides her readers in how to understand each genre literarily. For those who want to dive deeper into the genres of the Bible, Kristie has developed several mini-studies at the end of every chapter that can be used to directly interact with the biblical text and the genre it resides in. Throughout the entire book, Kristie emphasizes one thing that I have been saying for years—context is key!
Overall, I enjoyed Kristie Anyabwile’s new book, Literarily. Kristie explains her concepts clearly and concisely, and it’s evident that she has a passion for the Bible and literature in general. The chapters are short and easy to digest, and the book would be a perfect addition to your daily quiet time. Whether you’re new to reading the Bible or you’re an experienced Bible reader who’s interested in learning about biblical genres, you should pick up a copy of Literarily and give it a try!
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[1] Kristie Anyabwile, Literarily: How Understanding Bible Genres Transforms Bible Study (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2022), 142-143.
