Pastor in the Hat Podcast
Fearlessly tackling tough questions about faith from a progressive Christian perspective. This production of First Presbyterian Church Concord, CA We dive deep into the doubts and uncertainties that many listeners face, offering thoughtful insights to help navigate the complexities of each one’s own spiritual journey. Hosted by Darryl McCollum Commissioned Pastor, PCUSA and author of “In All Things Grace”.
Pastor in the Hat Podcast
Understanding Scripture Better Through Biblical Genres: A Journey with Pastor in the Hat
Have you ever wondered how ancient stories shape our understanding of divine truths today? Join us on the Pastor in the Hat Podcast as we explore the rich tapestry of biblical genres that form the foundation of Scripture. This episode promises to transform your Bible reading by offering insights into historical narratives, poetic expressions, and profound wisdom literature. Discover how the ancient views of history in the Old Testament differ from our modern perspectives and how these stories continue to influence our moral and spiritual lives. We'll journey through the Psalms' raw emotional honesty and the practical life advice found in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, revealing the depth and diversity of biblical texts.
But that's not all—we'll also demystify the role of prophecy, moving beyond the misconception of mere future predictions to understand it as God's call to faithfulness, as seen in the book of Isaiah. Lastly, we'll examine the unique perspectives and audiences of the Gospels, with a special spotlight on Matthew's connection between the Old and New Testaments. This episode is more than an exploration; it's a tool to make Scripture speak more clearly and powerfully in your life. So tune in, keep exploring, and let your spiritual journey be enriched with every episode. Be blessed, stay safe, and keep well!
The Pastor in the Hat Podcast is a production of First Presbyterian Church Concord, CA
Welcome to Episode 4 of the Pastor in the Hat Podcast, brought to you by First Presbyterian Church of Concord, california. We believe that we are one family, imperfect, messy and beautiful in Christ, and we invite you to find your place here Today. We continue our look at the Bible with genres of literature in the Bible. I'm excited about today's episode because we're diving into something that can truly transform how we read and understand Scripture, recognizing the different genres in the Bible. You might wonder why does it matter what genre I'm reading? Well, it matters a lot more than you might think. Knowing the genre of a text helps us grasp its meaning more deeply and apply its lessons more effectively in our lives.
Speaker 1:In modern media, genre categorizes content based on shared themes, styles or narratives. Think of it like Netflix categories. When you're browsing, you might see action, comedy, romance or documentary. Each of these represents a genre, and genres help us set expectations for what we're about to watch, listen to or read. For example, you might expect suspense, fear and possibly some jump scares in a horror movie. In contrast, a romantic comedy typically features lighthearted humor and focuses on relationships Think the Hallmark Channel. So let's kick off biblical genres with historical narrative Now.
Speaker 1:This genre takes up an awful lot of the Old Testament, and these stories recount events in the history of Israel. Think about Genesis with its stories of the lives of the patriarchs. Or how about the book of Acts, which tells us about the early church's beginnings. These aren't just tales. They're grounded deeply in cultural memory and they shape our understanding of how ancient people thought about history. When we think about historical events today, we often view them through the lens of objective analysis, focusing on factual accuracy, timeliness and evidence.
Speaker 1:Modern historians aim to construct a straightforward, to construct a straightforward chronological narrative based on verifiable data like documents, artifacts and eyewitness accounts. They emphasize understanding causes and effects and the broader context surrounding events. In contrast, ancient people view history differently. For them, history wasn't just about recording facts. It was about conveying meaning and understanding the world through their lens of their beliefs and their values. Historical events were often intertwined with their understanding of the divine morality and communal identity. For instance, biblical authors frequently interpret historical events as acts of God, focusing on what these events reveal about God's character and purposes. Ancient history was also more fluid in terms of chronology and causes. Events might be presented out of strict chronological order if they serve a theological or moral purpose to do so, the emphasis was often on the lesson or the truth to be conveyed, rather than providing a precise historical record. When we recognize that, it helps us see how God has been working throughout history and providing moral truths to humanity in a rich storytelling way, it gives us the freedom to hear God communicating with us without worrying whether the historicity aligns with our understanding of how history works.
Speaker 1:Next, let's talk about poetry. When we hear poetry, we might think of flowery language or romantic verses, but biblical poetry is different. Take the Psalms, for example. They are raw, honest expressions of human emotion, including joy, sorrow, thanksgiving, repentance, even fear. When you read am, you're not just reading words. You're entering the deep emotional experience of the writer, and that can be really powerful. Poetry connects us on a heart level, making it easier to relate to the joys and the struggles of our faith journey. If you're looking for rhymes, you may not find them. Remember, the Old Testament was written in ancient Hebrew. We may not get perfect rhyming when translated into English, but the emotions are still very present.
Speaker 1:Moving on, we have wisdom literature. Moving on, we have wisdom literature Now. These books offer practical advice and they reflect on life's bigger questions. Proverbs are full of those short, punchy sayings that stick with you like a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Then there's Ecclesiastes, where the writer wrestles with the meaning of life. Wisdom literature is like sitting down with your grandpa, who's seen some stuff and has some solid advice to offer. It guides us in making decisions and it encourages us to think deeply about how we live our lives. Moving on, we've got prophecy. Now.
Speaker 1:This genre is often misunderstood, because prophecy isn't just about predicting the future. It's not like these you know mediums and people you see on TikTok. It's about delivering God's truth to his people, calling them back to faithfulness and calling them out when they're doing bad stuff, and sometimes even foretelling future events. Isaiah is a great example. He doesn't just predict the coming of a Messiah, he also speaks about judgment and hope in his own time, and understanding prophecy helps us to see that God's word is timely and timeless, calling us to examine our lives in light of God's will.
Speaker 1:The New Testament authors frequently turned to the prophets to point to Jesus as the Messiah. They would wrestle with the passages that were initially written about the nation of Israel and find similarities to the ministry of Jesus, his death and his resurrection. This is an excellent example of renegotiating existing text to meet a current context. This happened a lot in the New Testament by these early authors. This is a great lead-in to the Gospels. These are perhaps the most familiar genre for many of us because they tell the story of Jesus, his life, death, resurrection. But each gospel has its unique flavor. The four gospels, matthew, mark, luke and John, each present the life teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but they do so with a different audience and emphasis in mind. We'll look at the three synoptic gospels first Now. Synoptic comes from the Greek roots for together and view, because these three gospels are similar in content and structure.
Speaker 1:Matthew's gospel is like a bridge connecting the Old Testament with the New. It's primarily written for Jewish Christians, those that are already familiar with Hebrew scriptures and the long-awaited promises of a Messiah. Matthew takes great care to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies. He frequently references Jewish customs scriptures and the lineage of King David from the Old Testament to present Jesus as the promised king, the son of David, who would establish the kingdom of heaven on earth. Would establish the kingdom of heaven on earth. Imagine Matthew as a guide, walking his readers through the familiar terrain of their faith, but leading them to a profound realization the Messiah that they've been waiting for all this time has come, and his name is Jesus of Nazareth.
Speaker 1:The next gospel is Mark, likely the earliest gospel written. Mark's audience is quite different than Matthew. He's writing for Roman Christians and Gentiles, meaning they didn't grow up with Jewish traditions. Mark is a master of brevity and action, presenting Jesus as the suffering servant and the powerful son of God. This gospel is fast-paced, almost like a series of vivid snapshots showing Jesus performing miracles, casting out demons and teaching with authority. Mark's message is clear Following Jesus isn't easy. It involves suffering and sacrifice, but it's also a path that leads to ultimate victory. For the Roman Christians that are facing persecution, this was a message of both challenge and hope.
Speaker 1:Luke's gospel, which is the next in the series, takes us in a completely different direction. This is written for Gentile Christians, particularly those in the broader Greek-speaking world. Luke portrays Jesus as the Savior for all people. Luke's narrative is inclusive, focusing on Jesus' compassion for the poor, for the outcasts, for the sinners and the importance of prayer. Weaving these themes throughout his gospel, he highlights the role of the Holy Spirit. Luke's portrayal of Jesus is tender and universal, showing that God's love extends to everyone, regardless of their background or their status. Regardless of their background or their status, it's a message that the world would resonate deeply with, in diverse and cosmopolitan areas. This audience was really important because it sets up our world today and the views that many new churches have now, that are opening their arms to people that have been traditionally marginalized and not allowed to worship in churches.
Speaker 1:Finally, we come to the Gospel of John, which stands apart in his approach. John writes for a mixed audience, including Jews and Gentiles, focusing on deepening the faith of those who already believe. John's gospel is profoundly theological, presenting Jesus as the Messiah and the divine Son of God, the Word made flesh. Through a series of I Am statements, john reveals the deep and mysterious identity of Jesus. Harkening back to that scene on Mount Sinai, when Moses encounters the burning bush and God says I am. I am In response to the question of Moses, who, should, I say, sent me? John reveals the deep and mysterious identity of Jesus. The gospel is rich in symbolism and spiritual insight. It's designed to inspire a more profound belief in Jesus as the one who offers eternal life. For those already familiar with the basics of faith, john's gospel invites them to go deeper and explore the divine mysteries and grow in their relationship with Jesus.
Speaker 1:Much of the New Testament is comprised of epistles or letters. These letters are written by apostles to early churches and individuals, addressing theological issues and offering practical advice for daily living. Romans, for example, is like Paul's theological manifesto. It's packed with deep theological insights and practical instructions for living out the Christian faith. Reading these letters is like getting advice straight from the source, from the leaders of the early church, and that's something that we can still learn from today, because, contextually, people haven't changed that much Now. The circumstances and the places where we live may have, but our human desires and the way that we interact with each other still can be influenced by these letters. Paul, peter, james, john and Jude each contributed to the epistles, and we don't have all the letters that they wrote. I mean, for example, there's a reference to a third letter to the Corinthians by Paul that has never been found. There are letters attributed to Peter and to John that were not included in the canon of Scripture because the early church leaders questioned their authenticity when they were putting together the Scriptures that we have today.
Speaker 1:Next is perhaps one of the most misunderstood genres in the Bible. It's called apocalyptic literature. It's challenging, but also fascinating. You see, books like Revelation are filled with symbolic imagery and visions of what some interpret as the end times. Apocalyptic literature actually reveals God's ultimate victory over evil. It's like pulling back the curtain and seeing the big picture of God's plan for history. This genre gives us hope, reminding us that God is in control, no matter how chaotic things may seem. God's victory is certain. Now, the word apocalypse is often misunderstood as the end of the world, the end times. It's due to a specific reading of the book of Revelation. However, the original meaning of apocalypse is quite different. The word in Greek, apokalypsis, which means unveiling or revelation, is not as scary as end times. In a biblical context, apocalypse refers to the revealing of hidden truths, particularly those concerning God's plan for humanity and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. The books of Daniel, Ezekiel and Zechariah also contain this genre. So it's not just at the end of the New Testament that we find apocalyptic literature, it's also in the Old Testament.
Speaker 1:Now, this next genre we're going to look at is one of my favorite. It's parables. Now what is a parable? These simple stories were used by Jesus to illustrate deeper spiritual truths us to illustrate deeper spiritual truths, and I love how approachable they are. Take the parable of the Good Samaritan, for instance. On the surface it's a story about helping someone in need and a profound teaching on compassion and what it really means to love your neighbor. It also helps us understand who is our neighbor. Parables are great because they stick with you. They're easy to remember, but they've got layers of meaning that you can keep unpacking and unpacking and unpacking. And parables weren't just used by Jesus. The book of Jonah has recently been argued by scholars to be a parable in nature because it has layers and profound spiritual truths about God's character.
Speaker 1:Now here's a genre that you might find on your Netflix scrolling menu drama. Drama in the Bible. You say, well you bet. Job's story is a great example of drama. It's sort of written like a play, with different characters having long monologues and dialogues between Job and his friends. The drama unfolds around Job's suffering and his search for answers. Reading it as a drama helps us engage more deeply with the characters and themes. We can almost feel the tension in their conversations and the weight of the questions that they're grappling with weight of the questions that they're grappling with.
Speaker 1:We're going to next talk about a genre that perhaps will take longtime Christians by surprise Myth. Yes, friends, there is myth in the Bible, myth in the Bible. We're not talking about something that's not true. Myths don't mean that Biblical myths, like the creation accounts in Genesis, are traditional stories that are deep memory stories that convey origin stories, and they help us understand big questions like stories. And they help us understand big questions like where did we come from? Why are we here? These stories lay the groundwork for our understanding of God, humanity and the world.
Speaker 1:Many biblical scholars today view the first 11 chapters of Genesis as being prehistorical and mythological in nature. Now, this doesn't mean that the stories don't have value, because they truly do. They present to us wonderful truths about God and about our purpose in the creation. Our final genre today is the epic genre.
Speaker 1:Now, if you're familiar with epics, they're grand, sweeping narratives. These in the Bible tell the story of God's people. For example, exodus is an epic adventure God leading his people from slavery to freedom through trials and triumphs, slavery to freedom through trials and triumphs. Joshua and the conquest of the promised land also fits the epic category. Epics are often used to provide heroes to look up to. The whole story of David and his conquering of Goliath is an epic in nature.
Speaker 1:National epics like the Life and Times of George Washington and the Coastats of the USA give us images of a boy chopping down a cherry tree and not lying about it, a president who tosses a silver dollar across the Potomac, or a general kneeling at Valley Forge in prayer, in prayer. None of these happened, but they persist as national stories because they're part of our national identity, and understanding the biblical stories that are epic help us understand and appreciate how they've shaped Israel's identity throughout history. Shaped Israel's identity throughout history. Well, that kind of does it. It's a journey through many genres of the Bible, and understanding the genre of a biblical text isn't just for scholars, it's for all of us. It helps us read Scripture the way it was meant to be read, allowing Scripture to speak to us more clearly and powerfully. I hope this exploration has given you new insights and tools for your Bible reading. Thanks for joining me today on the Pastor in the Hat podcast and until next time, keep exploring, keep growing and remember, be blessed, stay safe and keep well. Bye for now.
