Overview

In this episode, Dennis and Levi provide a quick, engaging introduction to the core genre of Scripture: biblical narrative. If you've ever wondered how the Bible tells stories or what you should be looking for as you read, this episode serves as a tease for what is to come. Our ultimate goal is to explore the story of Scripture, piece these narratives together into one grand meta-narrative, and make Jesus known.

What We Explore:

• The Grand Story: The majority of the Bible is narrative, and even other genres (like poetry and prophecy) advance the meta narrative, or overarching story.

• Literary Tools: We discuss essential elements to look for, such as plot, characters, the narrator's voice, and intentional repetition.

• Brilliant Editing: We examine how seemingly out-of-place stories, like Tamar in Genesis 38, are actually masterful connections to the larger narrative and the lineage of David.

• Experiencing Stories: The wooing of Rebekah in Genesis 24 perfectly illustrates a beautifully crafted story with a happy ending.

• Narrative Analogies: We look at parallel storylines—like God calming the storm in Jonah 1 and Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4—that highlight exactly what the text intends to teach us.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Poetics of Biblical Narrative by Meir Sternberg
• The Art of Narrative Analogy: Identifying and Interpreting Parallel Passages in the Bible by Seth Postell