Old Testament and Genre Interpretation

Old Testament Problem

• The Old Testament presents a problem: reconciling its narrative with modern scientific understanding, particularly Darwin's theories of evolution and the earth's age.
• Genesis presents a six-day creation story, while science proposes a much longer timeframe.
• Human descent from animals is presented in the Bible, while evolution posits this as a natural process.

Genre Question

• Genre is crucial in interpreting literature; misjudging genre can lead to misinterpretations.
• An example of misinterpreting genre is seen in Ricky Gervais's comedic interpretation of "Humpty Dumpty," where he treats the nursery rhyme as if it were a literal account.
• The popular nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty" is used as an example of misinterpreting genre because understanding it literally misses its broader metaphorical meaning in its suggested metaphorical understanding of human pride and fall, and the inability to fix what is lost.
• The Pilgrim's Progress is another example where interpreting the story literally misses the author's intended use of symbolism.

The Bible and the Internet

• The internet presents many forms of communication and information, just as the Bible offers multiple literary genres.
• The internet allows for a more flexible reading style as users move between different text formats, whereas the Bible maintains multiple genres throughout.
• Our reading of the Bible varies and isn't necessarily a direct and literal reading.

Genres of the Bible

• The Bible is composed of diverse literary genres, including history, myths, novellas, parables, legends, biographies, autobiographies, and more.
• Literal interpretation of any genre can misrepresent the message.
• Approaching each biblical book with awareness of its genre is crucial for a proper understanding of its intended meaning.

The Internet and the Bible

• The internet's diverse websites parallel the varying genres in the Bible.
• Flexibility in reading online material is mirrored in the need to understand different Bible genres.

Symbolic and Historical Possibilities

• Some readers are uncomfortable with symbolic interpretations of scripture while others find symbolic meaning just as credible as literal meaning.
• The Bible frequently uses symbolic language to convey deeper meaning.
• Dismissing any possibility as "just symbolic" is inappropriate as it reduces the biblical message, and the Bible uses both literal and symbolic components to enhance meaning.

Picking and Choosing?

• The choice of how to read scripture is a decision made through interpretation.
• There are various literary types used in the Bible but one should not simply choose passages or parts that one likes but instead consider the whole.

The Word Of God and History

• The belief that the Bible only declares the Word of God when speaking historically is not an accurate representation of biblical intent nor usage.

• The Western concept of history as a primary measure of truth for the bible isn't accurate because the bible presents different types of text with different intentions.

The Limits of Science

• Science is not a completely neutral and unbiased endeavor.
• Scientific methods prioritize quantifiable and measurable aspects over meaningfulness.
• While scientific study offers valuable knowledge in various fields, it often lacks moral, ethical, and critical judgment that human society needs.
• The Bible often employs symbolic language to communicate deep truths about humanity that literal interpretations may miss.

The Inadequacy of History

• Historical accuracy cannot be the sole measure of the truth of biblical texts or the interpretations of them.
• Interpretation of biblical stories can be metaphorical or symbolic, not merely records of actual events.
• Literary texts show "what might happen" rather than solely "what happened", and should be considered from this broader purpose.

Flaming Sword

• The end of Genesis 3 describes the Garden of Eden as separated from humanity by heavenly beings with flaming swords, which is not a literal understanding nor intended as a literal description.
• Parallelism and symbolic language are frequently found in the biblical texts, indicating that the interpretation should not be narrowly focused.

Prayer

• The biblical stories can serve both literal and symbolic functions in our lives.
• Interpretation in one direction or another can lead readers to a wider understanding of humanity and its relationship with God, which in turn helps readers find meaning and understanding of the text.

Conclusion

• The Bible's stories can help readers relate to people, learn from their experiences, and gain wisdom without assuming it should only be evaluated or applied to one particular genre.