So yesterday we considered how the diversity of genres precludes the notion of containing God in a neat systematic definition.  We also considered the variety of modes of inspiration.  D A Carson offered three other lessons from the diversity of genre in Scripture:

3. The Biblical treatment of interaction between God and human beings are preserved not only in affirmations and commands and propositions, but in stunning depictions.

How true and how easy it is for preachers to take the stunning depictions and turn them into something less stunning.  Now a well-crafted propositional statement should capture the essence of a passage, but the goal is not word-craft, rather it is life transformation in response to the Word of God.  When that Word offers stunning depiction via narrative, or poetry, or prophetic oracle, or whatever, then our task is to re-present that!

4. The diversity of materials placed along an historical axis, generate some of the most important trajectories of the Bible. Carson gave the example of Melchizedek, and how the progress of revelation through the three key passages makes such a powerful statement about the purposes of God.

As preachers we need to help people see the beauty of Scripture, and the unity coming from the Author who inspired the whole.

5. Sometimes there are interesting lessons to be learned from the diversity within the literary genres. Carson spoke of the diversity within wisdom literature, or in the gospels.  Actually, he highlighted that there is one Gospel and it isn’t a book.  Just as you cannot say to a newsreader, “announce the news, and if necessary use words,” he pointed out the nonsense of the quote attributed to St Francis of Assisi along similar lines. The gospel has to be proclaimed, by definition it is news.

Let’s be encouraged that our ministry of proclaiming and announcing the message of the Bible is a vital and necessary ministry!

So that is five thoughts in respect to the diversity of genre in the Bible.  Tomorrow I will start to look at the specific lessons from specific genre, along with comment in respect to the preaching task.

I recently attended a lecture by D A Carson on the biblical genres and what they teach us about God. I’d like to share some of his points and reflect on them a bit in terms of the preacher’s task.

Carson began by asking why didn’t God give us a systematic theology?  Or why didn’t God give us a holy book like the Qu’ran?  I’m tempted to pause there and ask whether our preaching reflects the diverse nature of Scripture, or whether we tend to preach systematic theology or uniform religious instruction . . . but I won’t.

The first part of the lecture considered what the diversity of genres tell us about God, then the second part looked at some specific examples from specific genres.  So, five things the diversity of genres tell us about God.

1. Although many true things can be said about God, he cannot be domesticated, boxed and neatly defined. He spoke of how the formalized categories of systematic theology always get stretched by narratives, giving examples in reference to sovereignty, aseity, impassibility.

Seems to me there is always a danger of superimposing supposedly orthodox theology on the Bible.  Sometimes the Bible does not quite seem to fit with a system forged in fires not fuelled by inspired revelation alone.  Nevertheless, let us certainly heed the warning, as preachers, to not think clear explanation and structure can somehow exhaustively present God.

2.  The diversity of literary genres attest different modes of inspiration. Unlike the Qu’ran or book of Mormon, Scripture is God-breathed in different ways.

What does this mean for our preaching?  I suppose we shouldn’t flatten inspiration into some kind of dictation concept, or other restricted view.  From my perspective I feel there should be wonder at the diversity of inspiration modes God used, and therefore response at what a great revealer God we have (i.e. He wasn’t restricted to getting people into a trance and then giving magic messages).

Tomorrow I will continue this list of five lessons from the diversity of genre in the Bible.