lOMoARcPSD|255728 27
Tread: How to Study the Genres of the Bible
3 concepts that improved, adjusted, or clarified my knowledge of the Bible:
1. “The laws that we find in the Torah were very much a part of Israelite life and the
Israelite story. This is counter to the way we may view our laws and regulations today.”
(Cartwright and Hulshof, p. 183). Growing up as an active member of a church, there were
always sermons of following God’s rules of the Bible and, at times, there was some contradiction
on what those “rules” entailed and how they applied to our lives. This particular section shows
that there are rules and commands from God in the Bible, but there are specific rules and
commands for certain people and circumstances that do not necessarily apply to modern day
Christianity.
2. My knowledge improved regarding the “new covenant is between God the Father and
God the Son”. (p. 183). While this is embarrassing to admit, that has always been a confusing
concept for me to grasp. This chapter helped me dig deeper into this topic and grasp a better
understand of God the Father and God the Son. As stated “God fulfills both parts of the
covenant, as God the Son is the representative for all of humanity” was the most simplistic way
to put that into perspective and prove that God sent Jesus Christ to do his work on earth as a
reflection of Him. (p. 183).
3. “It is easy in a study of the law to become so focused on legalism that we miss the grace
behind the laws.” (Cartwright and Hulshof, p. 188). This speaks volumes on how Christians,
myself included, have viewed the laws, rules and scriptures of the bible as old-fashioned. If you
look at the bigger picture, God has given us a road map on how to be a good Christian, whether
deemed old-fashioned or not, they are His Word. The reading for this week’s module as a whole
helped me understand how to better study and understand what God is saying and identifying
where certain scripture I am reading fits. (Cartwright and Hulshof, p.190).
2 ideas that I believe are crucial to remember when studying the various genres of the Bible
1. First and foremost, all genres of the Bible serve a purpose. There are chapters that tell a
story and there are chapters where God is speaking directly. It is also important to steer clear of
trying to interpret your own meaning of a scripture and seeks God’s direct purpose for the
particular scripture.
2. When studying, remember that the book of Proverbs “are not promises”. (Cartwright and
Hulshof, p.203). As stated, it is easy to “name it and claim it” to whatever situation may arise. (p.
203). The book of Proverbs is very inspirational, but it cannot be used literally.
One way that understanding the various genres of the Bible could aid in Bible study:
1. It is important to understand that you can always find a relatable character, they may
remind you of your grandmother, brother, sister or uncle, but not all of the behavior is solid. As
Page 1 of 3
lOMoARcPSD|255728 27
stated, “Even from some of our favorite Bible characters, we can observe behaviors that are not
always examples for us to follow. Sometimes, they are just the opposite. (Cartwright and
Hulshof, p. 227).
Works Cited
John Cartwright and Chris Hulshof, Everyday Bible Study: Growing in the Christian Faith, ed.
Gabriel Etzel and Ben Gutierrez, 2nd edition., Everyday Bible Series (Nashville, TN:
B&H Academic, 2019).
Page 2 of 3
lOMoARcPSD|255728 27
Page 3 of 3
