Apologetics 1 - Historical Narrative versus Poetic Sections of Scripture
Before starting a comprehensive study of Genesis, Chapters 1 through 11, or any area of Scripture, let us understand the differences among various sections of the Bible concerning what is narrative history versus other forms of poetic writings or areas that are simply mostly instructional or praise. This is not to say that the Bible doesn't give instruction throughout all that has been written. Historical events always portray messages and instructions for our individual learning and for the purpose of gaining wisdom. God is gracious to give us information about Himself and the events of His working with mankind and the rest of His creation.
The Bible provides history in its writings. There are areas of poetic praise, beauty and instruction in wisdom. Examples of pure narrative history abound. Poetic writings and a number of instructional passages can be found in the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Refer to the Document titled “Classification Chart of Genres of the Scriptures” to see how the Bible is generally divided into History, Poetry, Prophecy and the Epistles for the 66 books.
This is not to say that poetic writings in the original languages are not used or inserted in several other historical places, but when particularly some poetry is used in Genesis 1-11, it is not interfering with historical events. Nor is it to suggest that Genesis, Chapters 1-11 are all poetic in nature, as some would have us to believe. Those that refute Genesis 1-11 have used terms like myth, fable, metaphor, allegory or fairy tale to describe what the accounts are saying.
Others try to change what Scripture plainly says. These people are not all atheists. Sadly, there are some Christian organizations, individual Christians, Christian pastors and Christian educators in secular or Christian schools and Churches that refuse to believe in the inerrancy of Scripture. Many try to appease the “scientific world” by mixing portions of evolution (or all) into Scripture. One compromising example of evolution that gets mixed with Scripture is that many believe that the earth is millions or billions of years old. Other examples are the universe is billions of years old, or that man evolved slowly; the "Big Bang Theory", etc. Flagrant eisegesis! Man’s infallible views replacing God’s perfect views (and His Word)!
A very large portion of the Scriptures is history - pure Factual Narrative History. If you follow the Bible from cover to cover you will see History. If you want to see examples of Scripture in the poetic format, take a detailed look at Psalms and you will see many praise verses and songs used throughout.
Genesis, Chapters 1-11 are plainly written as factual, inerrant and narrative history. Some praise verses are included because someone at a given instant (God or an individual) praised someone else, so not every single verse is in the exact Historical Hebraic Format. Even so, verses or sections that are in the Hebraic Poetry Format included in Historical Narrative areas are still considered as events that actually occurred. The chapters of Genesis fall under the column of History and not Poetry, Prophecy or the Epistles because it is comprised almost entirely of Narrative History. Nothing should be added or taken away from what the Author Moses intended in any case.
For a detailed contrast between poetic and narrative genres in the Bible, see Tim Chaffey, “Parallelism in Hebrew Poetry Demonstrates a Major Error in the Hermeneutic of Many Old-Earth Creationists “ that can be viewed at Answers In Genesis.
Various excellent books and articles titled “How Do We Know the Bible Is True?" are available at Answers In Genesis.
The Bible provides history in its writings. There are areas of poetic praise, beauty and instruction in wisdom. Examples of pure narrative history abound. Poetic writings and a number of instructional passages can be found in the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Refer to the Document titled “Classification Chart of Genres of the Scriptures” to see how the Bible is generally divided into History, Poetry, Prophecy and the Epistles for the 66 books.
This is not to say that poetic writings in the original languages are not used or inserted in several other historical places, but when particularly some poetry is used in Genesis 1-11, it is not interfering with historical events. Nor is it to suggest that Genesis, Chapters 1-11 are all poetic in nature, as some would have us to believe. Those that refute Genesis 1-11 have used terms like myth, fable, metaphor, allegory or fairy tale to describe what the accounts are saying.
Others try to change what Scripture plainly says. These people are not all atheists. Sadly, there are some Christian organizations, individual Christians, Christian pastors and Christian educators in secular or Christian schools and Churches that refuse to believe in the inerrancy of Scripture. Many try to appease the “scientific world” by mixing portions of evolution (or all) into Scripture. One compromising example of evolution that gets mixed with Scripture is that many believe that the earth is millions or billions of years old. Other examples are the universe is billions of years old, or that man evolved slowly; the "Big Bang Theory", etc. Flagrant eisegesis! Man’s infallible views replacing God’s perfect views (and His Word)!
A very large portion of the Scriptures is history - pure Factual Narrative History. If you follow the Bible from cover to cover you will see History. If you want to see examples of Scripture in the poetic format, take a detailed look at Psalms and you will see many praise verses and songs used throughout.
Genesis, Chapters 1-11 are plainly written as factual, inerrant and narrative history. Some praise verses are included because someone at a given instant (God or an individual) praised someone else, so not every single verse is in the exact Historical Hebraic Format. Even so, verses or sections that are in the Hebraic Poetry Format included in Historical Narrative areas are still considered as events that actually occurred. The chapters of Genesis fall under the column of History and not Poetry, Prophecy or the Epistles because it is comprised almost entirely of Narrative History. Nothing should be added or taken away from what the Author Moses intended in any case.
For a detailed contrast between poetic and narrative genres in the Bible, see Tim Chaffey, “Parallelism in Hebrew Poetry Demonstrates a Major Error in the Hermeneutic of Many Old-Earth Creationists “ that can be viewed at Answers In Genesis.
Various excellent books and articles titled “How Do We Know the Bible Is True?" are available at Answers In Genesis.