Literarily

What do Biblical genres have to do in helping you understand God’s Word? In Literarily, Kristie Anyabwile shows how understanding Bible genres will transform your Bible study.

An Epic Story Meant to Transform Hearts

The book opens by explaining that the Bible is an epic story meant to transform hearts. Anyabwile then takes you on a tour through the various Bible genres of Law, History, Prophecy, Poetry, Gospels, Epistles, Wisdom, and Apocalyptic literature. As an introduction to the genres, it is approachable and accessible. 

Each chapter includes sections on explaining the genre and helping you understand it. After each chapter, there are “Transform Your Study” sections to help you put what you learned into practice. They are simple exercises, and I see them as the perfect place to center this book in a small group.

An Enthusiasm for Deeper Study

From The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to Muhammad Ali, Anyabwile uses pop-culture references to help you relate to the lessons. She writes in a personal, engaging style to keep you interested and excited about Bible study. Her warm and friendly enthusiasm for God’s Word comes through the book.

I most appreciated the chapter on Prophecy. Anyabwile makes things easy to understand, and I learned about the importance of judgment oracles, courtroom-type oracles, and deliverance oracles. And in the chapter on historical narratives, I was surprised to learn that “all of the churches that received his letters are mentioned in Acts, and were either places where Paul had visited, or longed to visit, at the time of his writing.”

Find More in God’s Word

The book ends with a brief chapter on context, giving another springboard for further study. Anyabwile reminds us that reading the Bible is primarily a spiritual exercise that uses the intellect, and that we would all benefit from studying the Bible in Christian community. I am motivated to find more in God’s Word, and this book will encourage you to do the same.

I received a media copy of Literarily and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.