That's the theme of the podcast series I started several weeks ago. Most people either simply read the Bible like a cereal box, with no intent to analyze it, or like a textbook, which is sure to kill off curiosity. I began the series talking about how critical it is to take the Bible in its own context, not a context that is familiar to us, like modern evangelicalism or the Reformation. I'm transitioning now to another important area of study: learning to read the Bible in terms of the various types of literature found in its pages.
In this episode, we'll talk about how to read narrative intelligently. I recommend reading it like fiction -- like you would read a novel. Read it like the writer had an agenda or a plan -- because he did.
In Episode 22 of the Naked Bible Podcast, Dr. Michael Heiser shifts the focus of his ongoing series on Bible study to a powerful interpretive tool: understanding genre. This episode introduces listeners to the concept of biblical genres with special attention to narrative, one of the most prevalent types in Scripture. Heiser explains how reading biblical stories like fiction—though not claiming they are fictional—helps cultivate inquisitiveness and close reading skills. Drawing on expert literary analysis by Shimeon Bar-Efrat, Heiser illustrates how details such as word order, character introduction, and narrative tension carry theological and structural significance. Using the tragic story of Amnon and Tamar from 2 Samuel 13, Heiser shows how narrative choices hint at broader themes of family tension and political fallout in the Davidic line. This episode is essential for students who want to move beyond surface reading into deeper interpretive engagement with biblical text. Whether you're a pastor, scholar, or serious Bible student, learning to “read like a novelist” will change how you encounter the Bible’s stories.
This was the best one yet. And Sherlock is great!