The Bible is a collection of 66 books composed of multiple genres of literature. History, narrative, prophecy, law, wisdom, poetry, parable…even romance! Fiction, however, is not one of them.
Scripture details real events, with the exception of a few passages meant to be figurative. However, by approaching Scripture as a history book, we tend to adopt the attitude that we had in school—that studying is difficult and boring.
If this is how you’ve thought of studying Scripture, you are not alone. But even better news—Bible study is not algebra! Can I get an amen?
Studying Scripture can be fascinating and exciting—and there is absolutely a place for holy imagination. Shall we give it a try?
Biblical “Characters”
It is a common pitfall for fiction writers to go easy on their characters—not so in Scripture. The people in the Bible are just like we are—full of conflict and good intentions, regrets and personality quirks. All their dirty laundry is put on display.
Think about Peter walking the shores of Galilee after the resurrection. He is a tangled mess of emotions. He feels shame for betraying Jesus, relief that He is alive, embarrassment for returning to his old life, love for his friend and mentor, and hope that Jesus really will trust him enough to give him a place in His kingdom work. Can you feel his conflict?
Remember Hannah? We find her sobbing in the temple. She is desperate for a child, beaten down by the constant antagonism of her rival. Her husband doesn’t understand, her body won’t cooperate, and Eli, the priest, accuses her of being drunk. A short time later things start looking up and Hannah has a son, only she gives him away after he is weaned. Can you imagine doing the same?
Moses is hand picked by God for his leadership abilities, yet he had an explosive temper that caused him to go postal on a rock. As a result, he is forbidden from entering the promised land. And that’s after he kills a man, tries to cover it up, and lives as a fugitive for 40 years.
If you were the author…
If you were to write a novel, would you draft chapter after chapter preparing the reader for a coming King and then have Him show up as a helpless baby born in a cave? Then, just when things start turning around, He is killed by the people He was meant to lead. Jesus is not your normal protagonist.
Furthermore, who would invent a hero with super-human strength then have him lose that strength through the deception of a woman and die in captivity by pulling a building on to himself? Samson is probably not going to get picked up by Marvel anytime soon.
And what about David? His story starts out well. He’s the scrappy underdog who gains the favor of the people through his bravery and becomes everyone’s favorite king. But then he murders his lover’s husband and his son tries to kill him for the throne. That’s not a bad plot twist, but it’s certainly not the happy ending I would write. Still, we think of David today as a hero, not a villain.
Truth really is stranger than fiction.
Why does it matter?
There are two main reasons why I encourage studying Scripture through the lens of fiction.
- It pulls you into the story. Imagine the sights and sounds of Jerusalem at Passover. Breathe in the dust of the walls as you watch the bricks of Jericho’s walls crash into the desert sand. Feel the rough, hand sewn hem of Jesus’ robe as if you were the woman with the issue of blood, desperate for healing. By immersing yourself in the text, you give yourself new eyes to see the familiar stories, and provide an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to speak to you in fresh ways.
- It provides discussion points with unbelievers. Christians believe the Bible to be truth, but there are many that feel the Bible is just a collection of ancient fairy tales. If you find yourself in a friendly conversation with someone holding this belief, ask them if they would write their memoir like the Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John did. If I was writing my memoir, I would probably leave out all the whining, the times when I just didn’t understand what was happening, and the personal failures. The disciples didn’t. Why would they include these details if they weren’t true?
Dust off your imagination!
Timothy tells us that God gave us His word so we will grow in knowledge and service. To do that, we must read and study it.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The next time you open the Bible, I challenge you to put yourself in the story and watch it come alive before your eyes. But be warned—it will change your life in the process.
Join the conversation! Write your thoughts and Bible study tips in the comments below.