Within the narrative of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, we hear Elijah ask the people how long they intend to limp along between two opinions. Often (if not always) the purpose of historical narrative is explicit and imbedded in the text. The history in Chronicles is mostly positive because it means to inspire the returning exiles to faithfulness.
The history recorded in Samuel and Kings is predominantly negative because it is explaining why Israel is in exile. “History is written by the victorious” is a well-known saying that is often, but not always, true. What Is Its Purpose? Practically speaking, we begin our reading of historical narrative with the perception that all history is written with a purpose and a perspective.
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The regular and clear references of biblical teaching to biblical history are our best means of knowing how to read historical narrative. Paul notes twice that the history of Israel during the exodus was recorded as examples for us (1 Cor. Peter explains baptism on the basis of Noah and the flood (1 Pet. Jesus refers to the creation narrative of Adam and Eve in his response to the Pharisee’s challenge about divorce in Matthew 10. In Galatians 4, Paul explains how the history of Abraham and his family is indicative of any person’s experience as a sinner under the law or as redeemed by Christ. The Bible instructs on how to read historical narrative in several places. How that applies to any given reader or what is supposed to happen when we read it is a different question. God created the universe by His Word in six days Noah built an ark and lived on it during the flood Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt David escaped from Saul Jesus taught and healed Paul was shipwrecked. Much of the Bible requires little or no interpretation, especially when it comes to historical narrative in contrast with parables, for example. The simple answer to the question before us is to read historical narrative as it was intended to be read, as it presents itself, and as other witnesses corroborate. Two, much harm has been done by selective use of history or the abuse of history by misapplication. One, for the past several centuries, it has been fashionable to deny what histories report. Why would anyone ask how to read historical narrative? How often do people who like to read biographies or history seek an answer to that question before they pick up a book? The question of reading historical narrative is with us for at least two reasons. For further information or to subscribe to the C HRISTIAN R ESEARCH J OURNAL go to:
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The full text of this article in PDF format can be obtained by clicking here. This article first appeared in the Practical Hermeneutics column of the C HRISTIAN R ESEARCH J OURNAL, volume 39, number 02 (2016). Article ID: JAP392 | By: Michael Eschelbach
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