Words of Delight:
A Literary Introduction to the Bible

Preface     9

Introduction: Reading the Bible as Literature

Part 1     Biblical Narrative

1

Introducing Biblical Narrative: What You Should Know About the Stories of the Bible     35

2

The Elements of Narrative: How Bible Stories
Work     53

3

Artistry in Biblical Narrative     91

4

Hero Stories     107

5

Epic     127

6

Tragedy     145

Part 2     Biblical Poetry

7

The Language of Biblical Poetry     159

8

Artistry in Biblical Poetry     187

9

Explicating Biblical Poetry: What to Say About a Poem     207

10

Types of Biblical Psalms     227

11

The Song of Solomon     271

Part 3     Other Biblical Literary Forms

12

Encomium     293

13

Proverb     313

14

Satire     329

15

Drama     341

Part 4     The New Testament

16

How Literary Is the New Testament?     353

17

The Gospels     369

18

The Parables     403

19

The Book of Acts     419

20

The Epistles     431

21

Poetry, Proverb, and Hymn     441

22

Oratory     459

23

The Book of Revelation     477

Epilogue: The Poetics of Biblical Literature     507

Glossary     513

Index of Subjects     519

Index of Authors     527

Index of Scripture     529