Waggoner Library: Christian Ministry: CMN 3000 Engaging the Biblical Narrative

CMN 3000 Engaging the Biblical Narrative

An overview of the various forms of Biblical Literature, their place in the canon, and the interpretive frameworks used for understanding and utilizing these forms in preaching and teaching.

Online Resources

General Religion Library Databases

Ministry Matters™ This link opens in a new window
Ministry articles, blog posts, and theological reference eBooks for all aspects of ministry.
Gale OneFile: Religion and Philosophy This link opens in a new window
Deals with the impact that religion and philosophy have had on culture throughout history, including literature, arts, and language
JSTOR This link opens in a new window
Articles on Biblical narrative and genres, book chapters downloads, and research reports on this topic.
Wesleyan-Holiness Digital Library This link opens in a new window
Multidisciplinary, open access, digital resource of books, literature, multimedia material, and archives collected in response to the global need for access to resources for education, lifelong learning, and specifically ministerial preparation.

Religion Web Tools

STEP (Scripture Tools for Every Person)

The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (NIDB) is a great place to start looking for general, overview information relating to the genre paper. The NIDB is accessed through the resource, Ministry Matters™.

Once the link below opens, you have a couple of choices to find information:

Use the right side menu to open the different volumes, this shows the genre introduction. For example. Clicking on Nib Volume 2 shows a link to an article about Narrative Literature and Volume 6 would be Prophetic Literature.
Use the table of contents links on the right to open the text. Note: some pages may be blank. If that happens click the next item in the table of contents.
To find a genre: Choose the 'Search' tab on the left and enter the genre topic in the search box. You can limit your search to the NIDB or broaden it to search the entire Ministry Matters™ library.

Ministry Matters™ This link opens in a new window
Click the link to begin your search for theological reference eBooks, articles about all aspects of ministry, and more.

[Video] Using the New Interpreter's Bible Dictionary, Online through Ministry Matters
View this 5min 09 sec video to learn how to access content from the NIB Dictionary found in Ministry Matters™.

Bible Dictionaries

Direct link to the library's Discovery Search eBook Results for 'SU: Bible Dictionaries"
Use the limit options on the left to either narrow or broaden your search.

Dictionary of Biblical Imagery by Leland Ryken (Editor); James C. Wilhoit (Editor); Tremper Longman (Editor)
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 0830814515
Publication Date: 1998
The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery is the first contemporary reference work dedicated to exploring the images, symbols, motifs, metaphors, and literary patterns found in the Bible. More than that, it examines the Bible's universal archetypes or master images--including the plot motifs and character types that recur throughout life, literature, and the Bible.
Dictionary of Biblical Intepretation
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 0687055318
Publication Date: 1990

Theological Interpretation of the New Testament by Vanhoozer
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 9781441257901
Publication Date: 2008
Introduces students to the Bible and theological interpretation through a comprehensive book-by-book survey of the New Testament.

Online Sources

Encyclopedia of the Bible
The contents of this encyclopedia derive from a previously published work known as The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, a 5 volume set. Search alphabetically for topics. Bible Gateway.
Dictionary of Bible Themes
This instantly accessible and easy-to-use dictionary of Bible themes was compiled by the outstanding editorial team of Martin Manser, Alister McGrath, J. I. Packer, and Donald Wiseman. Search by broad topic first, then narrow down to a specific theme. Bible Gateway

Direct links to Discovery search eBook results:

Direct link to Discovery Search eBook Results for 'Biblical Narrative'
The list can be further limited by date range, by an additional subject, language, etc. Use the limiters on the left to narrow your results.
eBooks: Apocalyptic Prophecy
eBooks: Epistles
eBooks: Gospels
eBooks: Law
eBooks: Oracles and the Bible
eBooks: Parables
eBooks: Prophetic genre and the Bible
eBooks: Psalms: Thanksgiving
eBooks: Wisdom

Direct links to New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (NIDB) content found in the Ministry Matters database.

Biblical Narrative, Journal Articles

Start here to find journal articles on the different genres in Biblical literature. Besides journal articles, ATLA Religion database includes essays and book reviews. Use filters on the left side menu to narrow results as needed.

For those articles that do not have the full text, use Interlibrary Loan to obtain the full text. View information about ILL here

How to Read the Bible Book by Book - an eBook by Gordon D. Fee
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 0310853648
Publication Date: 2009
For each book of the Bible, the authors start with a quick snapshot, then expand the view to help you better understand its message and how it fits into the grand narrative of the Bible. In an engaging, conversational style, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart take you through every book of the Bible using their unique approach: Orienting Data--Concise info bytes that form a thumbnail of the book. Overview--A brief panorama that introduces key concepts and themes and important landmarks in the book Specific Advice for Reading--Pointers for accurately understanding the details and message of the book in context with the circumstances surrounding its writing.

Bible Study Book Recommendations by Seed
Peruse the linked list of titles to help guide you as you read the Bible.

Canon Lesson Plan

Direct link to Discovery Search eBook Results for 'canonization Bible'
The list can be further limited by date range, by an additional subject, language, etc. Use the limiters on the left to narrow your results.
Direct link to ATLA results - canonization Bible
Direct link to JSTOR results - canonization of the Bible
Scholarly articles, book chapters and more can be found on your JSTOR results.

Canon

MM: Canon of the New Testament
Direct link to content from Ministry Matters.
MM: Canon of the Old Testament
Direct link to content from Ministry Matters.
Seedbed: How we got the New Testament books, Canon
A web resource. April 5, 2017. With David F. Watson.

Apocrypha

MM: Apocrypha, NT
Direct link to NIBD content in Ministry Matters.
Seedbed: Should Christians read the Apocrypha?
A web resource. January 19, 2022, with David deSilva.