Narration, in the context of the Bible, refers to the act of telling or recounting events, accounts, or teachings. It is a fundamental aspect of the biblical text, as much of the Bible is composed of narrative literature. The Bible uses narration to convey theological truths, historical events, moral lessons, and divine revelations.

Old Testament Narration

The Old Testament is rich with narrative content, beginning with the creation account in Genesis. The book of Genesis itself is a prime example of biblical narration, detailing the creation of the world, the fall of man, the flood, and the patriarchal accounts of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. These narratives serve not only as historical accounts but also as theological foundations for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people.

In Exodus, the narration of the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land is central. This narrative highlights God's power, faithfulness, and the establishment of the Mosaic Covenant. The historical books, such as Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, continue the narrative of Israel's history, chronicling their conquests, judges, kings, and eventual exile.

The narrative style in the Old Testament often includes genealogies, laws, and prophetic messages interwoven with historical accounts. This method serves to provide context and continuity, linking God's promises and actions across generations.

New Testament Narration

The New Testament begins with the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—which are primarily narrative accounts of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each Gospel presents a unique perspective, yet all focus on the central narrative of Jesus as the Messiah and Savior. The Gospel of Luke, for example, is noted for its detailed and orderly account, as stated in Luke 1:3-4 : "Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."

The Acts of the Apostles continues the narrative of the early church, detailing the spread of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit through the apostles. This book serves as a bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles, providing historical context for the teachings and letters that follow.

Narrative Techniques and Themes

Biblical narration employs various literary techniques, including dialogue, repetition, and typology. Dialogue is used extensively to reveal character and divine instruction, as seen in the conversations between God and the patriarchs or Jesus and His disciples. Repetition serves to emphasize key themes and promises, such as the covenantal promises to Abraham and his descendants.

Typology is a narrative technique where events, persons, or institutions in the Old Testament are seen as foreshadowing or prefiguring New Testament realities. For example, the Passover lamb in Exodus is a type of Christ, the Lamb of God, as noted in 1 Corinthians 5:7 : "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."

Purpose and Impact of Narration

The purpose of biblical narration is multifaceted. It serves to instruct, inspire, and convict readers, drawing them into the unfolding account of God's redemptive plan. Narration in the Bible is not merely historical recounting but is intended to reveal God's character, His dealings with humanity, and His ultimate purpose for creation.

Through narration, the Bible communicates timeless truths and moral lessons, encouraging believers to live in accordance with God's will. The narratives of faith, obedience, and redemption resonate throughout Scripture, providing a cohesive and compelling account of God's interaction with His creation.1. (n.) The act of telling or relating the particulars of an event; rehearsal; recital.

2. (n.) That which is related; the relation in words or writing of the particulars of any transaction or event, or of any series of transactions or events; story; history.

3. (n.) That part of a discourse which recites the time, manner, or consequences of an action, or simply states the facts connected with the subject.

1335. diegesis -- a narrative
... Cognate: 1335 (from 1334 , " lead, conduct, narrate") -- properly, a full narration
(account), as carefully recorded in an authoritative historical account ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1335.htm - 6k

4487. rhema -- a word, by impl. a matter
... From rheo; an utterance (individually, collectively or specially),; by implication,
a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4487.htm - 8k

4557. mispar -- number, tally
... From caphar; a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable;
small, a few); also (abstractly) narration -- + abundance, account, X all, X ...
/hebrew/4557.htm - 6k

Of the Full Narration to be Employed in Catechising.
... Chapter 3."Of the Full Narration to Be Employed in Catechising. 5. The
narration is full when each person is catechised in the ...
/.../on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 3 of the full narration.htm

In the Narration of that Event Already Mentioned, and Especially ...
... Book III. Chapter XVIII. In the narration of that event already mentioned,
and especially of the sacrifice offered by? In the ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xviii in the narration.htm

The Narration
... THE NARRATION. There are causes so short as to require rather to be proposed
than told. It is ... THE TWO KINDS OF NARRATION. There are ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/the narration.htm

Of the Way to Commence the Catechetical Instruction, and of the ...
... Chapter 6."Of the Way to Commence the Catechetical Instruction, and of the Narration
of Facts from the History of the World's Creation on to the Present ...
/.../augustine/on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 6 of the way to.htm

Of the Exposition of the Resurrection, the Judgment, and Other ...
... Chapter 7."Of the Exposition of the Resurrection, the Judgment, and Other
Subjects, Which Should Follow This Narration. 11. On ...
/.../on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 7 of the exposition of.htm

And Now I am Come to this Part of My Narration...
... Section 65. And now I am come to this part of my narration? 65. And now
I am come to this part of my narration, I have a mind ...
/.../josephus/the life of flavius josephus/section 65 and now i.htm

"The Following is a Small Matter which I Learned Lately from the ...
... Dialogues of Sulpitius Severus. Chapter III. "The following is a small matter
which I learned lately from the narration of Arpagius? ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter iii the following is.htm

The Knowledge of the Stars, Again, is not a Matter of Narration...
... The knowledge of the stars, again, is not a matter of narration? 46. The knowledge
of the stars, again, is not a matter of narration, but of description. ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 46 the knowledge of.htm

Of the Order and the Method in which all the Four Evangelists Come ...
... The Prologue. Chapter XLV."Of the Order and the Method in Which All the Four
Evangelists Come to the Narration of the Miracle of the Five Loaves. 93. ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xlv of the order and.htm

Of the Harmony in Respect of the Order of Narration Subsisting ...
... Chapter LXXVI."Of the Harmony in Respect of the Order of Narration Subsisting Between
Matthew and the Other Two Evangelists in the Accounts Given of the ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxxvi of the harmony in.htm

Narration (3 Occurrences)
...Narration (3 Occurrences). Luke 1:1 Seeing that many did take in hand to set in
order a narration of the matters that have been fully assured among us, (YLT). ...
/n/narration.htm - 7k

Nard (5 Occurrences)

/n/nard.htm - 8k

Kine (24 Occurrences)
... women of Samaria. In Genesis 41:1-36 is the narration of Pharaoh's dream
of the seven fat and seven lean kine. In Isaiah's vision ...
/k/kine.htm - 16k

Narrative (2 Occurrences)

/n/narrative.htm - 7k

Lysias (3 Occurrences)
... In the narration of these campaigns there are considerable differences between the
writers of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees which scholars have not found easy to ...
/l/lysias.htm - 12k

File (1 Occurrence)
... order. 5. (n.) A roll or list. 6. (n.) Course of thought; thread of narration.
7. (vt) To set in order; to arrange, or lay away, esp. ...
/f/file.htm - 9k

Fable
... 1. (n.) A Feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration
intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologue. ...
/f/fable.htm - 12k

Relation (86 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of relating or telling; also, that which is related; recital; account;
narration; narrative; as, the relation of historical events. ...
/r/relation.htm - 33k

Return (499 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To speak in answer; to reply; to respond. 4. (vi) To revert; to pass back
into possession. 5. (vi) To go back in thought, narration, or argument. ...
/r/return.htm - 38k

Declaration (9 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) That part of the process in which the plaintiff sets forth in order and
at large his cause of complaint; the narration of the plaintiff's case ...
/d/declaration.htm - 10k

What are the Stations of the Cross and what can we learn from them? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Gospel of Luke - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

What is The Voice translation of the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Narration: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus