Have you ever wondered why the Old Testament includes so many different kinds of writing—and how understanding them can change the way you read Scripture?

The Old Testament includes creation narratives, historical accounts, law, wisdom literature, poetry, and prophecy. Each genre communicates in a different way, and recognizing the kind of writing we’re reading helps us understand its original meaning and purpose. In this episode of The Rooted Podcast, we explore six major Old Testament genres and how understanding their differences can help us read Scripture more thoughtfully.

From reading Genesis in its ancient context to understanding that Proverbs offers wisdom rather than guaranteed outcomes, each genre brings its own perspective to the biblical story. We consider how the Psalms give us language for honest conversations with God, how the law reveals His heart for justice, and how the prophets called Israel back to their covenant relationship with Him.

Topics we’ll cover:

• The six major literary genres of the Old Testament and how to recognize them
• Why the historical and cultural context of Genesis matters
• How biblical narratives reveal patterns and connections across Scripture
• How to understand Old Testament law within its original covenant context
• Why Proverbs offers wisdom rather than guaranteed outcomes
• How poetry and the Psalms help us express our emotions honestly before God
• How the prophets called Israel back to God and pointed toward future hope
• How understanding literary genre helps us interpret and apply Scripture faithfully

Resources from this episode:

• How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart
• How to Read the Bible Book by Book by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart
• The BibleProject
• BEMA Podcast
• Origins by Douglas Jacoby and Paul Copan

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Old Testament Literary Genres
01:45 – Creation Narratives: Understanding Genesis
03:03 – The Original Audience and Purpose of Creation
05:04 – Genesis as a Counter-Narrative to Surrounding Cultures
06:33 – Reading Genesis: Repeated Phrases, Patterns, and Themes
10:24 – Historical Narratives: Reading Biblical Stories Carefully
11:41 – Recognising Patterns and Connections Between Stories
13:40 – The Significance of Numbers and Biblical Cross-References
17:10 – Old Testament Law: Understanding Its Original Purpose
19:22 – Torah as Instruction and Covenant Relationship
21:43 – Finding God’s Heart for Justice in the Law
22:10 – Applying Old Testament Law Through the Wider Biblical Story
25:30 – Wisdom Literature: Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes
26:07 – Principles Versus Promises
27:42 – Understanding Proverbs 22:6 in Context
29:32 – Wrestling With Life’s Complexity and Injustice
31:37 – Keeping God at the Centre of Wisdom Literature
33:39 – Poetry: Learning to Read the Psalms
34:23 – Parallel Lines, Imagery, and Emotional Expression
35:23 – The Psalms and Honest Conversations With God
37:18 – Making Room for Vulnerability and Lament
39:07 – Why Literary Genre Matters When Reading Scripture
40:07 – Prophecy: More Than Predicting the Future
41:12 – The Prophets as Truth-Tellers Calling Israel Back to God
42:53 – Understanding the Historical Context of the Prophets
44:10 – Israel’s Unfaithfulness and the Prophets’ Call to Repentance
45:30 – Present Realities and Future Hope in Prophecy
46:12 – Holding Historical Context and Future Fulfilment Together
47:45 – Recap of the Six Old Testament Genres
48:30 – What’s Next: Understanding New Testament Genres

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What happens between reading a passage of Scripture and deciding what it means for our lives today?

This week on The Rooted Podcast, we explore hermeneutics—the ways we interpret and apply Scripture in our own time and context. Building on our previous conversation about exegesis, this episode asks what happens after we understand what a passage meant to its original audience and begin considering how it should shape the way we live today.

Interpreting Scripture involves more than simply reading a verse and applying it directly to our lives. Literary devices, historical context, and the questions we bring to the text all influence the way we understand Scripture. Through examples such as Jesus’ use of hyperbole and His conversation with the rich young ruler, we explore why moving beyond a simple “read and do” approach can help us better understand the heart of a passage.

The conversation also introduces several interpretive lenses, including blueprint, theological, Christ-centered, love, trajectory, and justice hermeneutics. Rather than offering one approach as the answer to every passage, these lenses invite us to ask deeper questions about who God is, what we learn about Jesus, and how Scripture shapes the way we love God and others. Ultimately, the goal is not simply to interpret the Bible correctly, but to allow it to form us into people who become more like Christ.

Topics we’ll cover:

• Moving from exegesis to hermeneutics and applying Scripture today
• Why every reader brings assumptions and interpretive lenses to the Bible
• The difference between a simple “read and do” approach and thoughtful interpretation
• Different lenses for interpreting Scripture, including blueprint, theological, Christ-centered, love, trajectory, and justice hermeneutics
• Why humility, curiosity, and community matter when reading the Bible
• Questions that can help us apply Scripture more faithfully
• How studying the Bible can lead to a deeper relationship with God

Resources from this episode:

• How to Read the Bible For All its Worth
• “Searching for the Pattern” by John Mark Hicks
• “Re-Examining Our Lenses” by Jeanie Shaw

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: What Is Hermeneutics?
01:02 – From Exegesis to Interpretation and Application
03:07 – The Right Posture for Reading Scripture
04:50 – Why We Need Community and Curiosity
06:59 – Do We Really “Just Read and Do”?
09:20 – Why Reading the Bible Requires Interpretation
10:07 – Understanding Jesus’ Use of Hyperbole
12:39 – The Rich Young Ruler and the Problem With “Read and Do”
14:29 – Moving Beyond a Checklist Approach to Scripture
16:01 – The Greatest Commandment as an Interpretive Lens
17:11 – The Hermeneutic of Love
20:06 – Recognizing the Hermeneutic You Already Use
22:04 – The Blueprint or Pattern Hermeneutic
29:15 – The Strengths and Limitations of the Blueprint Approach
35:29 – Moving From Exegesis to Application
36:31 – Theological Hermeneutic: What Does This Teach Us About God?
42:03 – The Christ-Centered Hermeneutic
44:25 – From Commands to Relationship With God
45:45 – The Love Hermeneutic
46:59 – The Trajectory Hermeneutic
49:08 – Following the Biblical Trajectory on Slavery
50:15 – The Justice Hermeneutic
52:36 – Learning to Revisit and Relearn
53:25 – Resources for Going Deeper
54:00 – What’s Coming Next in the Series

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How can we understand what a passage of Scripture really means before deciding how it applies to us today?

This week on The Rooted Podcast, we explore exegesis—the practice of drawing meaning out of a biblical text rather than bringing our own ideas into it. Understanding a passage begins with considering its original audience and context. By asking who wrote it, who they were writing to, where it falls within the larger biblical story, and what kind of literature we’re reading, we can better understand what the text was originally communicating.

Context also helps us avoid common mistakes like proof texting and eisegesis, where verses can be separated from their original setting or interpreted through assumptions we bring to the text. Familiar passages like Jeremiah 29:11 and “where two or more are gathered” show how easy it can be to reach an interpretation that misses what a passage was actually saying—even when the conclusion itself sounds true.

Learning to read Scripture responsibly takes humility, patience, and a willingness to reconsider interpretations we may have held for a long time. We don’t have to work through those questions alone. Studying in community, learning from trusted spiritual guides, and developing a consistent process can help us approach Scripture thoughtfully while becoming more comfortable with questions that may not have immediate answers.

Topics we’ll cover:

• What exegesis means and why the original audience matters
• How historical, chronological, and literary context shape our understanding of Scripture
• The difference between exegesis and eisegesis
• What proof texting looks like and why reading verses in context matters
• Why reconsidering an interpretation can be an important part of spiritual growth
• The difference between Scripture and the doctrines we build from it
• Why humility, patience, and community matter when studying the Bible
• How to build a consistent process for reading Scripture responsibly

Resources from this episode:

• Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: What Is Exegesis?
01:04 – Pulling Meaning Out of the Text
01:39 – Understanding What the Original Audience Heard
03:28 – Three Types of Biblical Context
03:47 – Historical Context: Who, When, Why, and for Whom?
05:50 – Chronological Context and the Larger Biblical Story
07:22 – What Is Proof Texting?
08:17 – Literary Context and Why Genre Matters
10:41 – Common Examples of Proof Texting
10:50 – “Where Two or More Are Gathered” in Context
13:26 – When the Conclusion Is Right but the Verse Is Wrong
14:11 – Jeremiah 29:11 and the Problem With Reading Verses in Isolation
18:11 – The Difficulty of Realizing You’ve Misread Scripture
20:13 – Scripture, Doctrine, and the Beliefs We Build
22:12 – Deconstruction and Rebuilding a Stronger Foundation
24:25 – Learning to Be Comfortable in the “I Don’t Know”
27:53 – Cognitive Dissonance and Holding Different Ideas in Tension
30:36 – A Real-Life Example of Using Scripture Out of Context
34:42 – What Is Eisegesis?
35:16 – Why We Need Community When Rethinking Our Interpretations
36:32 – Exegesis vs. Eisegesis
36:57 – Building a Consistent Process for Bible Study
38:20 – When Studying the Bible Starts to Feel Overwhelming
40:02 – Finding a Trusted Spiritual Guide and Taking Your Time
40:43 – Growth Is a Lifelong Process
41:26 – Questions to Ask the Next Time You Read Your Bible
42:00 – What’s Next: Hermeneutics and Applying Scripture Today

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