Paula

TS,

There are many places to study terms of literature, such as this one. But I think the issues you brought up really have to do with genre, which is the type of literature, as opposed to whatever methods of expressions may be used within that genre.

You mentioned wisdom literature, which the Proverbs are a prime example of. They are listed as proverbs, written in a somewhat poetic style. Psalms of course are poetry. The books of Kings are history. These are various genre of literature.

The question of women in ministry really isn’t as much a question of genre or expression as it is of grammar and syntax. Both sides agree that Paul’s letters are non-fiction, largely non-poetic, and instructional. The arguments come over the meanings of words, the structure of sentences, and the consideration of context to ascertain meaning.

But the debate over Genesis, specifically creation week, is one of genre. Is it written as typical Hebrew poetry? Does the LXX, which long predates our earliest Hebrew text, convey creation week as poetry or moral lessons? The genre of Genesis is clearly written as prose, as fact, and not as wisdom literature or parable. That’s been the issue in this particular thread.

Don’t know if that helps, but I tried. 🙂