could the bible be a novel?

Question

does anybody think that the bible could have just been written as a fiction book, or a novel, or even a fairy tale, and the book got confused as a nonfiction book for some reason...it sounds crazy, but to me at least, the bible seems like a novel. i just find it hard to believe that this could actually be a true story, written by smart, sane, well informed people...plus, to me, it reads like a fairy tale

i don't intend to anger anybody, so sorry if your offended

Answer 1

It's a collection of short stories falling into the historical fiction category.

Historical fiction: based on certain historical events with creative license involved in the story line and characters.

That said, it does not mean that useful information can not be gained from it.

Answer 2

The fundamental problem with the question is it includes "The Bible" as one book rather than a collection of books.

There are several types of books in Scripture. Many of them are even some books combined into one book (example: There were at least 4 authors, likely more, to the book of Genesis). But they are also different genres. Historical, Prophetical, Poetic, Gospel, Letters...etc. etc. So it's not one specific writing style, but several. Some historical stuff, some mythical writings, some letters. To classify it as simply a "novel" (or any one type of writing) would be incorrect.

Matt

Answer 3

It could be but ,
the Bible is comprised of storys either written or handed down by many "authors" beginning with the Old Testament.

Since you are interested in the origins of the Bible and storys in it you mayhave some interest in reading some of Z. Sitchins ideas /theorys about the "Bible"
Heres a link to his site:
http://www.sitchin.com/

Some of it seems a bit "far fetched" a first but if you read some of his theorys they make more sense than what we have been taught in say"church" abut our "origins"
Keep an open mind and see what you think.

Glad to see someone else thinking

Answer 4

The Bible is inspirational, a instruction manual for every day residing and coping with lifes conventional issues, a e book of religion, a useful lesson in background and a actual inerrant message from the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob to mankind. The Bible includes no fiction consequently can't be a different.

Answer 5

It could be, or at the least a book of stories and beliefs passed down. Many of the parables at least seem based on old folk tales

To me it is certainly not a book of fact, is it was then surely other religions would have notes of all the things that occurred - pretty hard to miss swarms of locusts and the sea parting, not to mention a great flood....

I belive it is semifiction - some based loosely on happenings and some based on folk tales, similar to Ancient Greek myths and legends. Jut becuase a lot of people have read and believe it, in my mind, does not make it true - same as horoscopes or UFO abductions- many believe in them, doesnt make it true

Answer 6

I don't think a novel really, but I think you could make a strong argument for a type of metaphorical literature, you know like a parable. I think this is the way that much of Greek and roman mythology was taken (especially by great thinkers) so why not Hebrew mythology as well? The Jews have a history of writing this type of allegorical literature outside the bible.

Answer 7

maybe the actual story part of it, but taking a step back and considering it as a novel, I don't thing the moral messages in it would make it popular. The core of the book would have to be the imaginative portions like the creation story, desert exile, etc. Not so much the parables and Jesus's rules.

Answer 8

I am not offended. The Bible to me is like an operations manual for life. It has some mighty good concepts that we are all better off following. As to God, I prefer a more personal relationship with Him...not a relationship that has been dictated by someone who wrote words some twenty five hundred years ago and words that have been interpreted over and over again by men.

Answer 9

Pretty boring novel.

It took me years to finally decide to read it all the way through the first time.

Everybody should try that, the Koran too.

Mostly they don't have what most people argue about in them. Not real exciting, I'll warn you.

I have a friend who is Muslim. He had memorized the Koran by the time he was 13. Makes me cringe just thinking about it!

Answer 10

This isn’t really possible since the books of the bible were written by different people over the course of hundreds of years. Through divine inspiration of course.