Hero Story
A literary genre.
Hero stories are built around the life and exploits of a protagonist or hero. They embody the values and typical struggles of a society in the life of a representative and exemplary figure. The main interest of hero stories is the hero's qualities and destiny.
(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken, Page 130-131)
Heroes of the Bible
The hero stories of the Bible begin with Noah (Genesis 6-9), a hero of righteousness in an evil age. He is God's agent of rescue and the father of a new world.
Abraham (Genesis 12-25) is a domestic hero, seen in his quest for a son, his typical roles (husband, uncle, father, head of household, and owner of possessions), and a spiritual hero of faith in God, seen in his obedience to God's call to leave his homeland, his faith that God would give him a son, and his willingness to sacrifice Isaac.
Jacob's (Genesis 25-35) life is heroic in the way God transformed his life.
Joseph (Genesis 37-50) is the first example of the suffering servant biblical archetype.
David is one of the most complex heroes in all of literature, both in his roles and personal qualities. His story as a successful warrior and king is the Bible's closest parallel to the hero stories of ancient literature.
Deborah and Jael's (Judges 4-5) heroic exploits are told during the story of the Israelites' conquest of Sisera's forces.
Gideon (Judges 6-8) is a story of military heroism.
Daniel presents a nationalistic hero, a hero of integrity and political ability, and a religious hero of uncompromising faith in God.
Elijah (1 Kings 16-21; 2 Kings 1-2) and Elisha (2 Kings 2-9) capture another biblical archetype: the prophet of God.
Ruth tells a love story that celebrates her domestic and religious heroism.
Esther portrays the courage of a national and religious heroine.
The Gospels are hero stories on a grand scale, consistently keeping the focus on Jesus to tell the story of His teaching and deeds.
Acts is a small anthology of hero stories about Paul and Peter.
Revelation also unveils Jesus Christ in his conquest.
(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken, Page 131-132)