At the heart of the open theism debate is disagreements about meaning of certain biblical texts, and divergent exegetical conclusions reflect different approaches to Scripture. With the assumption that a significant but often overlooked issue in this controversy is methodology of interpretation, this study examines the use of Scripture by advocates and opponents of open theism, seeking to analyze these approaches in terms of their premises, emphases, and understanding of biblical language about God, particularly those in the form of narrative. Despite considerable use of biblical narratives in their argument for a radical view of God, open theists fail to offer a convincing methodology for moving from narrative to doctrine. Classical theists respond with alternative interpretations, but narrative is either dismissed as insufficient as a doctrinal source, or treated in much the same way as other genres. In contrast, this study shows that biblical narrative not only functions referentially, but also serves as an effective communicative tool. The literary characteristics of narrative are employed by the author in accordance with his intention in speech act, while the implied reader's response significantly contributes to its effectiveness in addressing the doctrine of God. The case studies of Genesis 6:6–7 also suggest that narrative is an appropriate biblical way of communicating truths about God and the divine-human relationship. The narrative approach suggested in this study takes all aspects of communicative act into consideration, which offers some helpful principles of reading biblical narratives and moving from them to the doctrine of God.