Form Criticism of the Old Testament (Guides to Biblical Scholarship Old Testament)
Form Criticism of the Old Testament (Guides to Biblical Scholarship Old Testament)
Because of its long oral tradition the Old Testament includes a great variety of types of literature--narrative, poetry, proverbs, hymns. Form criticism analyzes these genres within the biblical material in terms of structure, intention & setting. Gene Tucker clearly defines the basic principles & methods of form criticism & outlines its relation to other disciplines.
1. The form critical method: The beginning of Old Testament form criticism; Basic principles & aims of form criticism; The methods of Old Testament form criticism; Form criticism & other Old Testament criticisms
2. Form criticism at work: some representative genres & texts: Narrative genres: Myths & folktales. Saga. History. Legend & novelette. An example: Jacob's struggle at the Jabbok (Gen 32:22-32); Prophetic literature: Gunkel's contributions. A general view. Messenger speech. The prophetic word as announcement. Other genres. Setting. Some examples.