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.