Introduction to Biblical Literature Approaches, Genres, & Interpretive Options

What Is the Bible?  A Collection of Writings –Multiple Genres:  Origins “myths”  Heroic Ancestor Stories  Historical Reviews  Social & Legal Codes  Ethical Pronouncements  Worship Songs  Versified Drama  Educational & Instructional Materials  Wedding Entertainment  Sermons & Prophecies  Biographies  Teachings and Exhortations  Letters to Individuals & Groups  Doctrinal Dissertations  Apocalyptic Visions

What Is the Bible?  A Collection of Writings: –Written and gathered over a long period of time:  Pentateuch (1400? – 400? B.C.)  Former Prophets (1100? – 400? B.C.)  Latter Prophets (1000? – 300? B.C.)  Poetry/Writings (1200? – 500? B.C.)  New Testament Letters (48-70 A.D.)  Gospels (55? – 97? A.D.)  History (Acts) (33 – 60 A.D.)  Apocalypse (90? A.D.)

What Is the Bible?  A Collection of Writings: –Penned by a Variety of Authors:  Moses?  Joshua?  Samuel?  David  Isaiah  Multiple Prophets  Court Historians  Poets & Dramatists  Followers of Jesus from many walks of life  Friends of Followers of Jesus

What Is the Bible?  A Collection of Writings within and shaped by two specific religious traditions: –The Nation of Israel (Hebrew Bible/Old Testament) –The Christian Church (New Testament)

What Is the Bible?  A Collection of Writings within and shaped by two specific religious traditions that purports to be Divine Revelation

Worldview Options  Closed System: –No external information or forces –Human life is accidental and holds no more meaning than any other object –Bible is a purely human product  Impersonal Intelligent Design: –“Life” & “Time” are the creative edge that shape existence in a closed system –Human life is meaningful insofar as it plays out its role and obeys “designed” purposes –Bible is a record and reflection upon that design  Creator/Creation Open System: –Existence is planned and intended by God –Human life is honored, compromised, and redeemable –Bible is part of the divine/human redemptive link

Two Problems in Biblical Interpretation  Historical Problem: –Incomplete Data for Verifiability –Internal evidence of Literary Development  Religious Problem: –How and what does God “reveal”

Scholarly Interpretive Methods  Source Criticism: –Trying to find and separate the distinctive sources behind the current text  Form Criticism: –Trying to analyze the unique forms of literature and assess how they function  Redaction Criticism: –Trying to understand how and why the text was edited into its final shape  Literary Criticism: –Trying to understand how the text functions in its current expression

Religious Choices ““““Revelation vs. History” –S–S–S–Scripture as Testimony (Schleiermacher) –S–S–S–Scripture as Doctrine (Gerstner) –S–S–S–Scripture as Record (Albright, Wright) –S–S–S–Scripture as Witness (Barth) ““““Revelation as History” –S–S–S–Scripture & Progress (Wellhausen, Von Rad) –S–S–S–Scripture & Process (Ogden, Ricoeur) ““““Revelation in History” –S–S–S–Scripture as Covenant Documents