Form criticism Flashcards
Who is form criticism associated with?
German scholar Hermann Gunkel
What did Gunkel seek to do?
Analyze biblical literary forms in order to rediscover the history of their development
What does form criticism explore?
How various stories from eyewitness (oral) accounts were passed on and shaped in the time period prior to when the books were committed to writing
What does form criticism hold that each literary type or genre emerges from?
A specific setting in the life of people
What German phrase summarises the idea that the stories emerge out of the specific setting in the life of the people?
Sitz im leben
What does sitz im leben translate as?
The situation of the story
When did form criticism develop?
In the early 20th century
What does form criticism look at?
The form/type of writing in the gospels
Who are the two main figures in form criticism
Bultmann and Dibellius
What did Bultmann and Dibellius argue about the material used for the gospels?
That it came from oral traditions and was copied into existing forms of literature
Why do Bultmann and Dibellius argue that form was important?
Because it shows the importance writers placed on the particular teaching/message
What did Bultmann and Dibellius suggest about the forms used in the gospels?
It suggested that they were well known, contemporary literary styles - Greek philosophical writings - stories of miracles and wonders by the Gods
What does form criticism allow us to conclude about the gospels?
- That they may not be reliable objective accounts of Jesus
- Written for the needs of writers and the early church
Context of sitz im leben seemed to overtake historical accuracy
What does form criticism suggest about the gospels?
That only a fraction of Jesus’ words in the gospels were actually from him. The rest was adapted by the early church to fit its needs
Give an example of something from the gospels that was almost definitely not said by Jesus
In Matthew 18:15-22, Jesus talks about church discipline. This is unlikely, as the church did not exist during Jesus’ lifetime
What did form critics argue about the gospels?
- They were about spiritual rather than historical truth
- The historical Jesus was not as relevant - even that it didn’t matter to the early church whether he existed
- Writers linked units of parables, sayings, stories and pronoucements according to the needs of the early church
What are the 6 accepted categories that biblical writings can be split into?
- Legends and myths
- Parables
- Miracles
- Teachings/pronouncements
- Speeches
- Shorter sayings
What are parables in the gospels?
Stories that teach about God and the Kingdom of Heaven
Give an example of a miracle in the gospels?
Healings
What are teachings/pronouncements in the gospels?
Narratives with an important teaching in their core
What are speeches in the gospels?
Lengthy prose
Give an example of a speech in the gospels?
The Sermon on the Mount
Give some examples of shorter sayings within the gospels?
Prophecies, eschatological warnings and church rules
What five categories does Dibellius split biblical writings into?
Paradigms, tales, legends, myths and exhortations
