Introduction to Biblical Introduction to Biblical LiteratureLiterature

Approaches, Genres, & Approaches, Genres, & Interpretive OptionsInterpretive Options

What Is the Bible?What Is the Bible? A Collection of WritingsA Collection of Writings

– Multiple Genres:Multiple Genres: Origins “myths”Origins “myths” Heroic Ancestor StoriesHeroic Ancestor Stories Historical ReviewsHistorical Reviews Social & Legal CodesSocial & Legal Codes Ethical PronouncementsEthical Pronouncements Worship SongsWorship Songs Versified DramaVersified Drama Educational & Instructional MaterialsEducational & Instructional Materials Wedding EntertainmentWedding Entertainment Sermons & PropheciesSermons & Prophecies BiographiesBiographies Teachings and ExhortationsTeachings and Exhortations Letters to Individuals & GroupsLetters to Individuals & Groups Doctrinal DissertationsDoctrinal Dissertations Apocalyptic VisionsApocalyptic Visions

What Is the Bible?What Is the Bible?

A Collection of Writings:A Collection of Writings:– Written and gathered over a long period Written and gathered over a long period

of time:of time:Pentateuch (1400? – 400? B.C.)Pentateuch (1400? – 400? B.C.)Former Prophets (1100? – 400? B.C.)Former Prophets (1100? – 400? B.C.)Latter Prophets (1000? – 300? B.C.)Latter Prophets (1000? – 300? B.C.)Poetry/Writings (1200? – 500? B.C.)Poetry/Writings (1200? – 500? B.C.)New Testament Letters (48-70 A.D.)New Testament Letters (48-70 A.D.)Gospels (55? – 97? A.D.)Gospels (55? – 97? A.D.)History (Acts) (33 – 60 A.D.)History (Acts) (33 – 60 A.D.)Apocalypse (90? A.D.)Apocalypse (90? A.D.)

What Is the Bible?What Is the Bible?

A Collection of Writings:A Collection of Writings:– Penned by a Variety of Authors:Penned by a Variety of Authors:

Moses?Moses? Joshua?Joshua?Samuel?Samuel?DavidDavid IsaiahIsaiahMultiple ProphetsMultiple ProphetsCourt HistoriansCourt HistoriansPoets & DramatistsPoets & DramatistsFollowers of Jesus from many walks of lifeFollowers of Jesus from many walks of lifeFriends of Followers of JesusFriends of Followers of Jesus

What Is the Bible?What Is the Bible?

A Collection of Writings within and A Collection of Writings within and shaped by two specific religious shaped by two specific religious traditions:traditions:– The Nation of Israel (Hebrew Bible/Old The Nation of Israel (Hebrew Bible/Old

Testament)Testament)– The Christian Church (New Testament)The Christian Church (New Testament)

What Is the Bible?What Is the Bible?

A Collection of Writings within and A Collection of Writings within and shaped by two specific religious shaped by two specific religious traditions that purports to be Divine traditions that purports to be Divine RevelationRevelation

Worldview OptionsWorldview Options Closed System:Closed System:

– No external information or forcesNo external information or forces– Human life is accidental and holds no more meaning Human life is accidental and holds no more meaning

than any other objectthan any other object– Bible is a purely human productBible is a purely human product

Impersonal Intelligent Design:Impersonal Intelligent Design:– ““Life” & “Time” are the creative edge that shape Life” & “Time” are the creative edge that shape

existence in a closed systemexistence in a closed system– Human life is meaningful insofar as it plays out its role Human life is meaningful insofar as it plays out its role

and obeys “designed” purposesand obeys “designed” purposes– Bible is a record and reflection upon that designBible is a record and reflection upon that design

Creator/Creation Open System:Creator/Creation Open System:– Existence is planned and intended by GodExistence is planned and intended by God– Human life is honored, compromised, and redeemableHuman life is honored, compromised, and redeemable– Bible is part of the divine/human redemptive linkBible is part of the divine/human redemptive link

Two Problems in Biblical Two Problems in Biblical InterpretationInterpretation

Historical Problem:Historical Problem:– Incomplete Data for VerifiabilityIncomplete Data for Verifiability– Internal evidence of Literary Internal evidence of Literary

DevelopmentDevelopment Religious Problem:Religious Problem:

– How and what does God “reveal”How and what does God “reveal”

Scholarly Interpretive MethodsScholarly Interpretive Methods Source Criticism:Source Criticism:

– Trying to find and separate the distinctive Trying to find and separate the distinctive sources behind the current textsources behind the current text

Form Criticism:Form Criticism:– Trying to analyze the unique forms of literature Trying to analyze the unique forms of literature

and assess how they functionand assess how they function Redaction Criticism:Redaction Criticism:

– Trying to understand how and why the text Trying to understand how and why the text was edited into its final shapewas edited into its final shape

Literary Criticism:Literary Criticism:– Trying to understand how the text functions in Trying to understand how the text functions in

its current expressionits current expression

Religious ChoicesReligious Choices

““Revelation vs. History”Revelation vs. History”– Scripture as Scripture as TestimonyTestimony (Schleiermacher)(Schleiermacher)

– Scripture as Scripture as DoctrineDoctrine (Gerstner)(Gerstner)

– Scripture as Scripture as RecordRecord (Albright, Wright)(Albright, Wright)

– Scripture as Scripture as WitnessWitness (Barth)(Barth)

““Revelation as History”Revelation as History”– Scripture & Scripture & ProgressProgress (Wellhausen, Von Rad)(Wellhausen, Von Rad)

– Scripture & Scripture & ProcessProcess (Ogden, Ricoeur)(Ogden, Ricoeur)

““Revelation in History”Revelation in History”– Scripture as Scripture as Covenant DocumentsCovenant Documents