FORM CRITICISM These notes have been compiled from

FORM CRITICISM These notes have been compiled from Introduction to the New Testament, 1992, by Raymond F. Collins

GENERAL DEFINITION • Form criticism is “an analysis of the typical forms by means of which human experience is verbally expressed. ” • The German term for Form Criticism is literally translated as “History of the Form. ”

• Hermann Gunkel, the father of Form Criticism, called it “Research into literary Types. ” • Martin Dibelius named it Form Criticism. • Gunkel fathered the methodology, and Dibelius Christianized it. • “Form Criticism considers that each of the books of the New Testament is an expression of human experience with its own history”. • The NT writings are influenced by human laws of communication.

PRESUPPOSITIONS OF FORM CRITICISM 1. All human communication, orally or in writing, follow well defined patterns. 2. Most of the times, human beings follow these laws or patterns unconsciously. • For example, telling a joke, or folk story, or writing a letter. 3. Circumstances in which we write and the purpose of writing dictate the form of the letter.

EXAMPLE: NEWSPAPER • One adjusts to the literary form used in different sections of the newspaper in order to appreciate its meaning. • The ability to identify literary forms of the newspaper determines the following: 1. The reader’s expectations as to the content. 2. The reader’s attitude to the content. 3. The reader’s understanding of the words used.

THE WRITER’S TASK 1. The writer must write according to an agreed literary genre. 2. The writer may not write certain things that might confuse the reader. 3. The write must use an acceptable vocabulary so that what is written can be clearly understood. 4. Proper sequence of presentation must be done. 5. The same information can be presented differently without it losing its purpose.

TASKS OF FORM CRITICISM 1. Identifying the periscopes/literary forms/genres. 2. Analyzing literary forms. 3. Grouping these periscopes according to their literary types.

4. Relating the periscope to its sitz-im-Leben (setting in life). 5. Studying the tradition history of the periscope. 6. Determining the purpose of the author. • Form Criticism has been used to analyze the Synoptic Gospels. • Leading scholars in that area are: Karl Ludwig Schmidt, Martin Dibelius, Rudolf Bultmann.

MARTIN DIBELIUS • He identified five literary forms, each corresponding to the life situation of the early church. 1. PARADIGMS 2. TALES (MIRACLES STORIES) 3. LEGENDS 4. MYTHS 5. EXHORTATIONS

1. PARADIGMS • These are brief stories culminating in a striking statement made by, or about Jesus. • Paradigms originated in the preaching of Jesus. • The stories end with a striking statement, and has little descriptive information. • The early Christians retained the bare essentials. • Martin identified eight paradigms.

EXAMPLE • Healing of the paralytic (Mark 2: 1 -12). • The question about fasting (Mark 2: 18 -19). • Plucking grain on the Sabbath (Mark 2: 23 -28). • The man with the withered hand (Mark 3: 1 -6). • The relatives of Jesus (Mark 3: 20 -21). • Jesus blessing the children (Mark 10: 13 -16). • On paying tribute to Caesar (Mark 12: 13 -17). • The anointing at Bethany (Mark 14: 3 -9).

2. TALES (MIRACLES STORIES) • These stories had details added to them by the early church. • Storytellers who added flesh to these stories were influenced by miracle stories of the Greek gods. • The stories were intended to convince people that Jesus was superior to Greek gods and because of that fact they had to convert to Christianity.

3. LEGENDS • These are fabricated stories intended to glorify the person they describe, rather than reporting any factual information about the person. • One example is that of the lives of saints. • The virgin birth of Jesus, might be one example.

4. MYTHS • These involve supernatural personalities or events in Jesus’ life, for instance, Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration.

5. EXHORTATIONS • These involve the teaching containing in the NT. • This teaching was used to instruct converts in the early church.

INSIGHTS FROM FORM CRITICISM 1. It helped people to understand books such as Revelations/Apocalypse. 2. It helped readers to understand certain Gospel passages, for example, the genealogy of Jesus.