Literary forms in the Gospels

Narratives…• ‘A narrative text tells an imaginative story

although some narratives may be based on fact.’ First Steps

• Purpose is to entertain, explain and/or teach • Structure: Orientation

Series of events Complication Resolution Coda (optional)

Narratives…• Features

Characters with defined identitiesWritten in present tenseDialogueUsually in the third person Many action verbsLinking words to do with timeMostly statement sentences

Specific Narrative forms…

Call Story• A specific narrative type which follows a

typical structure– People involved in ordinary activity– Jesus approaches, initiates– ‘Follow me’ invitation– Need to leave something behind

Call Story• Lk 5:1-11, 5:27-39

Summary• A narrative designed to summarise, in

allegorical form, what is to come– They anticipate – They encapsulate

Summary• The Boy Jesus in the Temple Lk 2: 41-52• The rejection at Nazareth Lk 4:21-30• Parable of the Sower Lk 8:4-8 (+11-15)

Miracles• Traditionally defined as an event which departs

from the fixed or natural order of events. • Miracles stories include healing stories and nature

stories.

Miracles• Predictable Structure

– Setting– Cure– Result

Miracles• Cleansing of the lepers Lk 17:11-19• Feeding of the 5000 Lk 9:10-17• Miraculous catch of fish Lk 5:1-11

Parable or mashal• A short story with emotive or moral

significance which initiates a comparison. Based on the literary device simile (like, as) or metaphor.

• Have a sense of fable or allegory about them. • Since 19th Century three types of parables

have been classified: the parable proper;the similitude, the example story.

The Parable Proper• There are 16 proper parables in the gospels

– Typically begin ‘There was rich man…a certain debtor.In Matthew’s gospel they generally begin by stating the explicit comparison. ‘The kingdom of heaven is like… (Mt 13)

– One off stories; longer; detailed– Not an actual event but still plausible– ‘Once upon a time stories’ Past tense

The Parable Proper– ‘There was rich man…’ Lk 16:1– ‘A certain debtor had…’Lk 7:41– ‘A sower went out to sow…’ Lk 8:5 (Mk 4:3,

Mt 13:3) – In a certain city Lk 18:1-8, (Mt 21:28-30)

The Example Story• There are 4 example stories in the Gospels

– Compares an event with a moral or religious ethic

– Gives one example to illustrate a general principal

The Example Story– The Good Samaritan Lk 10:29-37 – The Rich Fool Lk 12:16-21 – The rich man and Lazarus Lk 16:19-31 – The Pharisee and Tax Collector Lk 18:9-14

The Similitude• There are 12 Similitudes in the gospel

– Typically begins ‘Which of you….’– Regular, everyday story; typical experience – Recognised as true – Present tense– Concise

The Similitude– ‘Which of you…’ Lk 15:5; 14:28, 31 – ‘What woman…’Lk 15:8 – ‘What King…’ Lk14:31

Midrash• Midrash, from the root darash – to enquire – is the

process through which meaning other than the literal is found for a passage.

• Because much in scripture is unexplained, Midrash is one branch of oral law, although it has now been collected into written form.

• Midrash began with the earliest prophets, was offered by the Rabbis of Jesus’ times and continues now.

Midrash• Midrash Halakah explains the law; midrash

aggadah interprets the remainder of Scripture.• Midrash aggadah includes theology, ethical

teaching, exhortation, popular philosophy, imaginative exposition, legend, allegory and animal fables.

• Midrash observes typological patterns, verbal echoes, rythmns of repetition and obvious inconsistencies or absences in the text.

Midrash• Infancy narrative

Literary forms that are NOT narratives

Sayings• Genre of wise sayings…

– Common in antiquity– Belong to the Wisdom tradition– Genre fell into disuse by the end of the 1st

century

The sayings of Jesus

• The question is, what did Jesus really say?

• What has been ascribed to him but which in fact stems from the early church?

• What was put on his lips by authors and editors?

The sayings of Jesus

• The sayings of Jesus Lk 17: 5-10

Legal language• Classical legal Greek • Reads as formal language:

– Intent– Method– Assurance of accuracy

Legal language• The Prologue Lk 1:1-4

Speech• A rhetorical device in which the author puts

into the mouth of the character:– what they imagine they would have said or

thought– what they want the hearer to hear

• They have an interpretive value • Common in Greco-Roman world

Speech• Of Mary Lk 1:46-55• Of Zechariah Lk 1:68-79• Of Simeon Lk 2:29-32

A word about truth• There are many types of truth

‘legal truth’ – proof; verified; CSI truth…truth of science and maths; ‘relative truth’ – date; temperature;

circumstances ‘experiential interpreted truth’

• The Bible is experienced and interpreted truth.