Form Criticism and Genre Theory

Abstract

It is argued that the generic structures employed in Biblical interpretation by the Form Criticism (FC) school in the early twentieth century have much in common with numerous modern theories of language proposed by such scholars as N. Fairclough (eg, 1992), G. Kress (1985), T. Threadgold (1986), M. A. K. Halliday (1985), & J. R. Martin (1992). A focus on texts as dynamic processes that reflect the ideological life of the community is identified as especially salient in FC & indicates a certain fraternity with contemporary theories. This argument is pursued in the context of a review of FC interpretations of several passages in both Old & New Testaments.