Narrative Most common type of Literature in the Bible 40 % of OT (Genesis; Joshua; Judges; Ruth; 1 & 2 Sam; 1 & 2 Kgs; 1 & 2 Chron; Ezra; Neh.; Dan.; Jonah; Haggai--+ parts; NT- Gospels; Acts)
Hebrew narrative Reason& Character of Hebrew narrative read OT poorly; problems Spiritual History Promises Israel our historical promises and calling!! Invariably read into rather than out of text
Hebrew narrative Narratives are stories historical events providing meaning to present Holy Spirit delivered; therefore God s story! Ours because God has given it to us
Hebrew narrative 3 parts characters (protagonist/ antagonist) ; plot; resolution Bible-God is the protagonist/ Satan antagonist Bible-Plot God created people in his image Bible-Resolution is redemption plan
Hebrew narrative 3 levels of narratives 3 rd Cosmic battle (story of redemption) 2 nd - God redeeming people for his name- 1 st covenant 1 st - 100s of stories (narratives) make up the Hebrew Narrative (2 nd / 3 rd )
Hebrew narrative Hierarchy of narrative Jesus (Jn 5:39); atonement, etc.
Hebrew narrative Narratives are not---- OT not allegorical Not intended to teach moral lessons!!!! Implicit teaching (2 Sam 11); Ex 20:14 explicit
Hebrew narrative Distinctive features- Joseph Gn 37-50 (minus 38; genealogy 46:8-27; 49:1-28) Longest single-focused narrative in the Bible (Waltke s commentary)
Hebrew narrative Narrator s role chooses what to say omniscient w/o sharing everything; expects reader to be involved point of view Lord was with Joseph (Gn 39: 2,3,21, etc.); or 50:20
Hebrew narrative-character Scene-Hebrew narrative is scenic not character oriented; series of scenes (37) Characters central characterization minimally physical; but Judg 3:15 (Ehud s left-handed); Why!!! Status, relationships more crucial Characters contrast or parallel Joseph/brothers 37 leads 42-45; Parallel 2 nd level Jn Bapt reenactment w/ Elijah (Lk 1 &2) Characterization predominate w/ words/actions
Hebrew narrative-character Joseph character develops from negative to positive w/o narration!(39, Potiphar s wife); brothers firm/ love (42-45) Judah- argues for selling (37); moral life questioned (38) assume 1 st born rts (49) Kg will come from his line; motif of younger (38) Narrator interest in moral change 42-45
Hebrew narrative-dialogue Crucial feature, method of characterization 1 st point of dialogue clue-gen37:5-11 arrogance & rule us Gn 50:18! Father kept to himself reader do likewise (37:11)!!!! Contrast dialogue defines characterization Joseph s long answer vs Potiphar s wife (39:8-9; 7)
Hebrew narrative-dialogue Contrast issues speeches Judah/Joseph 44:18-34 & 45:4-13 Plot resolution Narrator emphasizes crucial parts by repeating or summarizing thru character(s)- speeches w/brothers (42:30-34) Judah (44: 18-34) Repetitions important a point is being made
Hebrew narrative-plot Narrative plot & plot resolution complex Joseph or simple Tamar (Gn 38) Hebrew plots move more quickly; if paced slowed, reason point of view Structure- features designed for hearers ; not readers
Hebrew narrative-structure Repetition-key words ( brother - chpt 37 15x s); hated (37:4,5,8); cycles of Judges-stereotyped patterns or intro s of kgs; form of resumption Inclusion- form of repetition- repetition begins and end similarly, bothers bowing 37:6-8/ 50:18 Chiasm-ABCBA pattern; Bk of Deut. written in this pattern Foreshadowing- briefly noted births of Perez & Zerah 38:27-30 & genealogy 46:12
Hebrew narrative God is the ultimate character- Lord w/ Joseph (39:2); interpretations belong to God (40:8); God sent me to deliver (45:7); God intended good (50:20); God will come for your aid (50:24, repeat of 25); foreshadows Ex 13:19/ Joshua 24:32 God s presence- Joseph 37; timing of Joseph, brothers, and Midianites 37:25-28
Hebrew narrative- Ruth Ruth implicit; excellent text/ narrative; brief/ self contained Not love story!!!!!!!!! Story of God s kindness 1 st pt. of dialogue 1:8; 2:20; 3:10 Plot- 3 People; subplots-foreigner royal lineage of David Implicit teaching clearly there; not stated not hidden but implicit Read out; not into text
Hebrew narrative-ruth Ruth converted to faith in God of Israel (1:16) 1 st point of Dialogue not explicit 1:17! Original listeners understood without question Boaz righteous when other were not 2:3-13, 22; 3:10-12; 4:9-10 using dialogue! Kept law despite those around him; law of gleaning Lev 19:9-10; Ruth both poor/ foreigner + widower; law of redemption Lev 25:23-24; Crucially implicit- not all Israelites were dedicated to righteousness- 2:22; lots of info implicit not explicit!!!!!
Hebrew narrative-ruth Implicit: Foreign woman belongs to the ancestry of Kg David; extension Jesus (4:17-21) Genealogy begins / end with David v17/ v 18-21 David focus other Biblical refer s lists David Kg; NT genealogies Jesus descendent of David, David s great-grma; Key to entire narrative all implicit!!! Not the explicit love story of Ruth/ Boaz but implicit plan of God
Hebrew narrative-ruth Implicit- Bethlehem exceptional during Judge period WHY???
Hebrew narrative-ruth Judges 1250-1030 BC Idolatry, immorality, etc, etc., Except 2:22; everything else is as God would desire; people expect laws to be followed in Bethlehem Naomi- bitter times( 1:8, 9, 13, 20-21) or happiness (1:6, 2:19-20) events follows God Bethlehemite! All Bethlehemites except Ruth/ Orpah; Boaz- (2:11-12; 3:10, 13) Greet each other 2:4; Elders marriage recognition 4:11-12; women Naomi 4:14
Hebrew narrative-ruth Narrative carefully read w/ Judges Bethlehem exceptional But no where does the narrative say Bethlehem was a town remarkable for it s piety in those days. But that what the narrative tells implicitly! Implicitly does not mean secret
Hebrew narrative-ruth Implicit is understandable find the meaning; not hidden; not mystical; not superior knowledge Not a new story-- 2 nd Pet 2:3!!!
Hebrew narratives Thoughts errors of Interpretations Allegorizing don t reflect text, looking for meaning in it not out of it Decontextualizing-ignoring historical/ literary contexts; short readings ; take it out of context, then scripture can say whatever!!!!!!! Selectivity-picking / choosing w/o listening the whole
Hebrew narratives Thoughts more errors of Interpretations Moralizing- principles for living derived from all scripture-what moral from story. Examplehandling adversity from slavery in Egypt wrong? Yes, why?
Hebrew narratives Thoughts errors of Interpretations Fallacy written as progress of God s history of redemption, not to illustrate principles; historical narratives, not illustrative narratives!!!!!!!!!!!
Hebrew narratives Thoughts more errors of Interpretations Personalizing- individualizing: reading as if all scripture written to me rather than for me! Balaam (Num 22) talk too much, true but not from this narrative; temple, build a new building, maybe but not from 2 Kgs 8 Misappropriation appropriate text foreign to the biblical narrative; Judges 6:36-40 fleecing God for info!!!real Point despite Gideon s doubt/ distrust God s word; God accomplished task
Hebrew narratives Thoughts more errors of Interpretations False Appropriation form of decontextualizing; implementing contemporary issues into scripture David / Jonathan homosexuality 1 Sam 20:17, 41; actual love is covenantal likened to God s love 20:14, 42 False combination-here/ there from a passage making point out of combination not in text example David capturing Jerusalem 2 Sam 5:6-7; recapturing city since Judges 1:8, Joshua thru 2 Kgs Israelites had already captured. Narrator/ audience knew 2 Jerusalems!!!!! Greater Jerusalem; David- Zion Jerusalem Gen 15:18-21
Hebrew narratives Caution No Bible narrative was written about us; Joseph was for Joseph how God was working thru him; Ruth glorifies God s protection for Ruth and Bethlehemites not us!! What God commands Christians do! Narratives portrays God s involvement in the world; illustrate his principles but not necessarily systematic personal ethics
Hebrew narratives: Principles for Interpreting OT narratives normally does not directly teach doctrine OT narrative illustrates doctrine taught elsewhere Narratives record what occurred not should have, what ought to happen I every case not necessarily moral application Characters do not necessarily desirable, definitely not always a good example for us Characters far from perfect, nor are their actions always good
Hebrew narratives: Principles for Interpreting Endings not complete not always informed as to good or bad; judgment must based on God s teaching elsewhere categorically clearer Narratives selective/incomplete- Jn 21:25; told what Holy Spirit wanted-don t add Narratives not written to satisfy/ answer our theological questions Narratives may teach either explicitly or implicitly Finally God hero of all biblical narratives