Historical NarrativeHistorical Narrative

J. BrownJ. Brown

Historical NarrativeHistorical Narrative

A. Definition: History told forA. Definition: History told for theological purposestheological purposes

B. Goal: Holistic interpretation of B. Goal: Holistic interpretation of narratives for authorial point narratives for authorial point

of viewof view

Historical NarrativeHistorical Narrative

C. Dangers in Interpreting Biblical NarrativeC. Dangers in Interpreting Biblical Narrative

(1) Moralizing it: Ignoring the evaluative nature of narrative

(2) Allegorizing it: Giving story details central, semantic significance

(3) Atomize it: Chopping up the narrative into individual stories and treating them as unrelated to their contexts

(4) Historicize it: Never moving from the plot of the story to its meaning

D. Story/Discourse Levels of NarrativeD. Story/Discourse Levels of Narrative

(a) Story: Level of story’s action: plot, characters, and setting(a) Story: Level of story’s action: plot, characters, and setting

Themes Sequence of narrative Other rhetorical devices

RepetitionFraming (inclusio)

Point of View

(b) Discourse: Level of author’s communication with reader—Includes:

E. Some Guidelines for Interpreting E. Some Guidelines for Interpreting Historical Narrative Historical Narrative

(1) Analyze the plot and flow of the narrative(1) Analyze the plot and flow of the narrative(e.g., identify the climactic points of the story)(e.g., identify the climactic points of the story)

(2) Note structural and rhetorical and devices used.(2) Note structural and rhetorical and devices used.e.g. Genesis 2:15; 3:24 inclusio (and irony)e.g. Genesis 2:15; 3:24 inclusio (and irony)e.g. Acts 10-11 repetitione.g. Acts 10-11 repetition

(3) Pay close attention to what occurs in dialogue; can provide (3) Pay close attention to what occurs in dialogue; can provide climactic moments.climactic moments. e.g. Acts 16:30-31; Mark 4:41e.g. Acts 16:30-31; Mark 4:41

E. Some Guidelines for Interpreting E. Some Guidelines for Interpreting Historical NarrativeHistorical Narrative

(4) Note particularly what is spoken by the ‘authoritative (4) Note particularly what is spoken by the ‘authoritative speakers’ in the narrative. This provides clear indication of speakers’ in the narrative. This provides clear indication of point of view.point of view.

(5) Look for author’s comments (repeated (5) Look for author’s comments (repeated expressions; summaries, etc.). These signal expressions; summaries, etc.). These signal point of view more explicitly.point of view more explicitly.e.g., Acts 5:11; 6:7—Summariese.g., Acts 5:11; 6:7—Summaries

E. Some Guidelines for Interpreting E. Some Guidelines for Interpreting Historical NarrativeHistorical Narrative

(5) Using what you’ve observed, identify (5) Using what you’ve observed, identify significant themes in the narrative.significant themes in the narrative.e.g., Luke/Acts—“repent/repentance”e.g., Luke/Acts—“repent/repentance”

Matt—fulfillment of OT promiseMatt—fulfillment of OT promise Genesis—protection of the covenant peopleGenesis—protection of the covenant people

(6) Be sure you are bringing original social contexts to bear in your interpretation.

• “Worldviews, and the stories which characterize them, are in principle normative: that is, they claim to make sense of the whole of reality” (Wright, NTPG, 41).

• Biblical narrative contributes substantially to a biblical theology. We must take seriously the witness of narrative books of the Bible in our theological construction.

F. Narrative as Normative and TheologicalF. Narrative as Normative and Theological