Form Criticism

Form criticism is a method used by biblical scholars to analyze and understand the different types of oral or written stories within the Bible. It seeks to identify the original settings and purposes of these stories, called "forms," by studying their style, context, and use. By doing this, scholars can better understand how these texts were shared and evolved over time before they were written down. Essentially, form criticism helps uncover the cultural and historical background of biblical passages, providing insight into their original meaning and function in ancient communities.