Hermann Gunkel

Hermann Gunkel was a pioneering biblical scholar from the early 20th century who studied the Hebrew Bible, especially its oral storytelling traditions. He believed that many biblical texts originated from ancient, oral storytelling performances that were later written down. Gunkel developed methods to analyze these stories by examining their literary forms, themes, and functions within the community. His work helped illuminate how biblical texts reflect the beliefs, values, and history of ancient Israel, making him a foundational figure in modern biblical criticism and literary analysis of sacred texts.