Notes on "Cracking Old Testament Codes" {1,093 words}

1. Name and discuss the three levels of written context. Immediate context describes the role of the word or phrase in the whole sentence. Literary forms considers how the statements are expressed, such as praise, proclaimation, predicting, or telling. Distant context (or theological context) examines the whole context of the writing.

2. What are the three marks of literary form (or genre)? Form (or structure), content, and function (or intentionality). Form or structure often determine genre immediately, as with narrative and poetry. Lament poetry has a standard form. Understanding content is part of understanding genre. Function tells how the text is intended to function. A different function usually means a different genre. Function is very different from form or content.

3. Name the ten genre of the Old Testament (as discussed in this book). Narrative, History, Law, Oracles of Salvation, Announcements of Judgment, Apocalyptic, Lament Poetry, Praise Poetry, Proverb wisdom, non-Proverb wisdom.

4. Is Genreless communication possible? Text has form, content, and function. Each genre has its rules and conventions, even though none of them are too rigid. Even the simplest verbal or nonverbal expression has a genre. Regardless of the sophistication of a society's language, all communication has the rules and conventions of genre. Therefore, there is not any genreless communication.

5. Discuss the rules for interpreting genre type 1. For narrative, (1) identify each scene, (2) analyze the plot, (3) determine the point of view, (4) closely follow the details of the scene, (5) examine the author's dialogue, (6) look at the units within the scene and their relationships to each other, and (7) study the author's use of stylistic devices..

6. Discuss the rules for interpreting genre type 2. For historical, (1) determine the scope of the historical narration, (2) note that the historical record is only a record, not the event, (3) look for author'specific purpose, (4) look for implicit meanings, (5) know that the past is not always prescriptive for the future, (6) let the history be support for the main story, and (7) do not always expect doctrinal or devotional value.

7. Discuss the rules for interpreting genre type 3. For law, (1) observe the context within the canon, (2) note the style of the law, (3) examine the grammar of the law, (4) compare laws in the biblical text with one another, (5) look for parallels with ancient near eastern literature, and (6) try to understand the meaning of words, phrases, clauses, sentences, and pargraphs.

8. Discuss the rules for interpreting genre type 4. For oracles of salvation, (1) be sensitive to the prophetic imagery, (2) relate the assurances of God's promises and blessings to other similar statements (particularly for creation, Abraham, Moses, and David), (3) examine the dual backgrounds of the exile and restoration, (4) interpret the prophetic oracles from the perspective of transformation, (5) understand the fulfillment of oracles as a process, (6) try to understand what response the prophet was seeking, and (7) look for the complete fulfillment with the coming of Jesus.

9. Discuss the rules for interpreting genre type 5. For announcements of judgment, (1) note the specific historic situation, (2) look for evidence of an ungodly lifestyle, (3) note the response to the announcement, (4) note that change in the people was not to benefit the speaker or congregation, (5) note the automatic judgment on the hearers, (6) note that the announcement does not trap God, and (7) note that the announcement is only the introductory part of the prophetic message.

10. Note the differences between prophesy and apocalypse. (1) sin - prophesy laments sin and urges repentance, apocalypse considers the wickedness to be beyond hope; (2) unhappy - prophesy reveals God unhappy with sin, apocalypse assumes that the readers are unhappy, too; (3) perseverence - prophesy calls people of God to obedience, apocalypse encourages the remnant to persevere; (4) announces judgment - prophesy is by people or natural means, apocalypse is by God; (5) from God - prophesy is directly from God, apocalypse is graphic images, visions, and symbols; and (6) final solutions - prophesy deals with God's judgment and salvation, apocalypse focuses on final solutions.

11. Discuss the rules for interpreting genre type 6. For apocalyptic, (1) consider ancient apocalyptic ways, (2) read it in view of context of crisis, (3) do not look for things that are not there, (4) expect metaphorical language, (5) do not try to identify something significant in every detail, (6) keep options open for how things will be fulfilled, (7) seek to understand the main point of the text, and (8) appreciate the full and rich symbolism.

12. Discuss the rules for interpreting genre type 7. For lament poetry, (1) read the lament in its literary and historical context, (2) apply the conventions of ancient Semitic poetry to lament, (3) try to discover the reason for the lament, (4) explore the theological teaching of the lament, and (5) reflect on the lament's appeal to our will and emotions.

13. What are descriptive and declarative praise? Descriptive praise is praising God for Who He is, and declarative praise is praising Him for what He has done.

14. Discuss the rules for interpreting genre type 8. For praise poetry, (1) examine the parallelism (synonymous, antithetical, and synthetical), (2) allow for figurative language, (3) try to discover the historical occasion, (4) determine the type of psalm, and (5) identify timeless spiritual principles that are valid and applicable to all people in the same or similar circumstance.

15. Discuss the rules for interpreting genre type 9. For proverb wisdom, (1) accept a proverb for what it is, (2) look for verifying examples and counter-examples, (3) recognize the use of poetry, (4) look for pairs and strings of proverbs, (5) look for evidence of the setting, (6) examine the proverb itself, and (7) identify the specific value that the proverb is communicating.

16. Discuss the macro principles for interpreting genre type 10. For non-proverbial wisdom, (1) identify the specific subgenre(s) and/or speech forms, (2) note the distinction between proverb and law, (3) always interpret a portion of wisdom scripture in light of all wisdom tradition, (4) recognize that non-proverbial wisdom tends to be contradictory or reflexive in nature, (5) expect figurative language, and (6) heed to admonition to practice wisdom as a way to demonstrate understanding.

17. Discuss the rules for interpreting genre type 10. For non-proverbial wisdom, (1) determine the poetic quality, (2) look for rhetorical features and devices, (3) identify figurative speech, and (4) identify extended figures of speech.

				Tom of Bethany

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