Question 4

Form Criticism and its relationship with Sitz im Leben

-developed by German biblical scholar Hermann Gunkel -2 parts: -1)identifies the form/genre of a literary unit -2)determines its Sitz im Leben - the original social setting and purpose of it within the context of that time period -helps us fully understand the Bible as a compilation of several different types of genres of literature

Example 2 -Genesis 2: 14

-structure: narrative account of the origin of a peculiar phenomenon - explains why snakes crawl on their belly and eat dust original Sitz im Leben: popular wisdom

Example 1 - Casuistic Law, Exodus 21: 1-6

-structure: protasis (if...) followed by apodasis (then...) -Sitz im Leben: used in a court of law