The Study of Biblical Narrative

Currently, biblical narrative is the subject of great interest within biblical scholarship. The study of biblical narrative falls under the field of literary criticism or poetics. Within that field, many scholars who study biblical narrative use the tools of narrative criticism. “Narrative criticism” is an expression unique to biblical studies; outside biblical studies, scholars who study literary narratives use the tools of narratology. Narratology and narrative criticism focus on how the story is told and constructed, how the elements within the story work together to create the story, and how readers receive the story.

Narratives occur throughout the Bible: Most of the Pentateuch, the Historical Books of the Old Testament, parts of the Wisdom literature, parts of the Major Prophets, Jonah, the Gospels, Acts, and parts of Revelation are narratives. Non-narrative biblical passages include parts of the Wisdom literature such as Psalms and Proverbs, the oracles of the Minor Prophets, and the letters of the New Testament. Sometimes narratives even exist within other narratives, such as with dreams and parables.