A method of biblical analysis that studies the original oral forms and social contexts of biblical materials before they were written down. It examines how different literary forms (parables, hymns, legal codes) functioned in the life of ancient communities.
Translated from German 'Formgeschichte' (form-history), developed by scholars like Hermann Gunkel in the early 20th century. The method emerged from recognition that biblical texts preserve oral traditions that served specific functions in ancient Israel and early Christian communities before being incorporated into written documents.
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