Questions tagged [literary-criticism]

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18 votes
4 answers
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In the Gospel of Mark, why does Jesus heal this blind man twice?

There’s this episode in Mark’s gospel which is particularly puzzling. Here it is in chapter 8: 22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He ...
Matthew Miller's user avatar
14 votes
3 answers
3k views

How is genre determined?

If you take a hermeneutics course at your local Bible College or Seminary, or pick up a (modern) book on Biblical hermeneutics, it is likely that the topic of genre would take center stage in the ...
Jas 3.1's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
396 views

How is literary dependence or relationship established?

I see many claims that texts are related to or dependent upon each other in many publications. For example: Although Paul did not write Hebrews, the text possesses a crucially important ...
swasheck's user avatar
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9 votes
6 answers
6k views

Why is the genealogy of Moses placed in the middle of his life story?

The placement of the genealogy of Moses and Aaron, beginning at Exodus 6:14, appears to be a bit odd at first glance. One might expect it to be placed at Moses' birth or maybe his death, but instead ...
ThaddeusB's user avatar
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8 votes
10 answers
29k views

What significance does John perceive in the piercing of Christ's side and the flow of blood and water?

The piercing of Christ side and the flow of blood and water (John 19:34) are unique to John’s gospel and it’s clear from the testimony which follows it ( 19:35) the author sees in them a real ...
Matthew Miller's user avatar
5 votes
10 answers
28k views

In Matthew 20:23 and Mark 10:40 for whom have the right and left hand of Jesus been prepared?

Mark records the following, 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?”...
Matthew Miller's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
247 views

Why does John interweave the stories of Jesus' questioning and Peter's denial?

In John 18, the author weaves together an account of Peter's denial and a questioning of Jesus before Annas. It's very well done and seems rather more complex from a literary standpoint. But what does ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
318 views

How is Deuteronomy 22:6-7 relevant to the context surrounding it?

Deuteronomy records a lengthy exhortation by Moses to the second-generation post-exodus Israelites, in which he repeatedly urges them to love and obey God, love others, and not fall into idolatry. ...
Jas 3.1's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
4k views

In Genesis 9:20-24 why is Ham, the second born, referred to as the "younger son"?

Genesis 9:20-24 NKJV And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the ...
user20490's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
755 views

What's the significance of the omission of Moses' wife and sons in the genealogy in Exodus 6?

Moses' wife and sons are omitted from the genealogy, whereas Aaron's wife, sons and grandson are all included. What is the significance of this? Related but different question on the genealogy here - ...
whiskey92's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
4k views

Why does everyone in John misunderstand Jesus?

Jesus seems to be misunderstood pretty consistently throughout the Gospel According to John: John 2:19-20 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” They ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
698 views

Is it a mark against Esau that he is a hunter?

In Genesis 25:27 we are told of Esau that he was a skillful hunter, which is contrasted with the character of Jacob: When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
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2 votes
4 answers
292 views

Nature, tone, speakers & audiences of the Isaiah 8:5-10 bible passage

Isaiah 8:5-12 New American Standard Bible 1995 5 Again the Lord spoke to me further, saying, 6 “Inasmuch as these people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah And rejoice in Rezin and the ...
user1338998's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
295 views

What does the verbal connection between Joseph's coat and Judah's signet indicate?

I was listening to Genesis 37-38 the other day and there was a striking verbal parallel between the narrative in which Joseph's brothers sell him and deceive their father Jacob and the narrative in ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
87 views

are remnants(leftovers) in Isaiah 17:4-6 symbolic of the Godly remnant of Israelites who are mercifully, compassionately & graciously spared by God?

Sorry, I might just be asking the obvious. Isaiah 17:3-7 New American Standard Bible 1995 3 “The [a]fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, And [b]sovereignty from Damascus And the remnant of ...
user1338998's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
70 views

Why is the frequency of the "Lord of Hosts" greater in the post-exilic prophets than in any other OT text?

While preparing a sermon on Haggai 2 this week, I realized that the designation "Lord of Hosts" occurs 0 times in the Torah, makes up less than a fraction of a percentage of text of the ...
Daniel Ockrin's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
146 views

Was Matthew written based on Paul's first letter to the Corinthians?

There's many allusions to the teaching of Paul as recorded in his first letter to the Corinthians in the gospel of Matthew. There's a passage in the sermon on the mount which seems to come from the ...
Paul George's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
35 views

Viewing (Isaiah 8:5-12) as modern day's Christian journaling of Godly Revelations & Personal Declaration

(Closely related Posting: Nature, tone, speakers & audiences of the Isaiah 8:5-10 bible passage ) This is just a theory. If you think about some ministries like Mark Virkler's ministries ( https:...
user1338998's user avatar
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-2 votes
1 answer
112 views

Numbers 21:8 - real fiery serpent or manufactured?

Numbers 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he seeth it, shall live.' ח וַיֹּאמֶר ...
The Freemason's user avatar