Yale University Library Research Guides: New Testament Studies: Literary Criticism

Classic Studies

Literary Criticism of the New Testament by William A. Beardslee Looks at the New Testament as unselfconscious popular literature and attempting to understand its aesthetic structure and force.
Literary Criticism for New Testament Critics by Norman R. Petersen Utilizing Mark and Luke-Acts as case studies, it moves beyond redaction criticism to show both the necessity and the possibility for literary criticism to be an integral part of the historical-critical study of biblical writings.

Literary Theories and the New Testament

New Testament Interpretation Through Rhetorical Criticism by George A. Kennedy Based on the theory and practice of Greek rhetoric in the New Testament, uncovers rhetorical conventions. Rhetorical criticism focuses on the text as we have it and seeks to discover the basis of its powerful appeal and the intent of its authors.
What Is Narrative Criticism? by Mark A. Powell Nontechnical description of the principles and procedures of narrative criticism. For students' and pastors' use in their own exegesis. Defines terms and principle elements of narrative. Ends with theoretical evaluation.

Narrative Criticism

Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel: A Study in Literary Design by R. Alan Culpepper Looks at John through the lens of secular literary criticism. Not reading the gospel looking for particular kinds of historical evidence, but for understanding the gospel as a narrative text, what it is, and how it works.