Introduction to Genesis

Bruce Waltke teaches a brief introduction to Genesis, including its historical context, themes, and how it relates to the Biblical narrative.

Literary Criticism and Theology

• Explanation of poetics and narrative criticism
• Distinction between story and discourse
• Representational art in narratives

Narrative Criticism

• Definition and application of narrative criticism
• Event vs. discourse in narratives
• Examples from biblical texts (Joshua, Judges)

Historical and Narrative Criticism

• Distinction between historical and narrative criticism
• Fictional elements in biblical narratives
• Example of Nathan's parable

Authors and Audiences

• Real author vs. implied author
• Importance of understanding the implied author’s theology
• Real audience vs. implied audience
• Covenant community as the intended audience

Prophetic and Theological Perspectives

• The narrator as a prophet
• The omniscience of the narrator
• Inspiration and historical accuracy

Interpretation and Hermeneutics

• Importance of grammatical-historical interpretation
• Stable and unstable irony
• Deconstruction and reinterpretation of biblical texts

The Canon and its Structure

• Development of the biblical canon
• Thematic connections across different books (e.g., Pentateuch, prophetic literature)

Characterization and Narrative Techniques

• Techniques for understanding characters in narratives
• Scenic depictions and their significance
• Foreshadowing and plot development

Application of Narrative Theology

• Techniques for deriving theology from narratives
• Practical examples and case studies

Conclusion

• Summary of key points
• Encouragement to apply learned techniques in further studies

*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.