The Poetics of Biblical Narrative

by Robert W. Funk

A pioneering work that answers the question: What do we do when we tell a story? Using examples from the Bible and popular literature, Robert Funk examines the structure of stories to uncover the underlying grammar of the narrative. With extensive diagrams and comprehensive glossaries, this is an essential tool for anyone interested in reading and using biblical narrative.

318 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1988

About the author

Robert Walter Funk (July 18, 1926 – September 3, 2005), was an American biblical scholar, founder of the controversial Jesus Seminar and the non-profit Westar Institute in Santa Rosa, California. Funk, an academic, sought to promote research and education on what he called biblical literacy. His approach to hermeneutics was historical-critical, with a strongly sceptical view of orthodox Christian belief, particularly concerning historical Jesus. He and his peers described Jesus' parables as containing shocking messages that contradicted established religious attitudes.