TEXT in Context

Employing the Historical Critical Method for the Study of the Gospels
a. Preliminary Study 1. Situate the Text Where is the passage found? Identify in which part of the gospel the pericope is found. This presupposes your knowledge of the OUTLINE of the gospel. Just locating the text can hint at meaning: e.g. miracle section. 2. Delimit the Text What exactly am I talking about? Gospel passages usually had a life of their own before they were incorporated into the Gospel text. Delimiting the text shows that the pericope is a unit distinct from other units. Indicators which can help to delimit the text are: 1) time; 2) place; 3) characters; 4) topic / theme; 5) form; 6) characteristic words. 3. Basic Grammatical Analysis Make a grammatical and syntactical investigation into the original greek text. As an aid, use Zerwick M. and M. Grosvenor, A Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament (Biblical Institute Press, Rome 1981); and Zerwick M., Biblical Greek (trans. J. Smith; Rome4 1963). When using only English translations, compare the translations of the same text by several bibles. Note the differences. Determine the reason(s) behind the selection made. What translation of the pericope do you propose? B. Applying the Historical Critical Method 5. Textual Criticism: How reliable is the text (of the Bible) you are using? Textual Criticism is best done using the original languagein this case, Greek. A ready tool is: K. Aland, Synopsis of the Four Gospels. Stuttgart: German Bible Society, 1989. To do it in English, proceed as follows: compare the pericope as found in two or three English versions (NRSV, NABR, NJB). Note their significant differences and similarities. Refer to standard commentaries. Some find it useful to make their own translation of the pericope. 6. Source Criticism: Where did the evangelist get his ideas (or traditions)? What written documents did he use as sources? Matthew could have copied from Mark, or special-M, or Q. John may have had a Sayings source or a Signs source. Parable could have been copied from Egyptian or other eastern tales.
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7. History of the Traditions: this studies how the pericope was passed on (lat. traho, ere) from oral tradition until written text. 8. Form Criticism: What genre (dzuhn-rah) or literary type was used to transmit the pericope? The genre can be identified through its elements, or its form. The identification of the genre and its form contributes for the analysis of: (a) Sitz im Leben; (b) outline (see below). Sitz im Leben - What was the situation in life or life/situational context which gave rise to the formulation, proclamation and preservation of this pericope? What were the communitys problems? Why was this important for them? Outline - Does the pericope betray any organized outline? How does this affect its meaning? 9. Redaction Criticism: Redaction refers to the editing process. It can apply to the evangelist in how he used his sources, and to possible later redactors who had reworked on original text (e.g. Gospel of Mark). When the comparison is to the Synoptic Gospels among themselves, this is called Synoptic Criticism: Compare and contrast the pericope with its synoptic parallels. Which unit preserves the more original tradition? Why? What are the omissions and additions selected by your evangelist? Why did he do this? Redaction criticism is particularly useful in revealing the evangelists purpose and theology. 10. Historical Criticism: Did it actually (factually) happen? The ancients did not share the obsession of factual history, we have. For them, it was the meaning of an event which was important. That said, historical criticism analysesdid this actually happen in the life of Jesus? Or, if a sayingdid Jesus actually say this? Or is the pericope only a later formulation of the Church or the evangelist? Indicators of "historicity" are: 1) multiple attestation; 2) uniqueness; 3) Palestinian coloring. 11. A Study of Words and Images: Which word(s) and images prove to be significant or crucial to the understanding of the pericope. Deepen your understanding of those images which can contribute to a better analysis of the pericope. 12. Preliminary Meaning of the Pericope: In a simple paragraph, summarize your understanding of the pericope, so far.

C. THE TEXT IN CONTEXT In a limited way, this is a canonical approach in reading the pericope, i.e. reading it in its context in the Gospel. A concordance can be useful in determining certain words and images in a particular Gospel. 13. Immediate Context: the pericope is referred to the texts immediately before and immediately after it. How do those two texts affect the interpretation of the pericope? How does the pericope contribute meaning to the texts before and after it? 14. Particular Context: the pericope is understood within its particular section, e.g. Sermon on the Mount (Matt 57); Miracle Section (Matt 89); Way of Discipleship (Mark 8:2710:52); Passion Narratives. How do the other passages in the section clarify meaning regarding the pericope? What meaning does the pericope contribute to understanding its section? How does the pericope further the movement of the story and the sections theology? 15. General Context: this refers to the book orin this casethe Gospel as a whole. How do other narratives and passages in the Gospel affect the interpretation of this pericope? How does the pericope function in the Gospels story and how does it clarify its theology?

(3) Compare and contrast the elements of the Gospel Reading with those of the First Reading. These may be found to be: similar or identical: the Gospel and First Reading share common ideas; contrastive or antithetical: the ideas found in the Gospel are in opposition to those in the First Reading, or vice versa; progressive: the ideas found in the First Reading are advanced (promoted or added to) in the Gospel.

(4) Determine the Theme. Basing yourself on the comparison (above), formulate the theme of the Sunday liturgy in a simple, direct statement or sentence. E. THE COMMUNITY CONTEXT Know your audience or congregation. What are their needs? What are their hopes? An excellent way to listen to the Word of God in their lives is through Bible study/sharing (Lumko method or Seven Steps method). A homily is not the time for exegesis. That should have happened several days before, perhaps ending on Wednesday. From Thursday onward, pray the Bible. Draft your homily by Friday. Practice it on Saturday.

D. THE LITURGICAL CONTEXT Ordinarily, there are three readings in the Sunday Liturgy. For homiletic purposes, the second reading often a continuous reading on its ownneed not be considered when determining the theme (except for Solemnities). (1) Determine the meaning of the Sunday Gospel. Employ the exegetical method above to determine the main ideas of the biblical passage. (2) Determine the meaning of the First Reading.