Modern Genre Theory: An Introduction for Biblical Studies

by Andrew Judd

Genre theory has experienced a renaissance in the last thirty years, but biblical studies has been left in the dark ages of rigid taxonomies and stubborn essentialism. The Bible deserves better. This book offers students in biblical studies an accessible but comprehensive introduction to modern genre theory, providing access to literary tools for understanding how writers and readers use genre to make meaning. In one convenient package, this book first describes the current state of biblical genre theory, what form criticism is, and why it needs to die. It then presents a better alternative based on. the best developments in secular literary theory, linguistics, and rhetorical studies.

Drawing on modern genre theory, Andrew Judd proposes a working definition of genre for biblical studies as relatively stable conventions that writers and readers use to make meaning in certain contexts but not others. He identifies twelve tenets of modern genre theory that follow from seeing genres in their historical and social context.

The Bible, with its gloriously rich diversity of ancient genres, demands this kind of flexible and historically aware approach to genre. Judd then offers eight case studies in biblical exegesis to show how a better understanding of genre leads to a better understanding of the Bible. Different conceptions of narrative, poetry, gospel, epistle, wisdom and apocalyptic texts lead to vastly different readings. Our disagreements about what the Bible means often boil down to different assumptions about what the biblical text is. From the creation accounts of Genesis to the visions of Revelation, it is important to get a handle on genre. This book offers a way to reading the Bible better.

Genres: Biblical Studies, Nonfiction, Christian, Theology, Christian Non Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

Published July 2, 2024

Reviews

[Rohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great job Andrew on a readable + helpful + scholarly book, a difficult combo!
I think what was most helpful were the little asides/jokes in each chapter, e.g. "This is why the metaphor of "family resemblance is so misleading. Family implies (unless you're part of a weird polygamous cult) simple genetic relationships with clear lines and one spot each on a family tree. Genres aren't like that.
I also enjoyed his chapter on "wisdom literature" which he calls a bundle of genres wrapped in a similar ecosystem.
And his chapter reading Judges 19 in different genres, to make us notice details better. E.g. like a "horror movie" lots of action happens at night, the main character is slightly clueless, the outcome is shock! And like wisdom (The characters are all unnamed, so can be transplanted to any context)

I also appreciated that in Part 2 he kept coming back to the 12 tenets of Genre Theory which he introduced in Part 1. These are:
- Texts are promiscuous (They don't "belong" to Genres, but complex relationship with many)
- Genres are relatively stable conventions (like rules for party games)
- Fuzzy around the edges but with solid prototypes.
- Functional (i.e. They DO something)
- For both readers and writers
- Regulate grammar / content / social context
- Recurring responses to social situations
- Both reflect / shape our world, including power dynamics.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Judd has successfully written something new for biblical studies. I don't agree with many of his conclusions. Nonetheless, his approach, I think, will help interpreters be more faithful in how they approach these messy genres.

Boomerang test: try a genre on a text and see if it works. If it doesn't, try, try again.

He gives many tenets of modern genre theory:

1. Texts don't belong to any one genre, but are promiscuous participating in a complex relationship with multiple genres
2. Genres are relatively stable conventions
3. Genres are fuzzy around the edges, but have solid prototypes
4. Genre is about much more than just classifying texts, they are functional, different goals, different experiences, different roles
5. These experiences, roles, and resources are about readers and writers
6. Genre can regulate all sorts of things about a text, including formal features, distinctive content, and situational dynamics
7. Genres are reviewing responses to receiving situations
8. As social actions, genre is used to get something done
9. Genres both reflect and create the world we experience
10. Genre is always working for someone
11. Genres didn't live alone but live in ecosystems of genres
12. Texts don't read themselves, readers do

He applies his "system" to several problems in different biblical genres to show how it works. I found his application lacking, but the system fascinating.

He doesn't want it to be considered a system, but it is.

B. Grizenko

[Devin Moncada · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I read after finishing my dissertation.

It’s still February, but Judd’s book will be a top 3 book for me at the end of the year at minimum. March Madness is coming, sure, but upsets aren’t looking likely.

Judd is witty and funny. And he breaks ALL the rules of a biblical studies book. If they allowed him to put a recipe in a footnote and mention Homer Simpson for barely a reason, I’d love to read what the editors made him cut. I want someone to allow me to write like this in future work (maybe I’m not as funny. We’ll see. But it’s like work from home: You can’t take it away from me now that I’ve experienced it. So, here’s hoping my future projects are as interesting. And here’s a prayer for the editor who will force me to play by the rules).

I’ve already started using Judd’s content in my teaching and will probably keep using this book for a long time. Maybe that’s recency bias and the surge of dopamine from finishing a book talking, but the ideas on genre really have been so helpful.

[Elizabeth Eflin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for my Old Testament survey class, and it was honestly really helpful. It gave me new ways to think through genres, and how we think about specific texts. Super fascinating, and (I thought) written in a relatively easy to understand manner.

[Jen Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an academic book written as an introduction to genre theory and its applications to the Bible. It’s well researched and Judd goes out of his way to define terms and summarize his thoughts in each chapter. Judd’s writing style is approachable and full of pop culture references (I loved the title of the last chapter “You’re So Vain: You Probably Rhink This Letter Is To You”). I am far removed from my college English classes, but my nerdy heart enjoyed all the work I had to do to read this and will be thinking about it as I read my Bible.

[Scot Bellavia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I collected a lot of quotes from this book. So many it felt like including them in this review would be giving away the book for free.

It was funny and eye-opening. It taught me how I read and showed me new ways to approach the Bible. The only challenging bit, not that it "challenged' me, was the first few chapters which felt like an Advanced English class. That was over my scope, but proved to be necessary to the rest of the book and Judd weaved the lessons there well so it reminded and reinforced what was difficult.

[Declan Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic introduction to the ways secular genre theory can enrich the study of the Bible. This will be incredibly helpful (I'm almost tempted to say 'necessary') for anybody wanting to properly interpret and teach the Bible. Judd's "tactical reading" of Judges 19 as a horror movie is definitely the highlight of the book as well as being an effective demonstration of the functionality of Judd's thesis.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise! This is a great (and enjoyably-written) book that sheds a lot of light on ways to understand genre more carefully and bring that to bear on the biblical literature. The first 4 chapters are gold. The case studies at the end are a bit uneven, but still helpful.

Full video review here: https://youtu.be/_EE3bNwBi-I

[Judith Kimsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without even realizing it, we interpret everything we read through the genre we assign to it. These genre are culturally informed and slow to change. Judd walks through various genre in the Bible, clarifying what we have and experimenting with reassigning passages/books to benefit different (better?) understandings. A "suggested work flow" for each type of biblical literature will help with future interpretation.

[Douglas Fyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Clear illustrations. Short but will be coming back to it for reference.

[Ryan Lian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just so good. Explained so many weird reading errors we evangelicals have made. Everyone should be made to read this!

[Ched Spellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unless you're into Australian scones, this cookbook is terrible.

[Anna Stevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting ideas but not enough sola scripture approach. This book will not help me become a better Bible study leader.

[Yvonne Reynolds]

Didn’t realize this was going to be more like a textbook…too many other books I want to read.

[David Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: 4.5 stars.