MARCEL E.

OLOR-UMBINA MAED ENGLISH

Literary criticism seeks to establish literary genres of various biblical texts

and to draw inferences about their structure, chronology, and authorship.
These reasons are based as much as possible on internal evidences, but
external evidence is also very helpful, especially when it comes to factual
data. For example, if the document under consideration is undoubtedly cited
in another configuration, this citation forms the final stage for dating purposes
for later a definitive point in time. On the other hand, if a document clearly
depends on another document that can be dated for independent reasons,
then the earlier document's date provides an end postcum in earlier limit point
in time.

FORMALIST METHOD OF LITERARY CRITICISM ON THE BOOK OF JOB

Everyone in this world, to some extent, experiences more pain and suffering
than others. Philosophers and theologians classify such suffering as either
natural disasters (floods, diseases, droughts, accidents, etc.) or human evils
(deception, fraud, rape, murder, etc.). Throughout human intellectual history,
this problem of unconscious and unbridled suffering, technically known as the
problem of evil, has been the most powerful and enduring argument against
the existence of God.

The Book of Job is often called one of the great classics of world literature.
The theme in the book of Job is a very important question: Why should
innocent people suffer in a world ruled by Yahweh(old testament name of
God), while at the same time the wicked can escape suffering and find peace
and security? All people, not just Jews, come first or later before this universal
question. Some of the Hebrew prophets tried to address this issue because it
concerned the entire nation, but the author of the Book of Job deals with it on
a personal basis. The book, as it stands, is loosely divided into her five parts:
Prologue, Symposium, Elihu's Speech, Nature's Poetry, and Epilogue.
Overall, the book seems to have been written as a direct challenge to the
long-held doctrine that people are rewarded or punished for their merits.

The prologue of the book's first two chapters is probably based on an old
folktale about a bet between Yahweh and Satan.Satan claims that no one
serves Yahweh except for selfish reasons, but Yahweh disagrees and refutes
Satan's claims by citing Job, a righteous man who fears God and shuns evil.
In order to prove to Satan that Job's loyalty was not based on material
rewards, Yahweh deprived Job of all the material benefits that Satan had
received, causing him to suffer the most severe and unbearable torments.
Praise be to the name of the Lord. However, Job's wife urges Job to "curse
God and die" in order to be freed from suffering.

As far as the symposium is concerned, the author's intention is none other

than to challenge the view of prophets and historians that suffering is itself
evidence of wrongdoing. Over the centuries it has been accepted as true that
Yahweh is the just ruler of the universe, and therefore the distribution of
rewards and punishments must correspond exactly to what people actually
deserve. The authors of the symposium believe that this reasoning is
incorrect. To clarify his position, he constructs the story of a righteous man
named Job. As an introduction to his subject, the author uses a folktale of
good men suffering to prove to Satan that they are not serving Yahweh for
selfish reasons. A discussion between Job and three friends shows very
clearly that the authors of the symposium did not accept this solution to the
problem. The final speech in defense of Job himself is probably the first
conclusion of the book.

The skeptical nature of the symposium, which challenges traditional views,

most likely excluded the Book of Job from the Old Testament canon, had it
not been for some additions to the original book. Elihu`s Speech seems to
have been added to give the book an interpretation in line with the old views
of the Prophet. Neither Elihu's speeches nor the poems of nature provide a
direct answer as to why innocent people suffer, but their presence throughout
the book suggests that there are reasons for suffering that people do not
understand.
HISTORICAL METHOD OF LITERARY CRITICISM ON THE BOOK OF
ECCLESIASTES

The author of Ecclesiastes has been for some time, specifically the last 3 to 4
centuries or in the third or fourth century BC.

The title "Ecclesiastes" comes from a Greek word for a person calling a
council, so it means that the author identifies himself in Ecclesiastes 1:1 by
the Hebrew word Qoheleth. Traditionally, Qoheleth is identified as a preacher
or teacher, however, the preacher gives us clues about his identity. The
information is given in the first two verses of the book, that the preacher calls
himself "the son of David, the king of Jerusalem," who adds "wisdom above all
others." who was in Jerusalem before me," and who collected many
proverbs (Eccl 1:1, 16; 12:9).

Although he left this rather mysterious name to indicate his identity, the
evidence in the book, as with most Jewish and Christian traditions, suggests
that King Solomon was the author of the book. With Solomon as the author of
the book, we know it must have been written some time before his death in
931 BC. The content of Ecclesiastes reflects someone looking back on a long
life in terms of experience but short in lasting rewards. As king, he has the
opportunity and resources to pursue the rewards of his own intellect,
pleasure, and labor. However, the world-weary tone of the scriptures suggests
that later as an adult, he looks back on his folly with remorse, aiming only for
a better and simpler life, living according to the direction of God.

Ecclesiastes presents us with a naturalistic view of life - one that sees life
through typical human eyes - but ultimately recognizes God's right to rule and
rule over the world. . Evangelization, like much of life, represents a journey
from one point to another. Solomon makes his starting point clear at the
beginning of the book: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2),
pointing out the utter futility and meaninglessness of life as he saw it. Nothing
made sense to him because he had tried many remedies - pleasure, work
and intellect - to ease his feeling of being out of place in the world.

The book of Ecclesiastes is unique in many ways. One wonders how a book
with such a skeptical tone and unorthodox content could have been
accepted into the biblical canon. was guaranteed. Preacher appeals to many
people because the author honestly expresses his beliefs. He knows what
he is saying is not in line with the generally accepted idea, but he has the
courage to say what he believes to be true. King Solomon's name had long
been associated with the work of the Magi, and therefore associated with this
particular writing, adding prestige. But even with these two factors in favor of
this book's inclusion in the Old Testament, the Book of Ecclesiastes, barring
the additions that seem to have been made in the final chapter, cannot be
read from the biblical canon. It may have been excluded. Here it says, "Fear
God and keep His commandments. That is the whole duty of man.
THEMATIC/SYMBOLIC METHOD OF LITERARY CRITICISM ON THE
BOOK OF PSALMS

The Book of Psalms, often considered the most read and most cherished of
all the Old Testament books, is a collection of poems, hymns, and prayers
expressing Jewish religious sentiments. The inner beauty of the poems and
the sentiments they convey contributed to their appreciation. Particularly
suitable for use in worship services, psalms have been used in Christian
churches, as well as temples and synagogues.

The book was originally titled Tehillim, which means “praise songs” in
Hebrew. The English title of “Psalms” originated from the Septuagint’s Greek
title Psalmoi, also meaning “songs of praise.”

The book of Psalms is of particular significance in understanding the religious

life of ancient Israel. Prophets and sages provide insight into what the
Hebrews thought, but the Psalms give the clearest indication of what the
Hebrews felt. Here we find revelation of the hopes, joys, sorrows, loyalty,
doubts and longings of the human heart.

Types of psalms were written to communicate different feelings and thoughts

regarding a psalmist’s situation.The lamentation psalm or psalm of lament
expresses the author's cry to God in difficult circumstances. The psalms of
praise, also known as hymns, describe the author's direct offering of
admiration to God. Thanksgiving psalms often reflect the author's gratitude for
a personal deliverance or provision from God. The Pilgrims' Psalms include
the title "an ascension song" and are used in the "ascension" pilgrimages to
Jerusalem during three annual festivals. Other types of Psalms today are
called the Wisdom Psalms, the King Psalms (referring to the King of Israel or
the Messiah of Israel), the Victory Psalms, the Psalms of the Law and the
Song of Zion.

The Book of Psalms expresses worship. Across several pages, the Psalm
encourages the reader to praise God for who He is and what He has done.
The Psalms illuminate the greatness of our God, confirm His faithfulness to us
in difficult times, and remind us of the absolute centrality of His Word. While
the psalms present a clear picture of God leading his people with love, the
responses to God's praise and worship are never far from those of the writers
Psalm. The description of worship in the Psalms gives us glimpses of hearts
for God, of individuals who repent before Him, and of lives changed by
encounters with Him. As a whole, the Book of Psalms may be regarded as a
kind of epitome of the entire range of the Hebrews' religious life. It has been
said that if all the rest of the Old Testament were lost, the essential faith of the
Israelite people could be recovered from this single book.
PSYCHOLOGICAL METHOD OF LITERARY CRITICISM ON THE BOOK OF
PROVERBS

A proverb is defined as a statement of general truth or advice. The Hebrew

and Greek translations call the proverbs "parallel" or "similar to". The Book of
Proverbs is believed to have been written and compiled between the 10th
and 6th centuries BC. King Solomon died in 961 BC.

Proverbs, like the Psalms, names several individuals as the authors of its
various parts. Solomon is uniquely qualified to be the primary author of this
book of words of wisdom. 1 Kings 3:5-9 recounts that Solomon prayed to God
for wisdom in ruling over Israel, a request that God granted in the end. (1
Kings 4:29-31). In fact, Solomon identifies himself as the source of much of
the book. His name appears at the beginning of three separate sections -
Proverbs 1:1, 10:1, and 25:1 - covering nearly the entire first 29 chapters of
the book.

In writing Proverbs, Solomon hoped that his readers would achieve practical
righteousness in all things and that we would do so by living our lives under
God's authority and direction. God. He specifically explains the book's
purpose in 1:2-6, focusing on imparting understanding that will affect every
aspect of our lives. Much of the book emphasizes listening to others so that
we can learn from them and apply the combined knowledge of those who
have come before us, such as parents and elders, to situations. special scene
of our lives. (1: 5, 8).

The Book of Proverbs is, as its name suggests, a collection of short sayings
collected from many different places and summarized over a long period of
time. Collectively, these sayings represent wisdom drawn from practical
experience. Although they do not contain any profound contributions to
theological ideas, they are healthy guidelines for how one should live in order
to achieve a happy and satisfying life.The book of Proverbs holds that God's
revelation is passed on to individuals by careful and correct thinking, as well
as by prophetic inspiration. This concept leads to the belief that sages live in
harmony with the holy will; Fools attract unhappiness. This intellectual
concept is so closely related to the divine that in some cases it is personified
and is said to be the divine agent involved in the creation of the world.

Proverbs contains some of the most reliable pieces of truth in the entire Bible.
Most proverbs are brief sentences filled with real-world images. This
approach allows us to see very clearly how a particular proverb can be
applied to some of the everyday situations we encounter, from getting out of
bed in the morning to building a foundation. solid foundation in our
relationships with others. The proverb reminds us that God is not only
concerned with the cataclysmic events of our lives, but also with the
mundane and “invisible” moments of our lives.
READER-RESPONSE METHOD OF LITERARY CRITICISM ON THE BOOK
OF EXODUS

Life is a journey, as the cliché says. And in this journey, we are constantly
faced with struggles, sins, and even failures. All of this can lead one to ask,
"What kind of God do we worship?" Is he even trustworthy? Will he get me
through?” The Book of Exodus paints a wonderful picture of who this Lord is.
From Israel's captivity, to deliverance, to the experience in the desert, to the
Promised Land, we know this God.

Exodus teaches Christians a valuable lesson about the importance of obeying

God's Word. The Israelites indulged in idolatry and repeatedly rebelled
against God. As a result, God allowed the king of Egypt to enslave them for
many years, and they endured intense suffering because of their
disobedience. God showed compassion by sending Moses and his brother
Aaron to tell Pharaoh to release the Israelites. In the midst of Israel’s journey,
God was their Provider. He provided them with food, shelter from the heat of
the sun by day, and a source of light and heat by night. He gave them
protection even during their escape from Egypt.

In Exodus, we see God begin to fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. Although the children of Israel were enslaved in a foreign land, God
miraculously and miraculously delivered them to freedom. He then
established Israel as a theocratic nation according to his covenant with Moses
on Mount Sinai. The Ten Plagues, the Passover, the division of the Red Sea,
the great majesty of God's presence at Mount Sinai, the giving of the Ten
Commandments, the building of the tabernacle. . . These Exodus facts are
fundamental to the Jewish faith.

The story of Exodus is a mirror that reflects our own journey through life. We
were once slaves of sin, but God heard our cry and was moved with
compassion. Then He came down to deliver us. We all have our own desert.
This is where God molds us and corrects us to His will. But in our journey, His
presence provides and protects us, and His presence remains with us until we
reach the Promised Land. We must trust in the Lord, for He can deliver us
from all things. But God does not allow sin to go unpunished forever.
Accordingly, we can count on his retribution and justice. When God brings us
out of a bad situation, we should not try to get back. When God asks us, He
expects us to obey, but at the same time He offers grace and mercy because
He knows that, on our own, we will not be able to completely obey.
MARXIST METHOD OF LITERARY CRITICISM ON THE BOOK OF
DEUTERONOMY

Deuteronomy means "second law," a term that is confused with the Hebrew
word mishneh in Deuteronomy 17:18. In this context, Moses simply ordered
the king to make a “copy of the law.” but Deuteronomy signed not only a copy
of the Law, the book offers a legal reform for a new generation, rather than a
mere copy of what happened before. Deuteronomy records this "second law,"
specifically the series of sermons by Moses in which he reaffirms God's
commandments originally given to Israel about forty years earlier in the books
of Exodus and Leviticus.

The book of Deuteronomy is primarily a repetition of the laws given by God to

Israel in the earlier books of the Torah (i.e., Exodus, Leviticus). Moses
repeatedly mentioned in Deuteronomy and elsewhere that the Hebrews were
stubborn and regressive in their vices. For this reason, he and the Lord
agreed that it would be in their favor to reheat all the rules to better appeal to
them. Deuteronomy also reaffirms the Ten Commandments and many other
laws given in Exodus and Leviticus. The book delivered God's instructions to
the Israelites on how to live a blessed life in the Promised Land. Chapters 27
and 28 detail the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience.

Deuteronomy is often considered one of the most important books in Jewish

theology because of its intense emphasis on the concept of monotheism, or
the worship of a single god. This concept has historically been one of the
most prominent and recognizable features of Judaism, and so Deuteronomy's
role in this religious tradition is truly fundamental.