Form Criticism

History of Interpretation of Psalms
Literary Analytical Approach ← Form Criticism → Cult-Functional Approach

Method

Gattungen

Group psalms according to:

• common setting
• common treasure of ideas, moods, words
• common motifs and other literary forms

Trace the historical development of each literary type without regard to superscription

Sitz-im-Leben

Common setting in life.

Conclusion

Five principal types of Psalms plus several minor types.

1. Individual laments (50 psalms)
2. Communal laments (15 psalms)
3. Thanksgiving (of community or individual — 15 psalms)
4. Hymns of Praise (circa 20 psalms)
5. Royal psalms (10 psalms)
6. Minor types (see Anderson, Out of the Depths, Appendix A)

While forms were derived from temple, as we have it the psalms were intended not for cultic but for private and devotional prayer.

Books

Einleitung in die Psalmen, Out of the Depths, Praise and Lament in the Psalms

C. F. Barth, Craigie, Eissfeldt, Gunkel, von Rad, Westermann, et al. Many commentaries and studies from 1920 to present (see Anderson and Hayes).