Note: this is an example of why I am so interested in tables in notes and study templates.
This is also in honor of the new Miracles interactive from the website Of Fr. Felix Just, S.J.
[quote]
Form Criticism of Healing Miracle Narratives
by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.
For introductory information on biblical genres and form criticism, click here.
For other information about Miracles in the New Testament, click here.
Descriptive Overview:
One task of "form criticism" is to study many stories of one genre in order to determine a typical pattern for that genre. For example, most English "fairy tales" begin with "Once upon a time.," then develop some sort of conflict, then show how the hero resolves the problem, and finally end with ".and they lived happily ever after."
In the NT, most "healing miracles" are narrated according to a fairly regular pattern that typically consists of five stages (some scholars count only three, others count six or more different stages, but I would suggest the following five):
Introduction - A geographical/temporal setting is given; the condition of the sick person(s) is described; the healer encounters the sick person(s), or they are brought to the healer, or at least someone tells the healer about them.
Conflict/Delay - Often the healer investigates what the sick person wants or needs; sometimes the healer hesitates or tests the sick person's readiness to be healed; sometimes other persons intervene or delay the healing.
Healing Action - The healing itself might be brought about verbally, or through a simple touch, or through more elaborate therapeutic means (using spittle, oil, etc.). Sometimes the healing action is only implied, but not explicitly described.
Confirmation - The fact that the healing has taken place is either asserted by the narrator or demonstrated through some action performed by the person who has been healed (standing up, walking, speaking, etc.).
Reaction - Usually some reaction from those who witnessed the event is reported. In the Gospels, this response is often positive (giving praise to God), but sometimes there are negative reactions from some opponents.
Detailed Analysis:
"Form criticism" also carefully analyzes particular stories so as to see how typical or how unusual they are for their genre. If a particular narrative omits or adds some stages, or if in a certain stage it says something different from what you would expect, then we should ask why the author has not followed the typical pattern and what he or she is emphasizing thereby.
Thus in the NT, some "healing miracles" omit the "Reaction" stage, others have a much longer "Conflict" stage than normal. Many have only a very brief description of the actual healing, but some have a more detailed "Action" stage. A careful analysis of several miracle stories leads to some interesting conclusions about the different messages of the different evangelists.
For each of the narratives in the following chart, which verses belong to which of the five stages described above? Also, which stage is emphasized in each story? Finally, what conclusions can we draw about what the evangelists are trying to say to their readers? In particular, how is the emphasis of Mark in these stories significantly different from that of Luke?
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Stage 1
Introduction
Stage 2
Conflict/Delay
Stage 3
Healing Action
Stage 4
Confirmation
Stage 5
Reaction
Mark 2:1-12
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Matt 9:1-8
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Mark 8:22-26
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Mark 10:46-52
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Matt 9:27-31
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Matt 20:29-34
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Luke 18:35-43
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Luke 7:11-17
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Luke 13:10-17
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[other]
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[other]
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Practical Notes:
Fill in the chart above with the exact verse numbers which belong to the corresponding typical stages for each of these healing miracle narratives.
Use the letters a and b to distinguish the first and second half of verses, if necessary (i.e., use 10:52a and 10:52b, if you think the first and second halves of verse 52 belong to two different stages).
Remember that a particular narrative may totally omit or severely curtail one or more of these stages, or it may greatly expand and emphasize one stage, or it may even mix up the order of some of the stages.
Put a big "X" in any box if a stage is missing from any of the stories. Add brief comments about any other unusual elements you find in any stage.
Highlight which stage you think is the longest and/or receives the most emphasis in each narrative.
My suggested answers are given in the chart below; but first do your own analysis above, and only afterwards check if you agree with me (if not, please let me know, since I may have a mistake here somewhere).
Suggested Answers:
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Stage 1
Introduction
Stage 2
Conflict/Delay
Stage 3
Healing Action
Stage 4
Confirmation
Stage 5
Reaction
Mark 2:1-12
2:1-3
2:4-10 - much more extensive than usual!
2:11 - words only
2:12a - by action
2:12b - amazed & give glory
Matt 9:1-8
9:1-2a
9:2b-6a - shorter than in Mark
9:6b - words only
9:7- by action
9:8 - amazed & give glory
Mark 8:22-26
8:22
[? 8:23a - slight delay]
8:23b-25a - only two-stage healing in the NT!!!
8:25b - narrator's comment only
[8:26 - unusual anti-reaction]
Mark 10:46-52
10:46
10:47-51 - long dialogues
[? 10:52a - only indirectly!]
10:52b - narrator
10:52c - action
[? 10:52c - followed him on the way]
Matt 9:27-31
9:27
9:28 - brief question
9:29 - touch & words
9:30a - narrator
9:30b-31 - spread word about Jesus
Matt 20:29-34
20:29-30a
20:30b-33 - same, but a bit shorter
20:34a - touch
20:34b - narrator
20:34c - action
[? 20:34c - followed him]
Luke 18:35-43
18:35
18:36-41 - same, but more at start
18:42 - words
18:43a - narrator & action
18:43b - glory & praise to God
Luke 7:11-17
7:11-12
? 7:13 - slight delay
7:14 - words
7:15 - by action
7:16-17 - fear & glory
Luke 13:10-17
13:10-11
[see vv. 14-17]
13:12-13a - words & touch
13:13b - by action
13:14-17a - negative
13:17b - pos.
