Form Criticism

Form criticism refers to an approach that studies texts by breaking them into smaller units, such as sayings, narratives, hymns, or legal statements, and examining their shape, style, and purpose. Each unit is analyzed in terms of how it would have been used or shared within a community, often before being written. The method focuses on recurring patterns, social function, and typical themes rather than authorship or final arrangement. Form criticism is used to understand how traditions were preserved, adapted, and transmitted over time.