Abstract

Genre analysis has long been a basic tool of biblical scholarship. In recent years, however, there has been growing resistance to categorization. The basic argument is that categorization allegedly restricts the range of literature to which a text is compared. Some of this resistance is exaggerated. The critique is valid in­sofar as it reminds us that in most cases genres are construed by readers for their purposes, and while they may be valid and helpful, they are not necessarily the only way in which a given corpus of texts can be viewed. Nonetheless, genres remain important guides for interpretation, by highlighting not only the typical features of different kinds of texts but also the differences that distinguish them from related genres.