BIBLICAL BIBLICAL CRITICISMCRITICISM

HISTORYHISTORY

► Catholic, Protestant and Jewish interpreters of Catholic, Protestant and Jewish interpreters of the Bible use the historical-critical method of the Bible use the historical-critical method of studying Scripture. Its origins are ancient studying Scripture. Its origins are ancient dating back to the Hellenistic period. Its dating back to the Hellenistic period. Its methods were first applied to the ancient methods were first applied to the ancient Greek writings like the Homeric epics. Even Greek writings like the Homeric epics. Even in its primitive form it was a critical effort to in its primitive form it was a critical effort to determine the correct form of ancient texts determine the correct form of ancient texts and the philological meaning of those texts. and the philological meaning of those texts. Eventually it was applied to the sacred Eventually it was applied to the sacred writings of the Jews and Christians.writings of the Jews and Christians.

Precriticism to the 20th Precriticism to the 20th centurycentury

CONTRIBUTORS:CONTRIBUTORS:► 1. 1. MARCION MARCION - (c. 150 a.d.) - (c. 150 a.d.) heretic of the heretic of the

second century. He produced a bogus New second century. He produced a bogus New Testament that prompted the Church to Testament that prompted the Church to officially determine the New Testament officially determine the New Testament canon.canon.

► TATIANTATIAN – (c. 175 a.d.) He attempted a – (c. 175 a.d.) He attempted a critical look at the New Testament. He critical look at the New Testament. He wrote the wrote the Diatesseron Diatesseron which was an which was an attempt to harmonize the gospels.attempt to harmonize the gospels.

CONTRIBUTORSCONTRIBUTORS

► ORIGENORIGEN (c. 185 – 254) - He was the (c. 185 – 254) - He was the head of the famous school at head of the famous school at Alexandria. He made two Alexandria. He made two contributions to the study of scripture contributions to the study of scripture

a) a) HexaplaHexapla – which was the earliest – which was the earliest attempt at textual criticism attempt at textual criticism

b) he showed the importance of b) he showed the importance of hermeneutics and the use of allegory hermeneutics and the use of allegory in the in the gospels.gospels.

CONTRIBUTORSCONTRIBUTORS

► EUSEBIUS EUSEBIUS - (C. 260-340 A.D.) - (C. 260-340 A.D.) He He was a Church historian. He provided was a Church historian. He provided valuable information on the NT – he valuable information on the NT – he divided the gospels into small divided the gospels into small numbered sections and developed a numbered sections and developed a set of tables to show parallels set of tables to show parallels between the gospels.between the gospels.

CONTRIBUTORSCONTRIBUTORS

► AUGUSTINE AUGUSTINE – (354 – 430 A.D.) He wrote – (354 – 430 A.D.) He wrote De Consenso Evangelistarum De Consenso Evangelistarum (400). (400). His work affected the treatment of the His work affected the treatment of the synoptic gospels. He was aware that the synoptic gospels. He was aware that the order of the gospel narratives sometimes order of the gospel narratives sometimes reflects general recollections rather that reflects general recollections rather that pure history. Augustine understood that pure history. Augustine understood that the words of Jesus reflect their sense or the words of Jesus reflect their sense or meaning rather that being verbatim.meaning rather that being verbatim.

MIDDLE AGESMIDDLE AGES

►THERE WERE NO MAJOR THERE WERE NO MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO BIBLICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION DURING THIS PERIOD.INTERPRETATION DURING THIS PERIOD.

►THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION OF THIS THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION OF THIS AGE WAS IN THE DISCIPLINE OF AGE WAS IN THE DISCIPLINE OF TEXTUAL CRITICISM. THROUGHOUT TEXTUAL CRITICISM. THROUGHOUT EUROPE MONKS COPIED MANUSCRIPTS EUROPE MONKS COPIED MANUSCRIPTS PRESERVING THE WORD OF GODPRESERVING THE WORD OF GOD

BIBLICAL MANUSCRIPTSBIBLICAL MANUSCRIPTS

RENAISSANCERENAISSANCE

► In more modern times, the roots of the In more modern times, the roots of the historical-critical method can be traced historical-critical method can be traced to this period. The main focus was to to this period. The main focus was to get back to the original sources and get back to the original sources and the original languages.the original languages.

THE REFORMATION PERIODTHE REFORMATION PERIOD

► There was an increased interest in the Bible during There was an increased interest in the Bible during this time especially in the Reformed Churches. This this time especially in the Reformed Churches. This interest was more dogmatic that critical. The most interest was more dogmatic that critical. The most significant contribution came from Martin Luther significant contribution came from Martin Luther (1483-1546). His principle of (1483-1546). His principle of Sola Scriptura Sola Scriptura was the was the hallmark of Protestantism. hallmark of Protestantism.

► Luther’s contributions:Luther’s contributions:► 1) he emphasized the study of Scripture in the 1) he emphasized the study of Scripture in the

original languages original languages ► 2) He emphasized attention to literary and historical 2) He emphasized attention to literary and historical

details.details.► 3) The Bible should be widely distributed to the 3) The Bible should be widely distributed to the

people.people.► 4) He translated the Bible into German.4) He translated the Bible into German.

MARTIN LUTHER 1483-1546

18th – 19th Centuries18th – 19th Centuries

► This is the time when rationalism and the This is the time when rationalism and the scientific method prevailed in scholarship. scientific method prevailed in scholarship. When both were applied to the study of When both were applied to the study of Scripture hence, historical criticism was Scripture hence, historical criticism was born. The great historical and born. The great historical and archaeological finds of the 18th and 19th archaeological finds of the 18th and 19th centuries contributed to the development of centuries contributed to the development of this method. Events and facts of the ancient this method. Events and facts of the ancient world help the student of the Bible better world help the student of the Bible better understand these sacred writings. understand these sacred writings.

► The encyclical The encyclical PROVIDENTISSIMUS DEUSPROVIDENTISSIMUS DEUS by by Pope Leo XIII explains how inspiration Pope Leo XIII explains how inspiration affected the biblical writer.affected the biblical writer.

…”By supernatural power God so moved and impelled them to write. He was so present to them, that they first rightly

understood, then willed faithfully to write down, and finally

expressed in apt words and with infallible truth the things which

He ordered, and those only.” Leo XIII also established the Pontifical Biblical Commission (1902) that

promoted biblical studies.

20th Century:20th Century:

► In 1943 Pope Pius XII promulgated an In 1943 Pope Pius XII promulgated an encyclical entitled encyclical entitled Divino Afflante Divino Afflante Spiritu. Spiritu. This encyclical gave Catholic This encyclical gave Catholic biblical scholars the freedom to study biblical scholars the freedom to study the bible critically, therefore using this the bible critically, therefore using this method to study Scripture. method to study Scripture.

Pope Pius XII insisted on:1. the study of the Bible in its original

language

2. the proper use of textual criticism

3.the interpretation of the Bible according to its ancient texts and not just the

Vulgate

4.the interpretation of the Bible according to its literal sense

5.the character of the sacred human writer

6.the proper use of ancient literary forms

7.The application to the biblical text of modern discoveries in anthropology and

archaeology.

There was rapid growth in the There was rapid growth in the area of Biblical criticism area of Biblical criticism among Catholic scholars among Catholic scholars

DURING THE 20DURING THE 20THTH CENTURY. CENTURY.

TOOL USED IN THE TOOL USED IN THE INTRPRETATION OF SACRED INTRPRETATION OF SACRED

SCRIPTURESCRIPTURE► LITERARY CRITICISM LITERARY CRITICISM - this tool analyzes the - this tool analyzes the

literary and stylistic character of the Biblical text.literary and stylistic character of the Biblical text.► SOURCE CRITICISM SOURCE CRITICISM - seeks to determine the - seeks to determine the

prehistory of a biblical book, in other words to prehistory of a biblical book, in other words to determine the sources used in the writing of the determine the sources used in the writing of the sacred text.sacred text.

► FORM CRITICISMFORM CRITICISM - seeks to determine the - seeks to determine the literary form used by the sacred writer. literary form used by the sacred writer.

For Example: is it poetry or history or law or For Example: is it poetry or history or law or myth? myth?

TOOLSTOOLS

►REDACTION CRITICISM REDACTION CRITICISM - in simple terms it is - in simple terms it is the editing of the sacred text.the editing of the sacred text.

► TEXTUAL CRITICISMTEXTUAL CRITICISM - establishes a standard - establishes a standard text in order to do exegesis.text in order to do exegesis.►HISTORICAL CRITICISM - HISTORICAL CRITICISM - uses historical uses historical

evidence to support or to question Biblical evidence to support or to question Biblical material.material.

► TRADITION HISTORY CRITICISMTRADITION HISTORY CRITICISM - identifies - identifies Themes and traditions during OT times and how Themes and traditions during OT times and how

they have been related in the books of Scripture.they have been related in the books of Scripture.

TERMSTERMS

EXEGESIS- from the Greek meaningto draw out. Its aim is to draw out from a book or text the meaning of its words andphrases and to explain its text as a whole.

TERMSTERMS

►HERMENEUTICS – HERMENEUTICS – determining the determining the message of God’s revelationmessage of God’s revelation

►...interpreting...interpreting the message of the message of Sacred Scripture.Sacred Scripture.

SENSES OF SCRIPTURESENSES OF SCRIPTURE► literal sense – literal sense – determining what the author meant while paying determining what the author meant while paying

attention to its literary forms.attention to its literary forms.► Spiritual Sense – Spiritual Sense – realities and events that bear significance and truth realities and events that bear significance and truth

for our Spiritual life.for our Spiritual life.►

Allegorical SenseAllegorical Sense – information that broadens our – information that broadens our► understanding of Jesus.understanding of Jesus.► (Ex. The crossing of the Red Sea prefigures Christ’s (Ex. The crossing of the Red Sea prefigures Christ’s

crossing from death to life in His Paschal Mystery.)crossing from death to life in His Paschal Mystery.)

Moral SenseMoral Sense - Scripture instructs us as how to lead a holy - Scripture instructs us as how to lead a holy lifelife

► therefore acting justly toward God and Others.therefore acting justly toward God and Others.

Anagogical SenseAnagogical Sense – Scripture was written to lead us to – Scripture was written to lead us to

► Salvation thus revealing God’s plan. Salvation thus revealing God’s plan. ► (Ex. Info and reflection on death, judgment, heaven (Ex. Info and reflection on death, judgment, heaven

and hell) and hell)