The fight against dogmatism

[Revmitchell]

On the contrary, I went to great lengths to define in specificity what it is.

I know that because you mention some minute details it justifies your poistion but....it doesn't. the reality of it is to remove the supernatural looking only for man's work and ignoring God's supernatural work. Without that description anything else falls short.

 

[Marcia]

As did I, and I seriously regret not having a copy of it. There are some things absent in your post, the foremost of which is the lack of mention that the phrase "higher criticism" is a very broad term that applies to all literature in general, not just scripture.

Well, obviously we are talking about scripture here.

Much of what you're referring to is, for lack of a better term, a form of hypercricism.

That is not what it is called in textbooks nor by respected theologians who teach about the errors of Higher Criticism.

Mainline higher criticism in regards to scripture includes applications of hermeneutics, exegetics, and related contectual criticisms. Few people, if anyone, would argue the necessity of these on their own merit.

Hermeneutics is a category on its own that does not need Higher Criticism. The principles applied to hermeneutics and textual criticism done today by conservative scholars (who believe the Bible to be God's word) work quite well without Higher Criticism.

It's also important to denate the difference between higher criticism and what is often referred to as "lower criticism", which, in biblical terms, referrs to the infusion into scripture of concepts and writing to fix a prior "error" (single-translation-onlyists frequently use this to support their beliefs).

I think we can discuss Higher Criticism - its history, personalities, and effects without getting it mixed up with whatever you refer to here.

Higher criticism, when referring specifically to scripture, referrs to the application of intent of the author, the audience to whom he was writing, and the use of language of the day, including writing style, grammar, and linguistic context (note, for example, Jesus' Jesus "needles' eye" reference, or the use of circumcised vs uncircumcised to refer to jew and gentile). Proper scriptural high criticism does not downplay miracles, divine inspiration, biblical authority, or any such thing.

Higher Criticism as a whole does downplay divine inspiration, biblical authority, miracles prophecy, etc.. Check out scholars such as Gleason Archer, R K Harrison, Norman Geisler and others who discuss Higher Criticism and defend the Bible against it. I don't think you can be right and they are wrong. It is specifically known as a movement from the 18th and 19th centuries running into the 20th century that was a series of attacks on scripture.

 

[gb93433]

It includes none of that. What it does include is a means to destroy people's faith not much more.

One of the things you have failed to understand is that it was through those who promoted higher criticism that the correct interpretation of wisdom literature was promoted and is very widely taught today probably among every conservative today. The problem is that many conservatives divorce that truth from wisdom literature just as they divorce WWJD from the liberal who taught it, and lived it out and now call it conservative when it was promoted and taught by a liberal.

It is funny how people pick and choose what they want and divorced it from those who originally studied and taught it.

 

[gb93433]

Higher Criticism as a whole does downplay divine inspiration, biblical authority, miracles prophecy, etc..

There are always good and heretical movements running along with what is happening in the church and with what people think. When one hears the reports from theological schools reporting the lack of knowledge among incoming students it does not make one wonder what is being taught and who is making disciples.

I have no fear that the greatest danger is higher criticism but rather ignorance in the pew being promoted along with a fog in the pulpit and lack of a real zeal with knowledge for God. Sound doctrine and passion being substituted by programs as the way to grow.

 

[Jim1999]

Quote: higher criticism" is a very broad term that applies to all literature in general, not just scripture.
-------------------------------------------

As is hermeneutics! Any form of interpretation also applies to secular literature.

It was taught in my liberal school of theology as the only way to understand scriptures........liberally!

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Revmitchell]

Quote: higher criticism" is a very broad term that applies to all literature in general, not just scripture.
-------------------------------------------

As is hermeneutics! Any form of interpretation also applies to secular literature.

It was taught in my liberal school of theology as the only way to understand scriptures........liberally!

Cheers,

Jim

John knows all this he just avoids the context so as to appear credible.

 

[Johnv]

John knows all this he just avoids the context so as to appear credible.

Yet another revmitchellism.

I'm well aware of it, but it was off-topic. Hermeneutics, exegetics, eigegetics, higer criticism, lower criticism, and all other forms of contextual criticism have general literary application and scripture-specific applications.