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Definition:
Biblical Criticism, as we know it in its modern form, developed in the 19th century as scholars
began to apply to biblical documents the same methods and perspectives which had
already been applied to other literary and philosophical texts. Forms of biblical criticism include:
Textual Criticism: attempting to find out the original wording of the text from the many extant variations.
Source Criticism: attempting to find out what sources might lie behind the biblical texts.
Tradition Criticism: examination of how the texts were transmitted over time, how people treated them, and what impact they had on human behavior.
Form Criticism: examination of the social context in which the texts were created.
Historical Criticism: examination of the historical setting in which the documents were created.
Redaction Criticism: examination of how editors and other authors incorporated the writings of earlier authors into their own works.
Canon Criticism: examination of how particular documents came to be incorporated into authoritative collections of texts.
Literary Criticism: examination of a text specifically as literature, thus ignoring theological or philosophical issues and focusing instead upon the structure and effect of the stories.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
What is Christianity?
What are the various Christian groups, denominations, sects and heresies? What are some key concepts in Christian theology? What are some of the most important events in Christian history? All of this and more are covered in the Christianity FAQ.Judaism FAQ
Exploration of important terms, concepts and people relevant to the study of Judaism and Jewish history.Bible FAQ
The "Bible" is a central feature in the religious beliefs and devotions of most Christians - and a major portion of it, known as the "Old Testament," is important to Jews. Muslims, whose holy scriptures are collected in the Qur'an, also revere the Bible. But just what is the Bible? What is contained in it, where did it come from, and how reliable is it? This developing FAQ will present historical and critical information about the Bible and biblical scholarship.
