Table of Contents
Higher Criticism of the Bible
Overview
The Criticism of the Bible is the methodology of employing various tactics in order to invalidate, discredit or reinterpret some/all of the Bible and/or its claims.
There is a barrage of various types of criticism each aimed at a specific topic that points to Biblical accuracy.
- Source Criticism – The process of evaluating an information’s source. This is the methodology of defining and identifying any/all credibility to the source of an information’s origin.
- Form Criticism – This form of criticism attempts to classify informational patterns in order to trace the time frame or cultural influences of its origin.
- Redaction Criticism – This is the critical process of examining the author of the book to identify their objectives behind their literary works.
- Tradition Criticism – This is the critical method used to analyze how literature or information was passed from stage to stage into what can be interpreted today. It includes the study of how oral traditions from a specific literary source was passed down and became written documents.
- Canonical Criticism – This is a type of literary interpretation that focuses on the final product of the text and how it applies to people of today’s world in contrast to its meaning for the people of the time it was written.
Beneficial Biblical Criticism
Not all critical agendas are malevolently placed with the objective of discrediting or revoking the authority that the Bible has. Many of these methodologies have been used to create a validation proof for many of the Biblical claims and help us to further understand the process in which many of the details of the Bible where created.
Not only does criticism end up proving the Bible against all odds of critical inclination, but many methodologies have proven to enhance the Biblical students understanding of the Bible and the history and cultures surrounding the people it involves.