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When analyzing the New Testament various methods are employed in an attempt to gain a better overall understanding of the original text. It appears to this author that there are two broad categories by which the various methods of analysis can be grouped. First there is external analysis and secondly internal analysis. Scholars, but only when discussing "canonical criticism", do use these two terms. This author's usage of these terms should in no way be confused with "canonical criticism"; rather this is simply an attempt to organize the author's thoughts for the purpose of answering the mid-term question. The Bible, being both an ancient text and a faith-based text, requires a number of methods to identify and understand the "original" text. The cursory examination of only one facet of this book could never do justice to its extremely interesting spiritual and historically significant nature.
According to The Anchor Bible Dictionary "generally speaking the questions asked in biblical criticism have to do with the preservation and transmission of the biblical text."1 It is important to realize from the start that when one says "biblical criticism" there is no implied value judgment. The word criticism simply comes from a Greek word "Krino" which means, "to discern". In other words biblical criticism is no less or no more that a careful examination of the text of the bible. For our discussion we will concern ourselves with the text of the New Testament. It must also be said that while this author has attempted to put the various methods of analysis into two groups the division and grouping is not exact, but more artificial in nature. Often there is a blurring of the two, as each method is dependent upon the rest and no one method can really stand alone.
First we will examine those methods this author has deemed to be external methods of analysis. External methods of analysis concern themselves with way in which the surrounding world can shed light upon the text. This could be thought of as the
"Sitz im Leben", or the "setting in life." One method of examination is "Historical Criticism", which can be classified according to analysis that views the New Testament as either a document of history or as a body of literature. The purpose of this form of criticism is to achieve a historical understanding of the New Testament. This sort of analysis also includes archeology. The process of understanding the customs and practices of a particular era or geographic location is a valuable tool. This type of study brings into view the historical and cultural context in which the text was written and the context in which the author and audience lived in as well. Being able to place oneself inside the historical context is a very valuable tool in trying to understand the mindset in which the document was composed.
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Another method in this first group is "Form Criticism". This type of criticism tries to go beyond the written source and examine the oral tradition. This method tries to identify general patterns or philosophical ideas that exist not only in the Biblical text but are common among other traditions. By drawing parallels between the Bible and other literature one hopes a greater understanding of the Biblical authors intent will be realized. This method is very similar to "Tradition Criticism," which attempts to examine the history of traditions. In Tradition Criticism the way in which New Testament writers use traditional material is examined and analyzed.
Finally another way external analysis plays an important role is that the age of texts can be analyzed from an external view is by looking at the material on which the text is written. The earliest manuscripts were written on papyri next came vellum and finally parchment. These are an important way to determine age.
All of these external methods we have discussed (there are many others not mentioned) attempt to draw parallels between the text and its surroundings in an effort to reason by analogy. If one can identify similarities or parallels then perhaps those parallels can lend insight to the Biblical text. Questions such as how did the surrounding world, geographically, socially, politically, philosophically, ect affect the composition and transmission of the text can hopefully be examined based upon external analysis?
The second method, which this author has elected to call internal methods, concerns itself with ways in which the text can be analyzed and examined by what is said in the text itself. The primary method by which this is accomplished is Literary Criticism. This method looks at the words of the text and their various meanings and shades of meanings. This method allows us a different method by which to look into the mind of the author. Choices of vocabulary and the possible variance of contextual usages of the same word lend themselves to questions about authorship. Who wrote it, how many writers contributed to this particular letter or gospel? These and many other questions can be analyzed by internal methods. What type of vocabulary a writer used or grammar style are all-important aspects that reflect something about the nature of the author and how that affected the composition and transmission of the text. "Redaction Criticism" is another internal method of analysis. This method is said to "employ the findings of historical criticism"1 in that it looks at how the particular author chose to use the sources he had received. What bias do the author allow, influencing the story they tell. In a research paper you only quote those sources that support your premise and you conveniently leave out your opposition, as any good college student knows
Form criticism can also be employed here in that the study of various genre in the writing (i.e. narrative or parable) which can be instrumental in examining texts. This leads to "Source Criticism" which examines the text while trying to identify the nature of the sources used in its creation. Also there are a number of ways that internal evidence can lead to conclusions about the age and reliability of a particular text. For example generally the shorter and more difficult reading is older and/or more reliable. These characteristics represent manuscripts, which have not been edited as much.
In conclusion there are many methods that offer insight into the meaning of the text. Perhaps this author was a little bold in suggesting that the methods could be separated into two basic methods. Nevertheless the approach does help to focus one's thoughts even if only in a most basic sense. Regardless it is apparent that no one methods can hope to accomplish much on its own, rather a balanced approach utilizing as many methods as possible is preferable in gaining a true understanding of the text (if that's possible).
Freedman, D. N. (1). The Anchor Bible Dictionary. New York Doubleday
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