I am not a biblical Chinese menu scholar.
Here is the way I study scripture.
Textual criticism examines biblical manuscripts and their content to identify what the original text probably said. Source criticism searches the text for evidence of their original sources. Form criticism identifies short units of text seeking the setting of their origination.
Historical CriticismHistorical criticism, sometimes called the historical critical method, is concerned with establishing historical realities that might affect our understanding of what a text means. It grew out of the development of interest in classical history and archaeology in the eighteenth and nineteenth century and as part of a quest for more 'objectivity' in biblical interpretation. So, for example, we might be interested in the social make-up of the population of Corinth, and its reputation for (what we would now call) entrepreneurial initiative, in trying to find a context for Paul's discussion of group rivalries in 1 Cor 1 to 4.
Form CriticismThis approach, more commonly used in study of the gospels, is concerned with the form that passages take, and what this might tell us about their use prior to inclusion within the written texts as we have them. So it is commonly held that both
Phil 2.611 and
Col 1.1520 consist of pre-Pauline hymns that Paul has incorporated into his letterspurely on the basis of their written form.
Source CriticismAgain, this discipline is most concerned with the source documents of the gospels, but also is used in the study of letters. We have seen that most scholars believe that what we call 2 Corinthians is composed of two or more earlier documents which have been brought together (see pp 9295). There are also several theories about the composition of the Book of Revelation, either as originating as a series of visions over a long period of time, or as a text which has been editing once, twice or even three times!
Redaction CriticismThis focuses on the way an author has made use of his (or her) sources and shapes the material to offer a distinctive perspective, so again has been made use of in relation to the synoptic gospels. But there continues to be considerable debate about the relation between Paul's portrayal of himself in his letters and the way Luke edits his sources to depict Paul in Acts, highlighting some of Luke's particular concerns already evident from his gospel.
Textual CriticismWe have literally thousands of manuscripts and manuscript fragments from the early centuries, and these have some variations in them. Textual criticism is the discipline of deciding which is the most likely original text. For the vast majority, there is little significance in the variations, and these do not affect any key doctrinal issues. But on some occasions the variations contribute to discussion of an important issue. For example, we have already noted (p 87) that some early manuscripts do not include Paul's injunction for women to be silent in
1 Cor 14.3435, and this is a continuing subject of debate.
Canonical Criticism'Canon' is the Greek word for reed or measuring rod, and the 'canon' of Scripture refers both to the rule of life that Scripture invites us into, but also the 'rule' governing what we include in what we call Scripture. Canonical criticism is concerned with reading one part of the New Testament in the context of what else the New Testament (and, ultimately, the whole Bible) says. Thus we need to read what James says about faith, works and the example of Abraham (
James 2.1426) in the light of what Paul says about faith, works and the example of Abraham (Romans 4) and vice versa.
Literary CriticismThis is the name given to a range of approaches which have become important in the last 40 years and derive from more general approaches to literature. They are concerned with understanding the shape and effect of the text as we have it. Narrative criticism looks at the key features of stories and how they work. Of particular importance to the NT letters, rhetorical criticism is concerned with the shape and effect of texts as arguing a case. For example, in 1 Cor 15 we can find either three categories of rhetoric according to Greek thinking, or four categories according to Latin thinking, and this gives important insights into the way Paul is making his case.
Waco1947 ,la
