New-York tribune., 1891-05-24
THE BIBLE.
THE SCOPE OF MODERN BIBLICAL CRITI-
CISM

CISM.
No one who pays any attention TO what is going
on in the religious world can tail to see that
the one great question now before Christianity,
which overshadows all others, is that relating to
the Bible, it's nature character, history and author
ity Nearly all the controversies, discussions,
doubts and speculations which to-day so largely
occupy the attention of the churches have been
inspired by the modern critical study OF the Bible,
and can find their ultimate solution only In tlle
settlement of the questions raised by Biblical cri
cism The so-called progressive theology movement
in the Congregational churches, the controversy
over Christian eschatology, the movement 10 re-
wise the standards Of the Presbyterian Church' ana
The present widespread discussion In that Churcn
pf the views of Professor Briggs the Broad Churcn
movement In the Episcopal Church, and the re-
marlxable growth of liberal ideas and questioning
spirit in all denominations, have their origin Ill.,
and derive their strength from, that spirit of in
vestigation which has been fostered by modern
Biblical criticism and scientific methods of research
There have been brought to light great array OF
facts and evidence, internal and external which,
If admitted utterly overthrow old theories of the
verbal inspiration the infallibityl and the iner-
sancy of the Bible. Many Of the conclusions oil
Biblical criticism have already been tacity ac-
.tepted by the churches though at first they Bit
terly opposed them Indeed the Christian con-
seriousness OF the age is deeply tinged with the new
Thought about the Bible and it is evident that
The process is destined to go on indefinitely in
spite of the frantic efforts of the conservatives.
individuals in the churches who adopt the views
fof the critics will doubtless be disciplined. But
no ecclesiastical machinery can arrest the move
ment Of which they are the product. Whether for
good or i'll, it is working its way into the very
heart of modern Christianity.
In view of the paramount Importance Of this
question and of the profound interest which all
Christians take in il, a clear and concise state
snent of the conclusions to which conservatives
critics in the churches have come in regard to the
Bible will be both timely and useful
Modern Biblical criticism, then, it is urged, has
Established its right TO exist by what it has DONE
True, its conclusions are falible, but were the
human traditions about the Bible which the
churches have exalted into sacred dogmas, TO deny
which is to deny Christianity. The traditions of
the Church and the conclusions of modern critics
must be judged before the bar Of fact and truth.
The old dogma which forbds any Examination of
she Bible, OF any rational Judgment in regard to it,
Is out of harmony with the historical fact that the
present books Of the Bible were gathered together
by the exercise of the very same rational weigh
ing Of evidence which is, by that dogma, for
bidden. In making up the present canon of
Scripture unnspired and falible men did exactly
what Christian critics are doing now that
is to say, they used their TO weigh
facts and evidence, in accordance with which
they decided that certain books were inspired
The reason must always be thus recognized and
tlf so, no halfway measures can be adopted. IL
criticism has the right to examine any part of the
Bible, any inherited opinion about it, it has
the right to examine every part and every opinion.
fnN Ninfoy han fa11c hot
st. John wrote the fourth Gospel, or when it con-
firms the historical character of the New Testa-
ment we must also listen to it if it proves the
Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch raises
doubts concerning the genuineness of the Second
Epistle of Peter. The only object of the Biblical
critic is TO find out what the Bible is, and what
it claims for itself, opposed TO the great body
of opinions and interpretations which tradition
has gathered. about it, In this view the study
of the Bible is simply one branch of that science
of history, whose object is to make the past real
to the present Christianity is both literature
and history, and it is, therefore, subject to the
recognized laws of literary and historical criti-
scism. To divorce the Bible from history and
humanity, and TO turn it into mysterious Delphc
oracle is TO destroy its essential character. 1t is
mans book just truly as it is Gods book.
Nevertheless, criticism is not hostile to tradi-
When it does this with reference to tile date and
authorship of the books of the Bible, it is called
the Higher Criticism. When it concerns itself
with the traditional text of the Bible it is called
the Lower Criticism. The Higher Criticism
searches for traces Of the Biblical books in con-
temporary literature, monuments, coins and in
scrptions This of itself has become great de-
partment of investigation, enlisting the labors
of an army Of learned and patient investigators,
who though they have discovered so much, are
destined to discover still more The Higher Criti-
cism also seeks for marks Of date and authorship
in the books of the Bible themselves. This branch
of investigation has also been very fruitful in
facts and suggestions many Of which have grown
into theories resting on great body Of probable
evidence. And some Of these theories have Become
accepted facts which no scholar thinks of ques-
tioning.
Speaking in general way, it may be said
that the scientific and historical criticism whose
methods are but family indicated here has revo-
lutionized the modern conception Of the Bible.
II has introduced the element of historical per-
spective and has taught the necessity of dis
elimination between the various books OF the
Bible. Ii has made actual to us the Biblical past
in its real aspects. It has brought ont the ideas
of development and religious evolution which so
mark the history Of the Bible 1t has laid the
foundation of a sane exegess in opposition to
the fantastic "squatter sovereignty exegcsis' as
some one has happily called it. which formerly
dominated the minds Of theologians and preachers.
It has taught Christians to weigh and sift that
which tradition, often ignorant and nearly always
over creduous, took for granted. and has thus
ruled out of court the appeal to blind credulity,
which, from the beginning, has done so much to
arrest the orderly and natural development OF
relipiop n has done much q settle the question
of authority by showing that it is variable guam
tity, depending on truth. II has brought in the
law of discrimination in estimating the value of
different portions OF the Bible, which is, there
FORE no longer be regarded as solid block OF in
spiration, TO be accepted in bulk with
out question or investigation. One may dls'
rrirni nata hetueen the hnneleSs nessimism of the