Historical criticism

Historical criticism (also known as the historical-critical method or higher criticism) is a branch of criticism that investigates the origins of ancient texts in order to understand "the world behind the text"^[1] and emphasizes a process that "delays any assessment of scripture’s truth and relevance until after the act of interpretation has been carried out".^[2] While often discussed in terms of ancient Jewish, Christian, and increasingly Islamic writings, historical criticism has also been applied to other religious and secular writings from various parts of the world and periods of history.^[3]

The primary goal of historical criticism is to discover the text's primitive or original meaning in its original historical context and its literal sense or sensus literalis historicus. The secondary goal seeks to establish a reconstruction of the historical situation of the author and recipients of the text. That may be accomplished by reconstructing the true nature of the events that the text describes. An ancient text may also serve as a document, record or source for reconstructing the ancient past, which may also serve as a chief interest to the historical critic. In regard to Semitic biblical interpretation, the historical critic would be able to interpret the literature of Israel as well as the history of Israel.^[4] In 18th century Biblical criticism, the term "higher criticism" was commonly used in mainstream scholarship^[5] in contrast to "lower criticism" (textual criticism).^[6]

Historical criticism began in the 17th century and gained popular recognition in the 19th and 20th centuries. The perspective of the early historical critic was influenced by the rejection of traditional interpretations that came about with the Protestant Reformation. With each passing century, historical criticism became refined into various methodologies used today: source criticism, form criticism, redaction criticism, tradition criticism, canonical criticism, and related methodologies.^[7]

^ Soulen, Richard N.; Soulen, R. Kendall (2001). Handbook of biblical criticism (3rd ed., rev. and expanded. ed.). Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press. p. 78. ISBN 0-664-22314-1.
^ Sinai, Nicolai (2017). The Qur'an: a historical-critical introduction. The new Edinburgh Islamic surveys. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. pp. 2–5. ISBN 978-0-7486-9576-8.
^ Oliver, Isaac (2023). "The Historical-Critical Study of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Scriptures". In Dye, Guillame (ed.). Early Islam: The Sectarian Milieu of Late Antiquity?. Editions de l'Universite de Bruxelles.
^ Soulen, Richard N. (2001). Handbook of Biblical Criticism. John Knox. p. 79.
^ Hahn, Scott, ed. (2009). Catholic Bible dictionary (1st ed.). New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-51229-9.
^ Soulen, Richard N. (2001). Handbook of Biblical Criticism. John Knox. pp. 108, 190.
^ Law, David R. (2012). The historical-critical method: a guide for the perplexed. Continuum guides for the perplexed. London New York: Continuum. pp. viii–ix. ISBN 978-0-567-11130-2.

[Handbook,_78-1] Soulen, Richard N.; Soulen, R. Kendall (2001). Handbook of biblical criticism (3rd ed., rev. and expanded. ed.). Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press. p. 78. ISBN 0-664-22314-1.

[:0-2] Sinai, Nicolai (2017). The Qur'an: a historical-critical introduction. The new Edinburgh Islamic surveys. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. pp. 2–5. ISBN 978-0-7486-9576-8.

[3] Oliver, Isaac (2023). "The Historical-Critical Study of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Scriptures". In Dye, Guillame (ed.). Early Islam: The Sectarian Milieu of Late Antiquity?. Editions de l'Universite de Bruxelles.

[Handbook,_79-4] Soulen, Richard N. (2001). Handbook of Biblical Criticism. John Knox. p. 79.

[5] Hahn, Scott, ed. (2009). Catholic Bible dictionary (1st ed.). New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-51229-9.

[6] Soulen, Richard N. (2001). Handbook of Biblical Criticism. John Knox. pp. 108, 190.

[7] Law, David R. (2012). The historical-critical method: a guide for the perplexed. Continuum guides for the perplexed. London New York: Continuum. pp. viii–ix. ISBN 978-0-567-11130-2.

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