: F. F. Bruce
: Understanding Biblical Criticism What It Is * What It Does * Why It Matters
: Kingsley Books
: 9781912149124
: 1
: CHF 8.30
:
: Christentum
: English
: 140
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
The term 'biblical criticism' simply means discerning the most accurate text of the Bible ('textual criticism') and then exploring issues such as who wrote the various books of the Bible, when they were written, and the circumstances of the writing ('higher criticism'). Yet because the word 'criticism' can imply fault-finding and because some prominent biblical critics come to their study with a skepticism of the historical value of the Bible, biblical criticism often stirs up suspicion or even hostility. F.F. Bruce assures us that we don't have to be afraid of biblical criticism. This ebook includes articles originally appearing in Christianity Today, Essential Christianity, Precious Seed, and The Christian Librarian.

CRITICISM AND FAITH


F.F. BRUCE

THE BIBLE ADDRESSES ITSELF FROM FAITH TO FAITH. The Old Testament writings, according to the New Testament, were given in order to bear witness to Christ (John 5:39), to unfold the way of salvation, and to provide the man of God with the spiritual equipment he needs for Christian life and service (2 Tim. 3:15 ff.). And if this is true of the Old Testament writings, it is truea fortiori of the New Testament writings. There is considerable point to the often repeated statement that the avowed purpose of the Fourth Gospel is the primary purpose of all the New Testament writings: “these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

It is a basic evangelical tenet that, if the biblical writings do not lead us to faith in Christ, their primary purpose has not been accomplished in us. However much we may study them for other ends, however much we may value them for their religious content, yet without faith in the Christ of whom they speak we are in the position of those to whom the charge of Christ himself came that while they searched the sacred writings to find true life there, they could not attain it because they would not come to him, to whom those writings pointed as the giver of life.

FAITH AND CRITICISM

Evangelical Christians accordingly believe that it is in the way of faith that the Bible’s true purpose is fulfilled and its inmost meaning grasped. But the question then arises about the relation between the appropriation of the Bible message by faith and the study of the Bible and its message by means of the various critical disciplines. No doubt there are many Christian believers who are content to hear the voice of God in the Bible assuring them that in Christ he has brought salvation to them. The witness of the Holy Spirit in their hearts assures them that they have not followed cunningly devised fables in accepting the Gospel as the way of life. Problems raised by the critical study of the Bible do not trouble them, and they find it difficult to understand how any believer can be troubled by such things when the eternal verities stand forth in the Bible with all their self-authenticating power. Again, there are eminent theologians, no mean practitioners in the critical arts, who assure us that criticism and faith are so unrelated that even a critical method that reduces the historical content of the Gospel story almost to the vanishing-point need present no obstacle to belief in the real and abiding essence of the Gospel. Such an assurance makes little appeal to the simpler believers whom we have already mentioned,