The Elements of the Higher Criticism (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XL THE HIGHER CRITICISM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, The interest started, at the beginning of the sixteenth century, in the purity of the New Testament The N. T. text, by the printing of the same in Text-Greek, long absorbed the attention and occupied the energies of students in this field. Even Richard Simon, the father of modern isagogics, without strictly limiting himself to the question of the text, devoted the greatest part of his work on the New Testament to topics which have since been adopted in the Lower Criticism. Simon's tendency was toward minimizing the divine element in Scripture. Other Roman Catholic writers, like Ellies Du Pin f and Augustin Calmet J investigated independently of Simon. Simon found a vigorous opponent, among Protestants, in J. H. Mai. Other Protestant writers were satisfied to follow in the beaten Opposed..., paths. An exception must be made to this general statement, however, of Joh. David Michaelis. Michaelis' interest in the bare historical aspects of questions of Introduction increased as he deepened into his studies. His belief in inspiration was not shaken, but he gave a subordinate place to this belief, and denied all real validity to the internal and subjective appeal of the Scriptures as an argument for their divine authority. This doctrine was commonly taught at the time among Protestants under the name of "The witness of the Holy Spirit"--Testimonium Spiritus Sancti. It was after the rise of Deism, and in consequence of the denial of miracles, that the simona origin and credibility of the writings Pioneerof the New Testament were investigated critically. The Higher Criticism in the New Testament has accordingly followed the course of the history of the philosophy of religion, and...