Terms Test

Exegesis

-Explanation; interpretation -In broadest sense, the careful, methodologically self-aware study of a text undertaken in order to produce accurate & useful interpretation -More narrowly, denotes effort to establish philological & historical sense of biblical text -Definition of it & its relation to exposition & interpretation is a matter of debate

Agrapha

-Greek term -Literally means "unwritten (sayings)" -First employed by German scholar Koerner to designate sayings attributed to Jesus but not found in canonical Gospels -Sometimes known as "unknown"/"lost" sayings of Jesus -Thought to have been lost as they were passed down orally -Reach claimed to recovered large number of these from Paul's writings

Wisdom Literature

-Broadly defined as the name given to those ancient writings that deal primarily w/humanity's acquisition of knowledge about & mastery of life -Its explanations appeal to reason, experience, & human initiative rather than to revelation & divine initiative -Crenshaw suggests it can be divided into 4 kinds: (1) juridical, (2) natural, (3) practical, & (4) theological -In contemporary scholarship, nature & limits widely debated

Composition Criticism

-Coined by Henchmen in 60's -Refers to analysis of total effect of redacted text, treating composition as a whole rather than concentrating only on specific redactional elements w/in text -Hasn't been widely used since its interests are often taken for granted as goal of redaction-critical studies & normally of commentaries dealing w/individual books of Bible

Apocrypha

-"Hidden things" -"Nonauthoritative" -Books & portions of books present in LXX & accepted by Hellenistic Judaism/early church as sacred scripture, but not found in Hebrew Bible -Now term preferred is "Deuterocanonical Literature" -Called this not in the sense of "hidden," but instead "extra canonical," or "non-authoritative" -Jerome decided them not to be in Hebrew Bible -Used to strengthen people, not authoritative -Comprised of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesasticus or Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach, Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, Prayer of Azariah, Song of the Three Young Men, History of Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, 1 Esdras, 3 Esdras, 2 Esdras, 5 Esdras, Psalm 151, 3 & 4 Maccabees

Allegory

-"Saying something other than one seems to say" -In literary criticism, used to denote both allegorical representation interpretation

Q

-"Sayings source" -The Double Tradition -From German word "Quelle" meaning "source" -Symbol used loosely to mean (a) all the material held in common by Matthew & Luke, but not found in Mark, (b) hypothetical written document lying behind & accounting for material which Matt & Luke have in common, or (c) variation of preceding including theories concerning stages of oral & written tradition, translations of earlier sayings collections to account for differences, etc. -Rests on 2 main arguments: (1) degree of verbal agreement between Lukan & Matthew non-marian material is so high it can be explained only by use of common source & (2) order of this non-marian material is so often the same that only a common source can account for it

Postcolonial Biblical Interpretation

-"Umbrella term that covers a multitude of literary practices & concerns of diverse races, empires, colonies, geographical centers, times, & genres -Emphasizes pervasiveness of imperialism & relates imperial expansion, impact, & response to certain literary practices & practitioners -Term introduced by political scientists of early 1970's to denote condition of Third World political systems after decolonization by Western powers -Addresses themes such as slavery, migration, diaspora, oppression & resistance, identity & hybridity, ethnicity, gender, race, & place & West's continuing power & authority in global affairs & explores various strategies for resisting & appropriating Western ideas & influence -Focuses on use of Bible in context of Western colonialism & its aftermath -Often registers similarly negative verdict against modern Western biblical criticism -Diverse in methodology & approach

Hermeneutics

-"to express, to explain, to translate, to interpret" -"art of interpretation" -Rules & procedures for determining the sense of written texts -In modern form, seeks not merely to describe rules for appropriate interpretation, but more basically to provide a general theory of human understanding that can support continued claims for the contemporary meaningfulness & possible truth of biblical (and other ancient) texts -Associated w Schleiermacher, Dilthey, Heideger, Gadamer, Ricoeur -More recently been critiqued

Halakah

-"to go, to walk" -In rabbinic tradition, a technical term referring to either (a) that part of rabbinic lit. that contains rules for daily conduct of individual's & community's life or (b) rules & decisions themselves as handed down by rabbis to be the authoritative interpretation of the written &/or oral Torah -Stands in contrast w/ haggadah

Alexandrian Text

-1 of the geographical place names given to MSS of the NT -bears same textual characteristics & thought to come from common textual ancestor originating in Alexandria, Egypt -Also called "Egyptian text" & "Neutral Text" -Principal witness to Neutral text is MS "Codex Vaticanus" -1 of 2 distinct early text types & traced back from Codex B and Codex L, MSS 33, 1739, & 579

Verbal Inspiration

-AKA "mechanical inspiration," "dictation theory of inspiration," or "liberal inspiration" -Theory of biblical inspiration maintaining that (1) God inspired not only thoughts or ideas expressed in scripture, but also the very words employed & (2) these words therefore share in infallibility that belongs divine nature -Advocates of verbal inspiration often also affirm notion of plenary inspiration, i.e. that the scriptures are free from error not only in matters of faith & practice, but also in everything they touch upon, so that "each & everything presented to us in Scriptures is absolutely true whether it pertains to doctrine, ethics, history, chronology, topography, or onomastics"

Transliteration

-Act or process by which words, letters, or characters of 1 language are written in letters or characters of another, or result thereof -Biblical languages & languages of Bible's environment are often into Roman script -No single system in common use for Hebrew

Apocalypse

-Common name for Revelation to John -Last book of NT _Greek name & opening word of Greek text -In Greek means "revelation"

Analogy

-Comparison between similar features or attributes of 2 otherwise dissimilar things -Helps make unknown thing known -Proposes similarity of relationships between 2 things -In theological analysis, stands between univocity (one voice) on the one hand and equivocity on the other

Historical Critical Method

-Actually refers to specific procedures used by historical criticism -More broadly, encompasses underlying conception of the nature & power of historical reasoning on which historical criticism rests -Term sometimes used erroneously as synonym for whole body of critical methodologies & approaches related to discipline of biblical criticism -Erroneous because many of ^ do not claim to be historical -Typically embraces these tenets: (1) reality is uniform & universal, (2) it's accessible to human reason & & investigation, (3) that all events historical & natural occurring w/in it are in principle interconnected wi/in it are in participle interconnected & comparable by analogy, (4) that humanity's contemporary experience of reality can provide objective criteria by which what could or could not have happened in the past can be determined

Apocalyptic

-Adjective used in biblical criticism meaning relating to or characteristic of apocalyptic literature -Designates those ancient visionary writings or parts of writings that purport to reveal mystery of the end of the world & of the glories of the world to come -As a young, refers to religious phenomenon that comes to expression in apocalyptic lit & to social & intellectual matrix that this type of literature springs -Literary genre, worldview, & social phenomenon -Includes these traits: (1) dualism between heavenly & earthly planes of existence & between 2 opposing moral forces; (2) depiction of radical transformation of world; (3) cosmic catastrophes; (4) predetermined epochs of history leading to end; (5) hierarchy of angels & demons; (6) righteous remnant that will enjoy fruits of salvation; (7) belief that actual establishment of new age is effected through messiah or angel

Tradition Criticism

-All acceptable translations for German technical term & are increasingly used as translations -Study of history of oral traditions during period of their transmission -History of oral traditions that is in view

Discourse Analysis

-Also called text linguistics -Refers to linguistic analysis of texts larger than sentence in terms of text's internal factors -More recently became umbrella term comprising an (allegedly "unending") number of interrelated modes of empirical interpretation (pragmatics) that take into account external factors scubas setting in which communication takes place

Apology

-An apologetic=a defense -In NT Greek, noun & verbal forms appear frequently in sense of a verbal defense or explanation of one's conduct or opinions -Ex: Luke's presentation of story of Paul & early church in Acts

Ideological Criticism

-An approach to biblical interpretation that's centrally concerned w/laying bare the idealogical dimensions of a text & its history of interpretation -OFten refers pejoratively to system of belief that's oppressive or doctrinaire & infused w/extremist passion -Aim is to enable the exegete to became conscious of personal ideological blind spots & constraints & to produce a more ethically responsible reading of biblical text -Assumes people are usually unaware of idealogical character of their own beliefs, for people ted to equate these beliefs w/how things really are -Investigates 3 elements of every text: (1) ideological context in which an author produces text, (2) ideology reproduced w/in text itself, (3) ideology of text's readers or "consumers" -Serves best when used to supplement other perspectives rather than to provide exclusive framework for interpretation

Codex

-Ancient manuscript in book form -Made of papyrus or vellum -Almost all extant early Christian manuscripts are in codex form

Psychological Biblical Interpretation

-Applies contemporary psychological theory to lit. of Bible & to its traditional & modern interpretation -Stands in continuity w/broad & even ancient interest in analyzing human psyche as displayed in biblical text -Jung & Freud played roles -Not a method, but an approach to scripture that seeks to add its perspective to essentially all avenues of biblical criticism, whether concerned w/authors, readers, or critics

Deconstruction

-Approach to reading that's concerned w/decentering or unmasking problematic nature of centers in philosophical & theological texts -Derrida is main progenitor -According to ^ Western thought is based on idea of centers that provide a foundation for all meaning -For ^, problem w/centers is that they can perform their role only by marginalizing other reality -^ suggests all of Western thought works in this way, generating binary pairs, assigning centrality to 1 member & banishing other to the periphery -Seeks to expose & dismantle hidden logic of centers w/out falling to a mere replication of their logic -Typically proceeds by drawing attention to centrality of central term, then shows central term is unexpectedly dependent on marginal term for its very definition -Throws into question the priority of central term & rescues disfavored term from marginality -Goal is not to invert original relation of terms but to permit their interplay in absence of controlling center

Targum

-Aram: "translation," "interpretation" -Refers specifically to Aramaic versions of OT In rabbinic lit., word may refer simply to Aramaic portions, even single words, of Bible Arose out of synagogal practice of accompanying reading of Hebrew text w/Aramaic translation for benefit of Aramaic-speaking Jews -Translation was provided w/interpretive additions, making it an expanded paraphrase of the original

Narrative

-As a noun, account of events, whether actual or fanciful, reported in any way for any reason -As an adjective, denotes a part of such an account -Distinguished from other literary genres by the presence of plot, sequence of connected action that brings together character, place, & circumstance & leads through dramatic conflict to some sense of resolution -Gunkel considered it a distinct literary genre

Asian Biblical Interpretation

-Attests to increasing interest in globalization of biblical interpretation & theological education generally -Doesn't denote any particular methodological focus of interpretation but encompasses all interpretive concerns & interests -Seeks to bring together scholars interested in & committed to Biblical Studies in various contexts of Asia/Oceania, including those in diaspora

Audience Criticism

-Concerned w/understanding original historical recipients of biblical texts -Part of historical criticism from beginning, more recently come to be distinguished as distinct field of inquiry of its own -Seeks to characterize intended historical recipient on the basis of clues w/in text itself -Makes use of any available extra textual evidence in constructing historical recipient

Source Criticism

-Considered oldest of modern critical methods of analyzing scripture -1st appeared in 17th and 18th cents. when scholars began to read Bible from secular perspective -Identification of discrepancies & differences & their attribution to discrete literary entities or "sources," coupled w/dating of these hypothetical sources to historical periods & geographic regions comprised the task

J (Yahwist)

-Customary designation for 1 of 4 major but hypothetical sources used in composition of the Pentateuch or Hexateuch -Unknown author of source is named after the English spelling of author's preferred name for God -Symbol comes from German spelling of same name -Existence, extent, date, & nature of source are widely debated -In style & subject, document can be described as an epic, at once patriotic & religious, ascribes origin & well-being of Israel to YHWH's promises to Abraham, sketches long journey to land of promise from patriarchs to vicissitudes in Egypt & in wilderness, to conquest of Canaan

Dead Sea Scrolls

-DSS -Name given mainly to parchment & papyrus schools, written in Hebrew, Aramaic, & Greek -Discovered in 11 caves along northwestern coast of Dead Sea between 1947 and 1956 -Generally dating from ca. 200 BCE to 60 CE -Assigned by most scholars to an Essene community located about 8 miles south of Jericho at archaeological site, Khirbet Qumran -Conflicting theories concerning origin of site as well as schools & identity of people that produced them -Number more than 870 -Term DSS used more broadly for texts found during same & subsequent years at some places -Helps one understand sectarian Judaism & Christianity of 1st cent. & gaining insights into history of transmission of text of Hebrew Bible, including Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

Social-Scientific Criticism

-Delineable approach w/in larger domain of sociological interpretation -In field of biblical criticism, defined as "that phase of the exegetical task which analyzes the social & cultural dimensions of the text & of its environmental context through the utilization of the perspectives, theory, models, & research of the social sciences" -As sub discipline of exegesis, sees itself as necessary component of historical criticism, at the same time making use of and complementing all other exegetical methodologies & approaches -Investigates how societies are organized & operate, how values & beliefs are shaped by natural & social environments, how religious concepts & symbols develop into "universes of meaning" in which actions, lifestyles, & conditions are justified & given motivation -General objective is "the analysis, synthesis, & interpretation of social as well as literary & ideological (theological) dimensions of text, the correlation of these textual features, & the manner in which it was designed as persuasive vehicle of communication & social interaction, & thus an instrument of social as well as literary & theological consequence" Seeks to widen & correct narrow focus of form & redaction criticism as traditionally practiced

Rhetorical Analysis

-Denotes specific form of inquiry that's concerned w/rhetorical structure of a text, that is, w/rhetoric as art of composition

Asian American Biblical Interpretation

-Derives from commitment to combine Asian & Asian American studies, biblical studies, & hermeneutics in part to gain recognition for a group of people w/in discipline of biblical studies as well as Asian-American studies -Movement that has centers everywhere & circumferences nowhere -Repeated reference to this scholarship will in itself establish tradition & legitimacy of its biblical interpretation

Synoptic Problem

-Derives from observation that 1st 3 books of NT contain strikingly high degree of verbal agreement between them & the order of material in each is in large measure the same -To explain how this similarity came to be -Problem best seen w/aid of Greek or English synopsis, which places texts of Gospels in parallel lines -Theoretically 18 different solutions to problem of literary dependence

Postcritical Biblical Interpretation

-Designates approach to scripture undertaken by community of interpreters "for whom returning to the biblical text embodies, beyond all scholarship, a living relationship w/God & humankind" -Doesn't reject outright critical methodologies & their guiding philosophical assumptions -Acknowledges critical methodologies, both historical & literary, can be used to honor the divine word & shouldn't be ignored, but held in conversation -Looks to other figures who embodied a kind of "post critical" spirit in their own day, such as Origen, Augustine, Hamann, Kierkegaard -Contemporary movement doesn't subscribe to this view -Assumes that canonical form of text was designed to convey a message & that finally the Bible itself is a text in its own right in which all discernible units take on new hues & connotations w/in the whole -Interpretation also takes place in community, not isolation -Aim of interpretation "is never a mere matter of handling text & the relationships between texts. IT is above all a matter of being in the presence & open to the handling of the One who, in some sense, is the final 'author' of its message" -Presupposes threefold relations between word (text), community of interpretation, & God -W/out ^, meaning of Bible can't be understood

Radical Criticism

-Distinction is to be made between "radically historical approach" to Bible

Heilsgeschichte

-English equivalents: redemptive history, salvation history, sacred history, history of redemption/salvation, or history of God's saving acts -Doesn't denote methodology of biblical criticism, but rather an approach to the theological interpretation of scripture that emphasizes ongoing story of God's redemptive activity in history -Also used as descriptive term referring to theology of history found in both testaments, esp. Debt. &Luke-Acts

Existentialist/Existential

-English translations of 2 technical terms central to biblical hermeneutics of Bultmann -Come from German terms -One refers to formal, conceptual analysis of permanent structures or possibilities of human existence & corresponds to term ontological in philosophy -2nd term denotes concrete decision regarding 1's existence & corresponds to term notion in philosophy -According to Bultmann, NT & Christian theology speak in antic-existential way of concrete how of human existences -^ has been challenged

Textual Criticism

-Function & purpose of textual criticism is of dual nature: (1) reconstruct original wording of biblical text & (2) establish history of transmission of text through cents. -1st of ^ goals is hypothetical & unattainable -Task is to compare existing MSS, no 2 of which are exactly alike, in order to develop a "critical" text that lists variant readings in footnotes, called "critical apparatus" -Not only provides an idea of how original text may have read also provides knowledge of how in fact it did read & in some respects how it was interpreted, at various centers of faith at various times in Christian history -Principles: (1) external criteria, (2) internal criteria

Eschatology

-Furthest, last, or final -Named for part of dogmatic theology that treated "the doctrine of last things" -In contemporary biblical criticism, refers generally to God's future intervention to end present course of events -In OT criticism, applied quite broadly to refer to Israel's orientation toward the future as the areas where God will act decisively in accord w/God's deity, promises, & commands -Some draw distinction between prophetic & apocalyptic eschatology to differentiate between (a) expectations concerning future found in prophetic warnings/promises in OT & (b) expectations concerning imminent crisis characteristic of apocalyptic lit In NT criticism, definition & role in teaching & expectation of Jesus have been of central importance since Weiss's & Schweitzer -Schweitzer interpreted it as radically discontinuous w/present -Dodd interpreted it as "realized eschatology", in which the rule of God is seen as efficaciously present in Jesus himself -^ eternal is present in the now -Synthesis of these two can be called "proleptic eschatology" - understands words & deeds of Jesus to represent God's rule, though ultimate fulfillment still to be realized -Jeremias w/most adequate view of NT's presentation: in Jesus we have "inaugurating eschatology," or in the process of being realized

Parable

-GK: "parabole" -Constitute a type of figurative speech involving comparison that's distinguishable from the simple metaphor on the one hand & allegory on the other yet may contain elements of both -Sayings of Jesus are categorized as similitude (extended metaphor or metaphor extended into a pic), parable proper (metaphor extended into story), example story (sometimes called parable in scripture) -Julicher brought the idea of parable in place of allegory in Jesus' teachings

Language Event

-Ger: "Sprachereignis, Wortgeschehen" -Synonymous terms in New Hermeneutic as developed by Fuchs & Ebeling -Based on the idea that for human beings reality happens - comes into being - through language, & that the creative eventfulness of language is the key issue in hermeneutics -Have an ongoing residual effect in & as language that enables previously realized possibilities of human existence to be actualized again in new circumstances -NT is evidence of coming-into-language (language gain) of new reality known as JC

Sitz-im-Leben

-Ger: "setting in life" or "life situation" -Become technical term in form criticism to refer to sociological setting w/in life of Israel or early church in which particular rhetorical forms 1st took shape -More recently, form criticism's concern w/ it has been taken up by sociological analysis & is expressed by terms such as social location & social world -1st employed by Gunkel -^ referred to social setting literary form in Israel -In NT redaction criticism, modification of term refers not to sociological but to a literary setting that the various traditions have been given by the writers

Religionsgeschicte

-German term w/out single English equivalent -Translated most accurately & literally as "the history of religion(s)" -In broadest terms, refers to historical study of the origin, development, & interrelationship of religious movements -Frequently translated "comparative religions" -^ often connotes an anthropological approach to general religious subjects w/out concern for historical relativity

Logion

-Gk: "a saying" -In singular form, its techincal sense is almost always used in reference to an utterance of Jesus characterized by brevity & succinctness in contrast to longer sayings such as parables or discourses -"Floating" or "migrant" is one that appears in variety of settings in Gospel tradition, due either to location w/in oral tradition or to judgment of Gospel writer -In plural form, refers to hypothetical collection of sayings antedating Gospels

Pericope

-Gk: "cut around" -Appears as technical term in Hellenistic rhetoric for short section or passage of a writing -Carried over into Latin to designate potions of scripture; use of term in this way preceded division of scripture into chapters -Came to be used as "lesson" for reading in public worship & later as unit for preaching -In biblical criticism, often used to refer to any self-contained unit of scripture

Tetragrammaton

-Gk: "having 4 letters" -Refers to personal proper name of God of Israel, YHWH, called this since time of Philo because it consists of 4 Hebrew consonants -Appears over 6,000 times in Hebrew Bible & is strictly speaking its only personal proper name for God, other names being common nouns, appellations, or epithets -Due to sacred, singular character, scribes & translators have long accorded it exceptional treatment

Typology

-Gk: "pattern, archetype" -Refers to interpretation of person, events, & institutions in light of their resemblance or correspondence to other person, events, & institutions, w/in common framework of sacred history -Characteristic of both biblical lit itself & of Jewish & Christian traditions of biblical interpretation -Establishes a connection between 2 events or persons, 1st of which signifies not only itself, but also the 2nd, while the 2nd encompasses or fulfills the 1st

Paradigm

-Gk: "pattern, model, example" -Commonly means "model," but also appears in biblical studies in 3 more specialized senses: (1) student of language finds term used for example or patter of conjugation or declension of a word in its various inflected forms (2) NT form critic encounters term used as technical term for brief narrative that culminates in a saying of Jesus (3) most recent, term means "an interpretive framework"

Kerygma

-Gk: "proclamation, preaching) -derived from Greek that in scripture & in modern biblical theology & criticism may refer either to content of what is preached or to the act of preaching

Chria

-Greek technical term used in ancient rhetoric -Denotes literary form containing epigram or "sharp pointed saying of general significance, originating in a definite person & arising out of a definite situation" -Dibelius -^ distinguishes chia from (a) larger grouping of "Apophthegmata" by nothing former's connection w/particular situation & from (b) Gnome by its connection w/a person -According to ^, literary tendencies w/in early church caused sayings of Jesus to be adapted to chia form

Pseudepigrapha

-Greek: "falsely titled" -First used to designate a collection ancient Jewish & Hellenistic Jewish writings not in OT canon or in Apocrypha & whose authorship Fabricius deems falsely ascribed -Continues as accepted convention, albeit vague & problematic -No universally accepted list exists -Criteria currently employed are: (1) work must be at least partially Jewish or Jewish-Christian, (2) should date from period 200 BCE to 200 CE, (3) should claim to be inspired, (4) should be related in form or content to OT, (5) ideally attributed to figure of HB

Gnosis/Gnostic/Gnosticism

-Greek: "knowledge" -Terms employed in reference to amorphous school(s) of religion-philosophical thought prevalent both in & outside early Christian church -For various theological, christological, & ethical reasons, deemed heretical by emergent Catholicism -"Reinterpretation of the Christian experience of fall & redemption as revealed by revelation & narrated through revelation, presented in the form of a figurative myth or a kind of philosophy: -Jesus came to reveal this secret knowledge to allow understanding of the divine

Didache

-Greek: "teaching" -"Teaching of the Twelve Apostles" -Technical term for didactic or instructional material of early church in contrast to kerygma or preaching -Usually described as early 2nd cent. manual of church instruction, although its 1st section may go back to 1st cent. Jewish document -Chapters 1-6 may be related to Epistle of Barnabas

Historiography

-Greek: "to write history" -Refers to writing of history, w/special reference to critical use of original sources -Also refers to critical reflection on discipline of writing history -Of special concern to OT scholars, since history presented in test of OT extends from Creation to Maccabean Revolt -Of less concern to NT scholars, for apart from Gospels, only Acts purports it be a record of historical events & it covers a span of less than 35 years from ascension of Jesus to imprisonment of Paul in Rome -Narrative of past events -Older than writing itself -4 major approaches to OT history have existed over the last half cent. & more: (1) orthodox or traditional approach, (2) traditions of OT embody historical memory & in the main quite reliable & archaeological remains provide objective means for containing subjectivistic hypotheses whether literary, philosophical, or theological, regarding history of Israel, (3) tradition-historical approach, & (4) socioeconomic approach

Literary Criticism

-Has 3 very different definitions, all 3 in use today -(1) Originally referred to particular approach to historical study of scripture that appeared in systematic form in 19tht cent. & is now more familiarly known/practiced as source criticism -(2) In early-mid 20th cent., referred to attempts to explicate biblical author's intention & achievements through detailed analysis of text's rhetorical elements & literary structure -(3) In contemporary usage, refers quite broadly to any attempt to understand biblical lit. in a manner that parallels the interests & theories of modern literary critics & theorists generally

Pesher

-Heb: "interpretation, commentary" -Technical term from Hebrew meaning commentary & applied by modern scholars as descriptive designation to certain documents among Dead Sea Scrolls

Talmud

-Heb: "study," instruction" -Comprehensive term for Mishnah * its accompanying commentary, called Gemara (meaning "teaching") -^ contains wide variety of material earring directly or remotely on subjects of Mishnah, as well as strict exposition on text in legal argumentation & exegesis -Structure is therefore that of the Mishnah, having 6 orders divided into 63 tractates, a form it obtained by 3rd cent. -Its 2 editions, though similar in form, differ greatly in content -Babylonian one is 4x the length of the Palestinian 1 -Babylonian one the authoritative document

Mishnah

-Heb: "to repeat, to learn" -Authoritative collection of most halakic (legal & procedural) material developed w/in oral traditions of pharisaic & rabbinic Judaism, & arranged & revised by Judah ha-Nasi in 1st decades of 3rd cent. -Provides foundation for & the structure of the Talmud -Divided into 6 orders (sedarim) containing total of 63 tractates: seeds, set feasts, women, damages, holy things, cleannesses -Form, content, & organization represent significant departure from earlier & contemporary Jewish lit., but scholarship isn't yet agreed on the meaning of the difference

Midrash

-Heb: "to search, inquire" -Rabbinic term for exegesis or interpretation of scripture -May refer to particular instance of scriptural interpretation or more precisely, to a literary work of scriptural commentary -May be either halakic (legal, procedural) or haggadic (nonlegal, illustrative, etc) in content, exegetical, homiletical, or narrative in form -It is always commentary on scripture, i.e., on a field text regarded by interpreter as revealed word of God

The Western Text

-In NT textual criticism, one of geographical place names given to MSS of NT bearing similar textual characteristics -In the main the bilingual Greco-Latin MSS, Old Latin MSS< & quotations from Later Fathers, all associated w/Italy, Gaul, & Africa -Suggested that by 5th cent., this & Neutral (Alexandrian) text had been melded together to form Byzantine Text, dominant text type of subsequent cents.

Rhetoric

-In broadest sense, it's the "art of speaking" & is practiced by everyone -Encompasses all forms of human communication -In narrower, classical sense, it's the art of persuasive speech & as a field of study, traceable to the Sophists of the 5th cent. BCE

Biblical Criticism

-In broadest sense, use of rational judgment in understanding the Bible -Part of all biblical interpretation -More narrowly, refers to approach to study of scripture that's centrally concerned w/searching for & applying neutral, scientific & nonsectarian, canons of judgment in its investigation of biblical text -Denotes distinguishable chapter in history of biblical interpretation -Now also addresses other aspects of the text too -Stands in complex relationship of continuity/discontinuity w/chronologically earlier & logically subsequent forms of biblical interpretation -Ancient, modern, postmodern, post critical interpretation

New Hermeneutic

-Movement influenced by Heidegger & Bultmann -Grew out of/in response to "dialectical theology which held the thought that God speaks through (via) his Word (logos), which is attested in scripture & made present in proclamation -Accepted these ^ theological assertions, but went on to insist that it was necessary to inquire into their basis in philosophical anthropology -Analyzed relationship of language to understanding & to reality --Helped give currency to terms "hermeneutic problem" & "hermeneutic principle" in theological discussion -Says the problem of interpretation ("h. problem") exists wherever meaning is in doubt

Womanist Biblical Interpretation

-In general, term now employed across wide range of disciplines, both in US & Africa -Originally started w/African-American women -More recently, term broadened to include intention to "harmonize & coordinate difference" -Broadly defined, doesn't emphasize or privilege gender or sexism, but concerns itself w/all sites & forms of oppression -More narrowly defined w/in context of biblical studies, said to operate on 3 basic assumptions: (1) the Bible, being church's book, is central to life of Affiance American Christian community & to its understanding of God, & is a plumb line for community's life & practices, (2) interpreters must nevertheless acknowledge the pervasively androcentric & patriarchal character of biblical texts, which consequently must be critiqued from perspective of hermeneutics of suspicion, one that properly assess texts in terms of their socio-historical & idealogical contexts, & (3) multiply interlocking systems of ideology, both w/in Bible & w/in dominantly Eurocentric exegetical theories & practices by which it's traditionally been interpreted, must be identified & demystified

Myth

-In popular usage, connotes something untrue, imaginative, or unbelievable -In realm of biblical studies & theology, often used in less pejorative fashion to describe important if provisional way of perceiving & expressing truth -Gunkel defined it as a story involving at least 2 gods & on this basis denied that OT contains true ones -Bultmann defined it as a way of speaking about transcendent in terms of the immanent, the world beyond in terms of this world -^ suggested biblical ones need to be interpreted in terms of their understanding of existence if they're to be meaningful to contemporary humans

Haggadah

-In rabbinic tradition, refers either (a) that part of rabbinic lit. that shapes & informs individual & communal life through folklore, legend, parable, anecdote, proverb, etc. & (b) an individual literary unit of such character transmitted by rabbis to interpret the written &/or oral Torah or (c) the specific collection of such units that frames Passover Seder -Stands in contrast to Halakah

Caesarean Text

-In textual criticism, 1 of geographical place names that MSS of the NT bearing similar textual characteristics are sometimes identified -Theory of Caesarean text as distinct text type was proposed by BH Streeter -^ based on knowledge that in the 2 halves of his commentary on John Origen quoted from different MSS of the NT, the former available while he was in Alexandria, the latter while in Caesarea -Recent text-critical studies indicate that witnesses purportedly w/in Caesarean text type don't represent text type sufficiently distinct from 2 major strains to warrant separate designations

Chiasmus

-Inverted parallelism -Latinized word based on Greek letter Chi to symbolize inverted sequence or cross-over of parallel words/ideas in a bicolor, sentence, or larger literary unit -'a b b' a' -Often lost in translation -More difficult to identify in prose lit.

Texts Receptus

-Lat: "Received Text" -name given in Britain to 1150 edition of Greek NT, which essentially reproduced Erasmus's text of 1535 -Until 19th cent. was authoritative text of NT -Modern equivalent is published in 2 editions, identical except in their critical apparatuses

Lectionary

-Lat: "a reader" -Collection or list of selected passages (pericopes) from scripture arranged according to liturgical year for use in worship or private devotion -Evidence for fixed pattern of readings from law & prophets in synagogue worship from beginning of 3rd cent. ce & practice may be substantially older -Due to the fact they're highly resistant to change, they're an important source for textual criticism

Inclusio

-Lat: "a shutting off, confinement" -Technical term for passage of scripture in which opening phrase or idea is repeated, paraphrased, or otherwise returned to at the close (also called cyclic or ring composition) -Can aid critic in determining limits of an idea or tradition, particularly in analysis of material that's composite in nature, such as prophetic lit.

Nomina Sacra

-Lat: "the Holy Names) -Term coined by Traube -Denotes limited # of words, at most 15, that appear in abbreviated form in ancient Christian manuscripts of the Bible -Horizontal line placed above abbreviation, perhaps as warning that the word can't be pronounced as written -The words in question divide into 3 classes: (1) consists of 4 words that appear in abbreviated form in even most ancient Christian MSS: Jesus, Christ, Lord, & God; (2) frequently abbreviated in relatively early MSS: Spirit, anthropoid, & cross; (3) the remainder: father, son, savior, mother, heaven, Israel, David, & Jerusalem -Scholars suggest connection of some kind w/"reverence w/which the Sacred or Divine Name YHWH was held by the Jews"

Septuagint

-Lat: 70 -LXX, sometimes called Old Greek or Proto-LXX translation) -Earliest Greek translation of Hebrew Torah -Later came to include whole HB & Apocrypha

Narrative Criticism

-Less a methodology than a focus of inquiry employing & contributing to methods & insights of structuralism, rhetorical criticism, reader-response criticism, et al. -Has its own vocabulary -Has concentrated on the Gospels & Acts in NT & some of the HB -Begins w/assumptions of structuralism that such info adds nothing to meaning of narrative nor aids in its interpretation -Implied author and implied reader

Form Criticism

-Loosely defined as analysis of typical forms by which human existence is expressed linguistically -Traditionally referred to their oral, pre literary state, such as legends, hymns, curses, laments, etc. -Literally means "history of form" -Approach in biblical studies goes back to Gunkel -Gunkel stated that genre gives insight into the life situation in which it arises & the setting in turn illumines the content/intention of the genre itself -^ also suggested that literary genres evolve -In more recent years, it's been challenged -Four traditional steps: structure, genre, setting, intention -In NT studies, began w/Dibelius & Bultmann -There was a lack of terminology clarity that brought some issues -Also can't be performed in isolation, but requires judgment from the individual person

Redaction Criticsm

-Method of biblical criticism that seeks to lay bare the historical & theological perspectives of biblical writer by analyzing editorial (redactional) & compositional techniques & interpretations employed in shaping & framing the written and/or oral traditions at hand -Generally conceived as logical & therefore methodological correlative to form criticism -Functions only where identifiable sources are present w/in a composition -Applied to Synoptics is based on the Two Source Hypothesis -Has been applied to non canonical works

Biblical Theology

-Moves "somewhere between the normative statements of dogmatic theology & descriptive concerns of history of religions" -Traditionally used to refer to works that undertake the purely descriptive task of explaining what the Bible, or some portion of, says about God & reality in relation to God -May also refer to works that undertake the essentially prescriptive task of interpreting what the biblical texts mean on these same topics for contemporary faith & practice -1st definition may refer to older conception of biblical theology & reflects effort of biblical scholars to establish autonomy of their field -2nd definition may refer to reasserting theological character of their discipline against what they perceived to be a sterile & ecclesially ineffective historicism -Must address entire canon, but this is difficult & rare -More common are biblical theories that attempt a comprehensive overview of either the OT or NT -NT theology vs. theologizing: focus on something we do -^ "We theologize in, w/, & through the writings of the NT"

Byzantine Text

-Name in textual criticism given to form of Greek NT current in Constantinople (earlier Byzantium & now Istanbul), the capital of the Eastern Empire -Became basis of "Erasmus' Greek NT" & later of "Texts Receptus" -Also called Antiochene or Syrian -Characterized by clarifying harmonizing interpolations & general smoothing of diction -Major witnesses are codices Alexandrines(A), Ephraemi(C), Washingtonians(W), & Koine group

D: Deuteronomic Code

-Name of the nucleus of laws in book of Deut. -Some scholars identify it w/book found in Temple in 621 BCE during reign of Josiah -Also siglum for Deuteronomist(s)

Metanarrative

-Narrative that grounds or legitimates a way of life, its social institutions, & corresponding forms of knowledge

Apocryphal NT

-Non or extracononical writings originating in various Christian communities of differing theological perspectives -Noncanonical writings eventually were deemed equal in importance to canonical scriptures, distinction being irrelevant to delineating the lines of development w/in both "orthodox" and "heterodox" Christianity -Should be called "Christian apocrypha" -Gospels, Acts, Epistles, Apocalypses

Feminist Biblical Interpretation

-Not so much a technical methodology as interpretive approach that brings norms & concerns of feminism to bear on interpretation of Bible & related literatures -Aims generally are considered: (1) exposing patriarchal/male-centered biases, (2) where possible recovering women's insights, perspectives, & knowledge that have been marginalized/denied articulation, (3) reclaiming biblical/other traditional texts as resources in service of well-being of women & others, (4) securing for women equal right of self-expression & self-determination w/in domain of biblical scholarship, academy, church, & society

Apostolic Fathers

-Now frequently: Early Church Leaders -Title given by general concept to Christian authors of the late 1st & 2nd cents., whose works, though non canonical, were often read & valued by early church -Designates no firm corpus, varying from 8-12 in number -1 & 2 Clement, Epistle of Barnabas, Epistle of Diognetus, (7) Epistles of Ignatius, Epistle of Polykarp to the Philippians, Shephered of Hermas, The Didache or Teaching of the 12 Apostles, Martyrdom of Polykarp, & Fragments of Papias, Martyrdom of Ignatius, Martyrdom of Clement

Four Document Hypothesis of the Synoptic Gospels

-Proposed by Streeter -Goal was to establish documentary sources essentially equal in antiquity & presumably therefore in authenticity to Mark & Q & thereby to widen scope of the search for historical Jesus -Issue of sources used by writers of Synoptic Gosepls still debated in contemporary scholarship

Samaritan Pentateuch

-Recension of 1st 5 books of OT, written in Hebrew * preserved as sacred scriptures of Samaritans, a religious sect in Palestine that's claimed since biblical times to be the faithful remnant of ancient Israel (called Samaria in NT times)

Theological Interpretation

-Refers to any approach to understanding Bible whose central concern is knowledge of & communion w/God -Characterized by distinctive presuppositions & aims -Key aim is to understand sacred scripture as sacred scripture, that is, in a manner that's attentive to its origin & subject matter in God -Seeks critically to advance knowledge of

Orthodox Biblical Interpretation

-Refers to basic theological principles of scriptural interpretation characteristic of Eastern (expressly Greek) Orthodox traditions -Rejecting modernist notion arising out of Enlightenment that the Bible can be critically approached & understood as 1 would understand any work of antiquity, holds as foundational the following principles: (1) as word of God, scripture is supreme record of revelation, (2) interpretation of scripture must be in accord w/classical doctrines of ancient church, (3) critical reason must be open to apprehension of transcendent realities of which scripture speaks, (4) exegete must be faithful to transformative work of Holy Spirit by which God's presence/power, the subject matter of scripture, is experienced -Gives essential place to scripture, tradition, reason, & experience in its articulation of Christian faith -Traditions of interpretation that have shaped/sustained the church & scripture include "the centrality of Christ & the Spirit, authority of the received apostolic tradition, the church's bond w/the Scriptures, the doctrinal sense of the community as a whole, as well as the closely related canonization of the Bible" -Distinct for the authoritative role it gives the Greek OT (Byzantine Text), preferring it to Masoretic Text as source text for purposes of translation & theology

Casuistic Law

-Refers to class of law that addresses itself to cases, in contrast to apomictic law, which is formulated in terms of absolute prohibitions & commandments -Characterized by opening conditional clause that describes case -^ beginning "If...," followed by statement of penalty in apodosis or main clause, "then he (she) shall..." -Typical formulation of law in ancient Near East generally

Messianic Secret

-Refers to discernible phenomenon in Gospels in which Jesus explicitly conceals his messianic character & power until closing period of his ministry -Term entered NT criticism w/epoch-making work of Wrede

Intertextuality

-Refers to fact that any given use of language (text) is intelligible only w/prior uses & understandings of its symbolic worlds, etc. -Ranges in reference from general (& essentially untraceable) characteristic of all language to specific (& traceable) phenomena of language use -Due to this aspect of language that in part explains why the Bible has served as an inexhaustible source of meaning

Structuralism

-Refers to family of theories that apply methods of structural linguistics to range of cultural phenomena, including lit., kinship relations, popular culture, & so on -Saussure, founder of structural linguistics, held that to understand a language, 1 must understand it not as the physical representation of words in wound or writing, no even as a catalog of actual uses of language, but rather as a system of relations (structure) that distinguishes & interrelates the available stock of linguistic signs at given point in time -According to ^, linguistic signs have no meaning in themselves apart from their place w/in inclusive system of which they're a part -Scholars of this hod that cultural phenomena are rightly understood only when seen as distinguishable positions or "differences" in a structure or system of relations -Focuses on cultural systems * expressions as they exist at a given point in time, not as they evolve or develop over time -Major concepts & terms include: (1) language is distinct from speaking, a given use of language, (2) every language is a system of signs & signs are combination of a signifier & signified, (3) since elements of language achieve meaning only in relationship, basically 1 of combinations, contrasts, & oppositions, & (4) every language as a system of signs operates on 3 distinct levels (sounds, units of meaning, sentences or phrases)

Reader-Response Criticism

-Refers to literary approach that's centrally concerned w/reader & process of reading rather than w/author, intention of author, or text as a self-contained unity -Similar in may ways to movement known as Reception Theory, it's much more pluralistic phenomenon that lacks single focused methodology -Generally subscribe to 2 key premises: (1) meaning of literary text doesn't subsist "w/in" text as self-contained unity but is actualized or created by integration of reader & text, (2) meaning of text can differ from reader to reader & indeed from "performance" to "performance," as different readers perform text in different circumstances to different ends

Critical Apparatus

-Refers to notes applied primarily in Hebrew & Greek editions of OT & NT that cite MS sources & readings that either support or vary from printed text -Found in certain study Bibles -Inlcudes papyrus manuscripts dating from 2nd-6th cents, uncial MSS from 4th-10th cents, minuscule MSS from 9th-15th cents, version, church fathers, & lectionaries -Most exhaustive critical apparatus of NT is Editio Critica Maior

Masoretic Text

-Refers to received text of Hebrew OT as annotated for punctuation & vocalization by Masoretes, the authoritative teachers of scriptural tradition -Two schools of Majorettes emerged by 500 CE -Two traditions eventually joined to form a kind of mixed text, called Texts Receipts or "received text"

Postmodern Biblical Interpretation

-Refers to style of thought that's suspicious of modern rationalist accounts of truth, reason, & objectivity; that distrusts single explanatory frameworks or metanarratives; that sees the world & personal identities as diverse, dispersed, indeterminate, & ungrounded; that celebrates an approach to life & thought that's playful, eclectic, pluralistic, & subversive to traditional boundaries -draws attention to what it regards as problematic or unsustainable premises of modern biblical criticism -^ premises include (1) view that biblical texts are artifacts that have a single, stable, meaning, (2) that a text's meaning can be recovered by historical reconstruction, (3) benefits of critical methods accrue over time as methods become more sophisticated & as date increase

Apomictic Law

-Refers to unconditional (divine) law -Singularly characteristic of Israelite religious law, in contrast to the secular, casuistic law of Anaan -May open w/(a) the second person, negative: "Though shalt not...;" (b) a participle: "Whoever strikes his father or mother shall be put to death;" or (c) a curse: "Cursed be he who removes his neighbor's landmark" -More recent opinion: not limited to Israel & its settlement period, or just to religious law

Second Temple Period

-Refers to years between ca 520 &515 BCE & Third or Herod's reign (37-4 BCE) & to the lit. produced during that time -Terms are increasingly substituted for "the intertestamental period/literature" in recognition of importance of Jewish history & literature encompassed by terms -Change in nomenclature is due to growing conviction among some scholars that HB is in important respects the product of the period of the Second Temple rather than that of First or Solomon's Temple, making term "intertestamental" misleading & inaccurate

P: Priestly Code

-Represents latest stratum of material used in formulation of the Pentateuch, deriving name from Hebrew priests whose traditions & theological point of view it contains -Propose by Hupfeld -Described as product of historical & legal (cultic) erudition, as evidenced by its concern for genealogies, tables of nations, dates & measurements, cultic ordinances, & literary formulas -Dketches the origins of people of God, their sacred institutions & cultic laws from creation of the world to settlement of Promised Land, a history divided into 4 great periods marked by revelation of divine law first to Adam, then Noah to Abraham, & finally to Moses

Biblical Cultural Criticism

-Seeks to analyze influence of Bible on Western tradition, ancient & modern, & esp. its impact on contemporary culture -Also seeks to illuminate how culture & sociohistorical location influence interpretation of Bible -British practitioners trace roots back to British cultural studies in 50's & 60's -^ origins largely abandoned -Grown out of general influence of postmodernism, rise of perspectivalism, & esp. in US, long-held academic interest in Bible's role in lit. & arts -As currently practiced, may be characterized as ideological criticism -Many essays in field tend to be suspicious of religious appropriation of Bible & seek to unmask political agendas thought to be implicit in appropriation -Its scope is limitless -Due to focus on pop culture, often has shock value

Greisbach Hypothesis

-Seeks to explain literary relationship of 1st 3 Gospels of NT b assuming aMatt is earlier Gospel & was used by Luke, & that Mark is a conflation of the two -Modification of Augustine's conjecture that each of the Gospel writers was dependent on the previous author(s) following canonical order

African American Biblical Interpretation

-Seeks to read Bible & history of its interpretation through unique lens of African American experience -In part to challenge what is deemed largely unacknowledged Eurocentric (male) perspective privileged -Sociocultural space matter & determines in large measure how&what one thinks about scripture&oneself

Demythologization

-Technical term in biblical hermeneutics of Bultmann -Refers to interpretation of biblical myths in terms of understanding existence that comes to expression in imagery of myths themselves -Doesn't refer to elimination of myth but to its reinterpretation in existentialist terms

Rhetorical Criticism

-Term adopted in 1968 by OT scholar Muilenburg to denote methodological approach to scripture designed to supplement that of form criticism -He suggested its task is to exhibit the structural patterns employed in the fashioning of literary unity, whether prose or poetry, & to discern the various devices by which the predications of the composition are formulated & ordered into a unified whole -Rhetoric, as art of composition, becomes in its criticism the method by which the content, structure, & style of composition are laid bare in order to discover "the writer's intent & meaning"

Hermeneutical Circle

-Term stemming from Heidegger who used it to describe the partially predetermined yet open & revisable nature of human understanding -^ point was that a person never comes to a text w/a clean slate, but instead always brings w/her a certain preunderstanding of the issues at stake in text -^ this can then be challenged, modifies this pre understanding and so forth -Represents general structure of all meaningful activity & not just of interpretation of texts

Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis

-Theory concerning origins of Pentateuch -Most persuasively argued by Graf & Wellhausen -Added to existing hypothesis the argument that written documents, combined & revised over cents. could be precisely dated & placed in evolutionary sequence -Stated that a J & E document were combined by redactor -Numerous revisions, called "Newer Documentary Hypothesis" have been proposed

School of Alexandria

-This along w/School of Antioch are two useful but potentially misleading metaphors for 2 contrasting approaches to interpretation of scripture -Commonly represented as allegorical -Emphasizes deeper, spiritual sense of scripture -Became prominent in early 3rd cent. through work of Alexandria and Origen -^ made robust use of allegorical interpretation, exp. in approach to OT -both schools' literal & spiritual senses of scripture work together to form interlocking parts of theologically interested & christologically centered approach to canon

Quest for the Historical Jesus

-Title of Schweitzer's critical history of 19th cent. biographies of life of Jesus -Phrase used broadly to refer to any search for historical Jesus -2 key assumptions of 19th cent. quest were (a) objective recoverability of past by critical historiographical means & (b) adequacy of Synoptic Gospels as sources for historical reconstruction of life of Jesus, at least of public ministry -New Quest of the Historical Jesus (NQ) designates 1 of 2 distinct but interrelated approaches by which students of Bultmann in Germany & Switzerland sought to reestablish historical & theological grounds for identifying Jesus of history w/Christ proclaimed by Christian faith -Philosophical & theological side of effort to explain how crucified Jesus came to be proclaimed as risen Lord more commonly known as New Hermeneutic -"The Third Quest" is sometimes used to designate all current research on historical Jesus unrelated to particular theological matrix & critical skepticism of Bulmannian school so characteristic of NQ

Exposition

-To explain, to put forth -In biblical interpretation, sometimes distinguished from exegesis, usually for sake of latter which commonly denotes special methodological approach to scripture -When so used, understood to follow after exegesis, building on it & elaborating the meaning of text to show its contemporary relevance w/out falsifying its original sense as ascertained by exegesis

Eisegesis

-To lead, bring, or introduce into -In interpretation of scripture, refers to practice of reading into text the meaning that one wants to get out of it

E: Elohist

-Traditional designation for 1 of the sources employed in composition of Pentateuch -Derived from source's preferred Hebrew name for the Deity -Elohim means "God" -Many scholars view it as redaction's supplement to older J source -Views God as more remote & awesome than does J -Its interpretation of covenant is less materialistic & less nationalistic, & differs in terminology -Elohim, not YWHW sacred mountain is called Mt. Horeb, not Sinai, Amorites, not Canaanites inhabit the Promised Land

Canon

-Transliteration of Greek word meaning "measuring stick" & by extension, "rule" or "standard" -Denotes list or collection of authoritative books _Jewish canon consists of 39 books in 3 main divisions & Christian canon always includes 39 books & 2nd collection of 27 books * Eastern Orthodox & Roman Catholic churches add more -Idea of canon discernible in Scripture

Sociological Interpretation

-Umbrella term encompassing immense diversity, stressing knowledge of the social milieu in which the texts of scripture arose is necessary for any adequate understating of the texts themselves -Common, often overlapping but not exhaustive, classifications distinguish between (a) social description, (b) social history, & (c) social theory -Seeks to understand typical patterns of human relations in their structure & function, both at a given time in history (synchronic) * in their trajectories of change over a specified time span (diachronic) -"Typical" in collective human behavior is ascertained by comparative study of societies & expressed theoretically in "laws," "regularities," or "tendencies" that attempt to abstract structures & processes of a translocal & transtemporal character -Characteristic assumptions: (1) humanistic & sociological methods are equally valuable & complementary methods for reconstructing ancient methods for reconstructing ancient past, (2) religion is best understood as 1 part of a wider network of social relations in which it has intelligible functions to perform, (3) changes in religious behavior & thought are best viewed as aspects of change in the wider network of social * economic relations, & (4) religion is intelligible to degree that it exhibits lawful behavior & symbolic forms that can be predicted & retroacted w/in limits set by total matrix of changing social & economic relations

Advocacy Criticism

-Umbrella term referring to approaches that are centrally concerned w/interpreting scripture in light of history, contemporary circumstances, & aspirations of particular historically oppressed group -generally view all interpretation conditioned by social location of interpreter -Purpose of interpretation is to expose oppressive tendencies in Bible & history of its interpretation & to use Bible as resource to confront & change current structures of oppression -Less, not more vulnerable to ideological distortion the other approaches because they explicitly identify their theoretical presuppositions & cultural interests & don't claim to provide value-free, positivistic knowledge

Canonical Criticism

-Used ambiguously to refer to variety of interpretive approaches that share common concern w/regard to nature, function, & authority of canon -Interested in meaning of texts w/in their canonical context, 1st in book they appear & then w/in larger context of Bible as authoritative scripture -James A. Sanders coined term -^ denotes it as a method of biblical criticism that operates subsequent to form- & redaction criticism, seeking to determine function of biblical texts in historical contexts, & investigates nature of their authority -Essence lies in discerning hermeneutics by which ancient traditions were adapted for use in new contexts -Illuminative question: why Torah ends w/Deut. & its emphasis on law rather than w/Joshua and its story of fulfillment of promise to Abraham -Frequently applied to interpretive approach to scripture as advocated by Brevard Childs -Sanders & Childs share broad definition of canon, concern for theological significance of biblical texts, & concern for function of biblical texts w/in communities of faith -Childs disavows term "canonical criticism" & speaks of "canonical approach" -Also doesn't seek to determine hermeneutics employed in canonical process

Parallelism

-Word used to designate formal characteristic of Hebrew poetry, though found somewhat in Greek -Takes 3 major forms: synonymous, antithetic,&synthetic -Synonymous: describes couplet or bicolon in which idea expressed in 1st line is repeated in second w/equivalent but different words -Antithetic: describes of thought in which 2nd line is posed as contrast to 1st -Synthetic (also called formal, numerical, or constructive): not of thought but of form & is in part discernible by identity of rhythm marked off by clear break between bicola; in thought, 2nd line is seen to supplement or complete that of 1st

Critical Text

-conjectural reconstruction of document of which only divergent recensions are extant -Hypothetical text usually based on 1 or 2 best MSS available -Normally accompanied by critical apparatus listing alternate readings-Most widely used of NT is 27th edition of Nestle-Aland "Novum Testamentum grace," which is now 4th edition of Greek New Testament

Deuteronomist

-name given to author/compiler of OT book of Deut &/or certain other portions of OT that reflect literary & theological characteristics of Deut. -Noth proposed Deut.-2 Kgs was single work by single author -Continuing conundrum w/in DH is its intention, whether of censure or hope

Acrostic

Series of lines or verses whose initial, final, or other identifiable letters form a word, phrase, initial letters of phrase, or alphabet