Biblical studies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Biblical studies is the academic study of the Judeo-Christian Bible and related texts. For Christianity, the Bible traditionally comprises the New Testament and Old Testament, which together are sometimes called the "Scriptures." Judaism recognizes as scripture only the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh, an acronym for the Hebrew names of its divisions: Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (writings). Other texts often examined by biblical scholars include the Jewish apocrypha, the Jewish pseudepigrapha, the Christian apocrypha, the many varieties of ante-Nicene early Christian literature, and early Jewish literature.

Biblical studies can be considered either as a sub-field of religious studies or as a branch of theology. Methodologically and theoretically, the field draws on many disciplines, including history, archaeology, literary criticism, philology, and increasingly the social sciences. Practitioners of Biblical Studies do not necessarily have a faith commitment to the texts they study.

1 In Judaism
2 In Christianity
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] In Judaism

In Judaism, especially among the Orthodox, traditional Bible study entails the study of Tanakh with medieval and modern rabbinic commenataries or with Midrashim. Jews traditionally study in the home or in institutions like the yeshiva.

Jewish academic institutions where Bible studies may include less traditional approaches include the Jewish Theological Seminary (Conservative) and Yeshiva University (Modern Orthodox) in the United States; and all major universities in Israel.

[edit] In Christianity

In Christianity, the theological interpretation of Biblical passages is called biblical hermeneutics. Other branches of Bible study aim instead at elucidating the provenance, authorship, and chronological order of Biblical texts. This is a branch of philology more than theology, and sometimes comes into conflict with theology. "Higher criticism" and its findings, including the well known documentary hypothesis which suggests that the Bible was compiled from the writings of several different hands, and the work of the Jesus Seminar, which attempted to cull "inauthentic" sayings of Jesus from the "authentic" ones contained in the Gospels, are examples of Biblical studies whose results have been particularly controversial in theology.

Bible Study is the activity in which Christians read and reflect on the Bible individually or, including discussion, in small groups or base communities.

Additionally, Biblical Studies is a common discipline offered in the Bible colleges, Bible institutions or schools and some secular colleges. It centered on the study of the Scriptures as found in the Bible. In the U.S., it is not listed as an academic discipline following the pursuit of academic studies in normal stream colleges and universities. In Europe, however, Theology is a faculty in many respectable universities (e.g. Oxford and Cambridge) although several countries have transferred the training of priests and ministers to their respective churches.

It seems that the discipline of Bible studies in many U.S. institutions is practically the same as theology in more traditional institutions. A distinction should be made, therefore, between

Biblical studies which concentrate on the Bible and its interpretation, as in Exegesis.
Biblical studies as an all-around name for minister training.

Presently in the U.S., "Biblical studies" are taught mainly in non-academic schools and institutions under the support of many Christian denominations and missionary organizations.

In "old" churches, the training of priests and ministers includes the study of theology, which is a wider field incorporating more aspects of religion. Typically this takes place in a university or a seminary, depending on country and denomination.

[edit] Background

Biblical Studies involve the studies of the Bible and can be studied as a subject for themselves or as a subdivision under Theology. It is often offered as a postgraduate course in some Christian colleges or Bible institutions as a non-academic study course. In contrast with most divinity schools, seminaries or older theological schools, Biblical Studies does not attempt to criticize the Bible as in higher (or literary criticism) or lower (or textual criticism) form. In this, it differs markedly from the usual scientific method or from the neutral point of view approach used in this Wikipedia article. However, its content varies but usually covered a wider scope including the following:

[edit] Principles of Biblical interpretation

The Bible is the holy scripture for most Christian denominations and its interpretation forms part of the core of each denomination's faith. Therefore, there are very few clear rules accepted by all who consider themselves Christian and making a neutral point of view clarification of principles is most difficult. Exegesis using the inductive method is used in understanding the texts in scriptures. Some guides or rules of interpretation have been formulated and are, in some circles known as Principles of Interpretation, in others as Hermeneutics. According to the Bible it is the word of God and gives these rules. However, no clear consensus on them exists. Typically a biblical passage may be understood

literally, as meaning exactly what is written.
figuratively, meaning that there is a clear parallel to something else.
allegorically, meaning that the passage is an allegory of something more

In addition, in some denominations, any of these may be either addressed to its historical audience or to mankind in general. All three ways may even be correct simultaneously. According to most denominations, the only way to choose a right interpretation is through use of Holy Spirit, which may be found, depending on denomination, from person's conscience, from tradition or from some combination of them. Typically, old churches stress the use of tradition, while Protestant churches stress the use of personal inspiration. However, most denominations do draw a line somewhere in the literal interpretation, accepting some traditional standpoints.

Hermeneutical exegesis focuses on the origin writer’s sense in relation with the expected audience response. The rule of context applies, and "scriptures interpret scriptures". The ideas and meanings are likely to be in harmony within the language and cultural context. Therefore the rule allow for the meaning to be limited and interpreted within the intent and purpose of the original writers. This interpretative view obviously leads to more focus individual understanding than collective interrelated consensus.

Biblical canon scriptures are usually accepted as God-inspired and therefore called the Word of God. <space>Attention is given more to accepting the divine Holy Spirit who is the original inspiration or Author of all scriptures. However, there are several different doctrines on the nature of the inspiration, ranging from "word" inspiration to context inspiration. Exegesis is different from the traditional method of literary study but approaches it when moving towards religious philosophy.

[edit] Hebrew and Greek languages

The study of original languages within the Bible is usually considered an imperative to any correct interpretive work, although some U.S. Christians hold that King James Version is the inspired, true word of God. In fact, most seminaries required their candidates for the doctorate in divinity to possess adequate knowledge of these two disciplines. They are considered as prerequisites. However, although Aramaic was the verbal language of the inter- and new-Testament period, many schools do not encourage the study of this ancient language but leave it to the faculties of Arts. The Septuagint translation of Hebrew Old Testament into Greek is also important while trying to understand the religious life of the early church. The new testament is written in a Hellenistic (Koine) Greek that may carry Hebrew and Aramaic influence.