1	Renaissance and Reformation
2	Transition from Medieval to Modern The Renaissance began a process of liberation of the mind from both superstition and the domination of ideas imposed by authority including religious authority. The Reformation moved the Bible to the position to supreme authority and placed it above critical assessment.
3	An On-going Tension Both the freedom for critical inquiry and the placing of the Bible above critical inquiry occurred about the same time. Post reformation scholasticism gave pride of place to biblical authority. The Enlightenment gave priority to critical inquiry. The tension between the two still continues.
4	The Contribution of Renaissance Humanism Enlargement of the concept of the literal sense of Scripture begun by Thomas Aquinas. - John Colet (1466-1519) wrote straightforward, literal commentaries without reference to the Glosses. Renewal of Serious Study of the Original biblical languages. Interest in Greek especially impacted New Testament studies.
5	Work on the Text of the Greek New Testament First Greek New Testament to be printed was in 1514 by Cardinal Ximenes. Erasmus printed his Greek text in 1516 omitting the Johannine Comma, 1 John 5:7c-8a. 5th Century Codex Bezae found and used for Beza’s 1565 Greek Testament. 1633 - Textus Receptus printed
6	Emergence of Translations 1519 - Erasmus retranslates a new Latin version. 1522 - Luther translates NT into German 1530 - Zurich Bible appears in German. 1535 - French Neuchatel Bible published 1526 - Tyndale translates English NT 1535 - Coverdale produces whole English Bible
7	Martin Luther Luther - Sola Fide - Faith alone Luther - Sola Scriptura Luther - Was Christum Treibet Luther - Private Judgment Luther - What is not contained in Scripture is not to be required of the Christian.
8	Luther’s Interpretation Premodern – continued the medieval pattern of commentary, annotation, and exposition Scripture is its own interpreter Law and Gospel – Luther saw the Old Testament revealing God at work in ways both ancient and contemporary Pursued “the simple sense”
9	Luther’s Principles Prayer, meditation, and experience are to be practiced every day The core of Scripture is Christ – his canon within the canon Scripture is the living voice of the Gospel – never contained completely in a writing or an interpretation Scripture is clear because the Holy Spirit delivers the message
10	Calvin’s Interpretation Committed to a “dual” authorship, divine and human Strong emphasis on the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Old and New Testaments However, philology opened up interpretive “possibilities” Study of the context determined meaning
11	Calvin’s Interpretation Focused on both literary and historical context Rejected many commonly accepted “christological” interpretations of OT passages when he did not believe those interpretations were supported by context He was occasionally accused of “judaizing” because of his strong emphasis on Hebrew
12	Calvin’s Interpretation The goal of interpretation is to find Christ The true meaning of the OT could not be found apart from Christ and knowledge of Christ comes through the Holy Spirit Illumination by the Holy Spirit and philological expertise are both needed Illumination by the Holy Spirit enables one to understand the big picture Philology helps one understand specific texts
13	Calvin and the Old Testament He rejected allegorical interpretations that were separated from the historical and literary contexts. Used typological exegesis to find theological meaning in the Old Testament and to maintain the unity of the Testaments. Used the NT to interpret the OT – His treatment of the command not to murder is heavily influenced by Matthew 5:21-22.
14	Calvin’s Interpretation Calvin is clearly aware of the literary nature of the biblical text and understands literary figures of speech such as metaphor He suggested biblical writers “accommodated” their language to the level of understanding of their readers. (Thus Genesis 1-2 is not to be understood as a source for astronomy or physics) Calvin wrote significant biblical commentaries
15	Calvin the Commentator “After the reading of Scripture, which I strenuously inculcate, and more than any other . . . I recommend that the Commentaries of Calvin be read. . . For I affirm that in the interpretation of Scripture Calvin in incomparable, and that his Commentaries are more to be valued than anything that is handed down to us in the Writings of the Fathers - so much so that I concede to him a certain spirit of prophecy in which he stands distinguished above others, above most, indeed, above all.” - James Arminius
16	Calvin the Commentator Cont. “Calvin has long been a companion whose patient exegesis is a model of critical and theological thoroughness.” - C. K. Barrett, Preface to his Romans Commentary
17	Protestant Scholasticism Era of Doctrinal Debate (Wars) Return of allegorical interpretation Increased dependence on the authority of the Bible alone for doctrine The rise of dictation theories of inspiration The rise of inerrancy claims Intense interest in original languages
18	The Enlightenment and Biblical Interpretation Reason emerges as the supreme authority in Enlightenment culture Scholasticism leads the church to resist with dogmatism and attempts to control people’s thoughts Application of critical methods to the Bible - reading it like any other book Growing hostility between church and Reason/Science
19	Pietism’s Reaction Against Scholasticism Return of subjective elements of prayer and devotion as sources of doctrine The pursuit of religious experience as an expression of religious faith Desire to let the Bible speak for itself rather than being the mouth piece of doctrine
20	Wesley’s Principles of Interpretation Wesley was a “man of one book” who read widely and used the best scholarship of his day 1. Express Scripture sense in Scripture phrases 2. Use the literal sense unless it leads to contradiction with other Scriptures or implies an absurdity
21	Wesley’s Principles of Interpretation 3. Interpret the text with regard to its literary context 4. Scripture interprets Scripture, according to the analogy of faith and by parallel passages 5. Commandments are covered promises. 6. Interpret literary devices appropriately 7. Seek the most original text and the best translation
22	Late 18th Century Interpretation Separation of Bible and Theology Rise of the Historical-Critical Method Rejection of Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch and Old Testament historicity Rise of Modern Biblical Theology Unrealized dominance of philosophy
23	19th Century Old Testament Interpretation Source Criticism of the Pentateuch culminating in Welhausen’s JEDP Theory Evolutionary development of Israelite Religion from primitive to prophetic to priestly Multiple authorship theories for the prophetic books Prophets seen as teachers of ethics
24	19th Century Gospel Interpretation The Quest for the Historical Jesus from rationalistic, mythical, romantic, and liberal perspectives Source Criticism of the Gospels developed Emergence of confidence in priority of Mark
25	19th Century History of Early Christianity F.C. Baur and the Tubingen School Hegelian view of history with thesis being Jewish Christianity and antithesis being Pauline Christianity Rejection of Pauline authorship of all but the Hauptbriefe Rejection of the historical reliability of Acts
26	19th Century Moderating Reactions to Radical Criticism The development of New Testament Textual Criticism The rise of historical positive interpretation attempting to use historical research to affirm traditional doctrines The rise of Heilsgeschicthe – “salvation history” as a means of preserving doctrine
27	Turn of the Century Characteristics Religionsgeschictescule - History of Religions School firmly in place Strong emphasis on historical method Disparagement of genuine theology Rise of eschatological interpretations of Jesus Liberal theology/ethics dominant
28	Early 20th Century Movements Rise of Form Criticism - both Testaments Return of Biblical Theology in both Testaments, led by OT Theology End of the First Quest for the Historical Jesus Debate over philosophies of history Development of Scandanavian School