Historical-critical Method vs Historical-Gramatical Method

[DD2007]

Is there any justification at all for using the historical-critical method of interpreting scripture as opposed to the historical-gramatical method?

I have found that especially in the NAB Notes, the Oxford anotated Bible etc, and with all liberal Christian bodies the historical-critical method is used. The historical-critical method has also made great headway in the modern Catholic Church.

With all conservative bodies the historical-gramatical method is used.

Does anyone use and justify the historical-critical method? I am seeing some problems with it and would like to discuss it with some who defend it.

Thanks.

 

[MarcoPolo]

What’s the difference?

 

[buffalo]

Pope BXVI encourages and cautions the historical critical method within limits.

Read Jesus of Nazareth.

 

[DD2007]

What’s the difference?

The difference is that the Historical-gramatical method is a method that tries to determine the original intent of the author. The historical critical method is a method that uses the latest scholarship in determining the meaning of scripture based on a historical background of when and why it was written as opposed to just what it said.

The NAB Catholic Study Bible and the Oxford annotated bibles NRSV have historical-critical notes.

The Douay-Challoner, the Reformation Study Bible, The ESV study Bible have historical-gramatical notes - (literal interpretation)

Historical Gramatical : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical-grammatical_method

Historical Critical : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical-critical_method

 

[MarcoPolo]

The difference is that the Historical-gramatical method is a method that tries to determine the original intent of the author. The historical critical method is a method that uses the latest scholarship in determining the meaning of scripture based on a historical background of when and why it was written as opposed to just what it said.

The NAB Catholic Study Bible and the Oxford annotated bibles NRSV have historical-critical notes.

The Douay-Challoner, the Reformation Study Bible, The ESV study Bible have historical-gramatical notes - (literal interpretation)

Historical Gramatical : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical-grammatical_method

Historical Critical : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical-critical_method

I don’t believe the Catholic Church opposes either method. But Textual or Literary Criticism may be the term used to represent Historical-Grammatical. You can find both Historical-Critical method and Textual Criticism discussed in the Church’s 1994 Interpretation of the Bible in the Church document. Just search for those keywords “textual” “literary” “historical”

 

[Joe_5859]

I don’t believe the Catholic Church opposes either method. But Textual or Literary Criticism may be the term used to represent Historical-Grammatical. You can find both Historical-Critical method and Textual Criticism discussed in the Church’s 1994 Interpretation of the Bible in the Church document. Just search for those keywords “textual” “literary” “historical”

I was just about to suggest the same thing, but you beat me to it! So I’ll just have to second it.

If you want to know the Church’s thoughts on the historical-critical method, the IBC document is the best place to go. The short answer is that the method itself is neutral, but how it is used can be good or bad. Unfortunately, it was used badly for a good number of years before it started to be used well.

We don’t need to limit ourselves to one approach. It is good to take the best that each approach has to offer.

 

[Maranatha]

Pope BXVI encourages and cautions the historical critical method within limits.

Read Jesus of Nazareth.

As buffalo says above, B-16 comments that the use of HC is valid depending on the perspective of the underlying philosophy.

If a scholar starts with the assumption that the supernatural does not exist, then use the HC method will conclude that the Bible stories are myth.

If a scholar starts with the assumption that supernatural may or may not exist, then the HC method can give excellent insights.