What is Biblical Criticism?
What is meant by the historical-critical method? The historical-critical method is a scientific method of Bible study based on the assumption that there will be rational explanations for the text of scripture as we have it. That means that there are human authors who use oral traditions and textual sources and compose texts in the way that other authors do. It differs from the historical-contextual method largely in the claimed assumptions. Those who support the historical-contextual method would generally suggest that the historical-critical method is based on purely naturalistic assumptions. Can the historical critical method be used by those who believe that the Bible is inspired by God? There are a variety of views of inspiration. Of these views, those that hold to any type of verbal dictation, the view that the very words of scripture were dictated by God, would be incompatible with the historical critical method. Others will find that the various critical methodologies are helpfu
