The Relevance of Textual Criticism in Biblical Interpretation

The Relevance of Textual Criticism in Biblical Interpretation

Victor Umaru
Department of Biblical Studies and Theology, Baptist College of Theology, Obinze, Owerri, Nigeria.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2023.10404
Received: 06 January 2023; Accepted: 18 January 2023; Published: 03 May 2023

Abstract: Textual criticism refers to the techniques used by biblical scholars in interpreting a given text of the Bible to ascertain its original wording, the nature of its composition, sources, date, and authorship. Textual criticism is an essential aspect of biblical interpretation, which some interpreters technically dodged from it thinking that the word “criticism” is negative. Far be it from this assertion, biblical criticism is relevant, and it remains relevant. Textual criticism is significant; it helps us understand that Scripture cannot be overestimated. It is vital to the understanding of Scripture as the Word of God. It seeks to investigate and understand the situation of the original recipients of the word to discover precisely what the original writers of the scriptures meant by their words. From this Spirit, the writer would shed light on the importance and relevance of biblical criticism, especially to the interpretation of the Bible. To achieve the aim of the writing, the writer uses the narrative-critical analysis method to present the paper’s idea.

I. Introduction

Today, many biblical preachers regard biblical criticism as only an academic exercise, as if it has nothing to do with preaching. Far be it from this assertion, biblical criticism is relevant, and it remains relevant. From this Spirit, the writer would shed light on the importance and relevance of biblical criticism, especially to the interpretation of the Bible. To achieve the aim of the writing, the writer uses the narrative-critical analysis method to present the paper’s idea. The paper is structured into eight sub-sections; the Introduction; the Concept of Textual Criticism; the Indispensability of Textual Criticism; the Limitation of Textual Criticism; the Nature of Textual Errors; the Nature of Textual Criticism; The Relevance of Textual Criticism in Biblical Interpretation; and finally, Conclusion.

II. The Concept of Textual Criticism

Greenlee says, “Textual criticism is the study of copies of any written work of which the autograph (the original) is unknown, to ascertain the original text.” Textual criticism refers to the techniques used by biblical scholars in interpreting a given text of the Bible to ascertain its original wording, the nature of its composition, sources, date, and authorship. It also refers to an expert’s judgment exercise about the text and should not be confused with ―criticism in making damaging statements. Technically, biblical criticism refers to the scholarly approach of studying, evaluating, and assessing the Bible as literature to understand it better.

It is a critical way to reconstruct how and means the text came to be in its present form. These are referred to as ―diachronic approaches that explore the text’s history and meaning in previous forms and settings. Other methodologies are concerned with the history of the text and seek meaning in the form of the text that currently appears. These approaches see the text as self-sufficient, requiring no outside information for interpretation by considering it in its final form, and are referred to as ―synchronic. Textual criticism builds upon a wide range of scholarly disciplines; it covers; anthropology, folklore, linguistics, archaeology, oral tradition studies, and religious studies and history.

There are two forms of textual criticism: higher and lower; the former deals with why and how the biblical text was written, while the latter is concerned with the actual wordings of its authors. Textual criticism helps theologians analyze the Bible to understand and comprehend it better. Mather describes Higher criticism as the study of the sources and literary methods employed by the biblical writers, while Lower criticism is defined as ―the discipline and study of the precise and primitive wording of the Bible, a quest for textual purity and understanding. Since there are several manuscripts of the New Testament, it is natural to raise the question of the authoritative text.

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