ABSTRACT
Even among a highly distinguished generation of Old Testament scholars in Germany and beyond, Rudolf Smend is a quite outstanding figure. This historical interest has remained crucial in his work, with its focus on the historical development of Old Testament literature and on the history of biblical scholarship. This historical interest has remained crucial in his work, with its focus on the historical development of Old Testament literature and on the history of biblical scholarship. The Lowth article shows Smends massive knowledge of eighteenth-century theological and biblical study, incidentally in Britain as well as in Germany. With the theme of post-critical interpretation we are back to the question of history, and historical curiosity. A conviction of faiths immunity to the contingencies of history is shared by de Wette and Barth. The long essay Elements of Historical Thinking in the Old Testament reflects on the nature of historical record in the Bible.
