ABSTRACT
This chapter surveys biblical study since the early twentieth century, examining source criticism, form criticism, and redaction criticism, three types of critical reading of the texts of both Testaments that have played a major role. It goes on to more recent types of approach, such as structuralism, the New Criticism, and various kinds of ‘postmodern’ criticism that depart from traditional interest in the intentions of the authors of the biblical texts and emphasize instead ‘the text itself’. There is also a discussion of theologically orientated styles of reading, in particular the ‘canonical approach’ and the ‘theological interpretation of Scripture’. The wide variety of approaches is emphasized, and there are remarks on recent interest in the reception history of the biblical texts in non-verbal media such as music and art.
