Digital Logos Edition
Stressing the historical and theological significance of pivotal figures and movements, William Baird offers a comprehensive overview of New Testament studies as an emerging discipline from its beginnings in Deism through the watershed of the Tubingen school. Familiar figures appear in a new light, and important, previously forgotten stages of the journey emerge. This must read presents the watershed events and movements in the development of New Testament scholarship, including the methods of Turretin, the higher criticism of Eichhorn, the New Testament theology of G. L. Bauer and Gabler, and the textual criticism of Tischendorf. Baird situates prominent figures, developments, and approaches of New Testament studies within their biographical and cultural contexts, tracing undergirding trajectories and affording both the beginning student and the seasoned scholar an authoritative account that is useful for orientation as well as research.
“In the medieval period, Scripture was often interpreted according to four senses: the literal, the allegorical, the moral (or tropological), and the anagogical.” (Page xv)
“According to Semler, there is one primary test of canonicity: does the document convey universal, moral truth?” (Page 122)
“In essence, Turretin calls for a shift from doctrinal to historical exegesis.” (Page 101)
“With Tischendorf, text criticism had become a fully modern discipline.” (Page 327)
“For one thing, the deists were not bona fide biblical scholars.” (Page 56)