historical-critical
Source-examining interpretive method
Historical-critical describes a method of analyzing texts—especially religious scriptures—by examining their historical context, authorship, sources, and literary forms.
The approach treats sacred texts as documents shaped by human circumstances rather than simply divine dictation: historical-critical study of the Bible, the historical-critical method.
Scholars using this framework ask when texts were written, by whom, for what audience, and how they were edited over time.
Study of interpretation methods
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- contextualizationPlacing something within circumstances
- diachronicConcerning change over time
- synchronicExisting at one time
Study of ancient handwriting
- epigraphyStudy of ancient inscriptions
- philologyStudy of historical texts
- manuscriptsHandwritten or typed originals
- codexAncient bound manuscript
papyrus · variant · gloss · lacuna · emendation · conjectural · autograph · uncial
Evaluated by field experts
- monographSingle-topic scholarly work
- footnotesMarginal citations below text
- citationMention of a source
- archivalOf preserved documents
bibliography · historiography · academic · research · thesis · dissertation · commentary · journal
Pursuing romantic connections
- archaeologyStudy of physical remnants
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- periodizationDivision into distinct periods
- anachronismHistorical time-placement error
hermeneutics
Study of interpretation methods
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- contextualizationPlacing something within circumstances
- diachronicConcerning change over time
paleography
Study of ancient handwriting
- epigraphyStudy of ancient inscriptions
- philologyStudy of historical texts
- manuscriptsHandwritten or typed originals
codex · papyrus · variant · gloss · lacuna · emendation · conjectural · autograph · uncial · minuscule
peer-reviewed
Evaluated by field experts
- monographSingle-topic scholarly work
- footnotesMarginal citations below text
- citationMention of a source
archival · bibliography · historiography · academic · research · thesis · dissertation · commentary · journal · apparatus
dating
Pursuing romantic connections
- archaeologyStudy of physical remnants
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- periodizationDivision into distinct periods
interpolation
Estimating between known values
- redactorOne who revises texts
historical-criticalliteralist
One rejecting figurative meaning
devotional · fundamentalist · literal · confessional · pious
historical-criticalcanonical
Accepted as standard
allegorical · traditionalist · devotional · confessional · magisterial
historical-criticalliteralist
One rejecting figurative meaning
fundamentalist · face-value · proof-texting · textualist · originalist
historical, critical, history, historic, historically, historian, historians, histories, historicism