Limitations of the Historical-Critical Method According to Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI)

Authors

  • Sławomir Zatwardnicki Wrocław

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21906/rbl.38

Keywords:

Holy Scripture, Bible, exegesis, exegete, hermeneutics, hermeneutics of faith, historical-critical method, limitations, interpretation, Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger, Church, science, theology, the Second Vatican Council, Dei verbum

Abstract

According to Joseph Ratzinger the appearance of the historical-critical method simultaneously gave rise to the struggle for its scope and character. This method is an indispensable tool of exegetic craft, but it has its limitations as well. It’s shortcomings of the historical-critical method that are presented and discussed one by one in the article, and they are the following: looking only for historical meaning of the text; pointing only to one dimension (the human one) of Holy Scriptures; lack of continuity as one of principles of the method; outcomes of the research being hypothetical. At the end of the article a dangerous discord between scientific research and study of theological meaning of texts is highlighted. Benedict XVI’s appeal to reinstate theological principles mentioned in the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum and to link them with scientific principles was reminded of as well.

Published

2014-06-30

How to Cite

Zatwardnicki, S. (2014). Limitations of the Historical-Critical Method According to Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI). The Biblical and Liturgical Movement, 67(2), 143–165. https://doi.org/10.21906/rbl.38

Issue

Vol. 67 No. 2 (2014): Kanonizacja Jana Pawła II

Section

Articles

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