Developing Exegetical Methods

Programme

This unit aims to reach a more detailed and precise description of the processes of literary history in the Hebrew Bible. The main interest of the group is to develop exegetical methods by analyzing the synergy effects which will appear by combining various methodological perspectives on the text. In the first year we will concentrate on the literary history and tradition criticism, in the following on form criticism and tradition history, as well as on textual and literary history. One intention in the discussion of relations between different methodological approaches is to encourage also a discussion between different exegetical traditions.

Key Words:

Methodology, Metatexutuality, Literary History, Redaction Criticism, Conceptualisation

Chairs

Thomas Wagner
University of Wuppertal

Member Area

Syracuse 2023 Call for Papers

Approaches to Biblical Exegesis: Historical Critique vs. Reader-response Criticism

In recent years, a new certain front has emerged from different perspectives towards diachronic analyses, which mainly work traditionally in a literary-critical or redaction-critical way. Here, on the one hand, an emphasis on intertextuality in the sense of a canonical exegesis was developed as an alternative. On the other hand, reader-response criticism and primarily synchronic approaches were used as opposing methods against the historical critical concepts. The question we want to raise in the session 2023 of our research unit is about the consequences for the historical exegesis and its theological context. Can there be in recent times an unhistorical but scientific exegesis as it appeared until early modern times, or is historical exegesis essential to an intersubjectively communicable understanding of the biblical texts? We invite contributions on the exegetical, the theological, and hermeneutical aspects of both approaches.