Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-2h6rp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-09-17T17:38:26.089Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

“Monument Facts and Higher Critical Fancies”: Archaeology and the Popularization of Old Testament Criticism in Nineteenth-Century Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Barbara Zink Machaffie
Barbara Zink Machaffie
Affiliation:
Ms. MacHaffie is assistant professor of religious studies in Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Historians of the development of biblical criticism in the nineteenth century have normally treated this aspect of intellectual history as a preserve of the university don and the ambitious cleric. However, further study points to a movement of considerable magnitude and momentum beginning in the last decades of that century which aimed at popularizing the methods and results of the higher criticism of the Old Testament. Widespread popular recognition of a critical approach to the Old Testament and its implications began in the 1860s in response to the work of J. W. Colenso and the contributors to Essays and Reviews.

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 50 , Issue 3 , September 1981 , pp. 316 - 328
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. For the development of Old and New Testament criticism in nineteenth-century Britain, see Owen, Chadwick, The Victorian Church, 2 vols. (London, 1970), 2: 60–75,Google Scholar and Willis, B. Glover, Evangelical Nonconformists and Higher Criticism in the Nineteenth Century (London, 1954), pp. 25–35.Google Scholar

2. See, for example, John, R. Cohu, The Old Testament in the Light of Modern Research (Oxford, 1908);Google ScholarHerbert, Knight, Criticism and the Old Testament (London, 1906);Google ScholarBertram, Talbot, Information Concerning the History and Growth of the Bible (London, 1901);Google ScholarWalter, F. Adeney, How to Read the Bible (London, 1897);Google ScholarWalter, A. Moberly, The Old Testament in Modern Light (London, 1906).Google Scholar

3. See Edward, Bradby, The Books of the Bible Dated (London, 1890);Google ScholarBuchanan, Blake, Joseph and Moses (Edinburgh, 1902);Google Scholar idem, How to Read the Prophets (Edinburgh, 1892, 1895);Google ScholarJohn, E. McFadyen, Messages of the Priestly and Prophetic Historians (London, 1901);Google ScholarRobert, Ottley, A Short History of the Hebrews to the Roman Period, 2d ed. (Cambridge, 1904);Google ScholarGeorge, W. Wade, Old Testament History, 10th ed. (London, 1901).Google Scholar

4. See Louise, B. Houghton, Telling Bible Stories (London, 1906);Google ScholarClaude, Montefiore, The Bible for Home Reading (London, 1897, 1899);Google ScholarFarrar, F. W. et al. , The Bible and the Child: The Higher Criticism and the Teaching of the Young (London, 1897).Google Scholar

5. The Sunday School Chronicle, 20 02 1891, p. 93.Google Scholar

6. World Missionary Conference, 1910, Report of Commission IV: The Missionary Message in Relation to Non-Christian Religions (Edinburgh and London, [1910]).Google Scholar

7. Robert, Ker Porter, Travels in Georgia, Persia, Armenia, etc., during the years 1817, 1818,1819, and 1820 (London, 1822).Google Scholar

8. Josias, Porter, A Handbook for Travellers in Syria and Palestine: Including an Account of the Geography, History, Antiquities and Inhabitants of these Countries (London, 1858).Google Scholar

9. Thomas, Nicol, Recent Explorations in Bible Lands (Edinburgh, 1892);Google ScholarRichard, Newton, Rambles in Bible Lands (London, 1879).Google Scholar

10. William, Thomson, The Land and the Book (London, 1876), pp. 407–414.Google Scholar

11. Stanley, A. P., Sinai and Palestine (London, 1856), p. xvii.Google Scholar

12. Susan, B. Macy, Some Mistakes of the Higher Critics (London, 1913), p. 42.Google Scholar

13. John, Alison, “Thebes: A Sketch from Egypt,” Life and Work, 07 1895, p. 135.Google Scholar

14. See, for example, Henry, Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure (London, 1887).Google Scholar

15. Joseph, Bonomi, Nineveh and Its Palaces (London, 1852).Google Scholar

16. Kitchin, J. G., The Bible Student in the British Museum (London, 1892).Google Scholar

17. C. R. Conder, a colonel with the Royal Engineers, completed extensive scientific surveys of Palestine for the Exploration Fund late in the nineteenth century. Conder used his discoveries in a series of popular books and articles in order to illustrate and validate the historical portions of the Old Testament. His 1887 article, “The Old Testament: Ancient Monuments and Modern Critics,” The Contemporary Review, 03 1887, pp. 376–393, and his book, Bible Accuracy As Shown By the Monuments (London, 1903),Google Scholar defended the biblical record and challenged the critics by pointing to the results of the archaeological exploration. W. Robertson Smith singled out Conder for criticism for his superficial and mischievous assumption that to be set on a camel in the wilderness gives a man “an independent knowledge of Oriental history, antiquity and thought” (see The Contemporary Reveiw, 04 1887, p. 561).Google Scholar

18. Archibald, Sayce, Reminiscences (London, 1923), p. 13.Google Scholar

19. Ibid., p.22 .

20. Sayce, , Fresh Light from the Ancient Monuments, By-Paths of Bible Knowledge, 2d ed. (London, 1884).Google Scholar

21. Sayce, , Reminiscences, pp. 272–273.Google Scholar

22. Ibid., p.273.

23. Sayce, , “Archaeology v. Old Testament Criticism,” The Contemporary Review, 10 1895, p. 478.Google Scholar

24. Sayce, , The Higher Criticism and the Verdict of the Monuments, 5th ed. (London, 1895).Google Scholar

25. Church Times, 9 02 1894, p. 161.Google Scholar

26. Sayce, , The Higher Criticism and the Verdict of the Monuments, p. 362.Google Scholar

27. Ibid., p.v.

28. Sayce, , Archaeology and Criticism (London, 1909);Google Scholar idem, Monument Facts and Higher Critical Fancies (London, 1904).Google Scholar

29. Cheyne, T. K., Founders of Old Testament Criticism (London, 1893), p.232.Google Scholar

30. Sayce, , The Higher Criticism and the Verdict of the Monuments, p. 24.Google Scholar

31. Macy, , Some Mistakes of Higher Critics;Google ScholarCharles, Ovenden, Modern Criticism and the Holy Scriptures (London, 1913).Google Scholar