bibliaikritikai

Bibliaikritikai, often translated as biblical criticism or higher criticism, is a scholarly approach to studying the Bible. It involves examining the text to understand its historical, literary, and linguistic origins. This method seeks to identify the authors, sources, dates, and intended audiences of biblical writings.

The core principles of bibliaikritikai include analyzing the literary genres of biblical books, comparing different manuscript traditions, and investigating the historical and cultural contexts in which the texts were composed. Scholars employ various critical methods, such as source criticism, which aims to identify and reconstruct the earlier sources used by biblical authors; form criticism, which analyzes the social and religious functions of different literary forms; and redaction criticism, which studies how authors or editors shaped their sources to convey a particular message.

Bibliaikritikai emerged during the Enlightenment and has been a significant force in biblical scholarship for centuries. It has led to a deeper understanding of the Bible's development and the diverse perspectives within it. While it has sometimes been met with controversy, bibliaikritikai remains a foundational tool for academic study of the Bible, providing insights into its historical formation and literary complexity.