The history of biblical studies has seen a number of different approaches to the prophetical books.  In this post, I provide a brief survey of various critical approaches along with a few names of key figures.

Historical Criticism

Historical critics divide the prophetic writings into historical truths and metaphysical truths.  Historical critics begin with the presupposition that the Bible is just like any other book.  The following types of criticism can be considered subheadings under this larger heading.

Source Criticism

Source critics attempt to determine the various sources that were used by a redactor to collate the final form of the particular text. Critics of this variety will look at the textual features (vocabulary, themes, etc.) within a book in order to determine what potential sources may have been involved in its composition.

Key Figures

• J. S. Semler (1725-1791)
• Wilhelm de Wette (1780-1849)
• J. Wellhausen (1844-1914)
• Herder (1744-1803)
• Bernard Duhm (1847-1928)

Form Criticism

This type of criticism looks at the various forms of Biblical writing and attempts to trace them back to their respective periods of oral tradition.  In this sense it peeks behind the curtain to see the oral traditions behind the prophets.  This led to a fascination with ecstasy, dream, vision, and translocation.

Key Figures

• Gustav Holscher
• Herman Gunkel (1862-1932)
• K. Koch
• C. Westermann

Tradition-History

The tradition-history approach seeks to find specific literary or oral developments involved in bringing the text to its present form. Critics of this stripe focus on the various cultic centers and their activity in forming and shaping the final form of the text.

Key Figures

• Gerhard von Rad
• Michael Fishbane
• S. Mowinckel

Redaction Criticism

This has become the prevailing type of criticism as it can incorporate the insights of each of the preceding approaches.  Redaction criticism overlaps with form criticism’s and tradition-history criticism’s interest in the formation of the various books through oral tradition.

Rhetorical Criticism

This type of criticism analyzes types of discourse to determine how they work and what their particular function is.  Rhetorical critics saw the prophetical books as productions of poets.

Key Figures

• James Muilenburg (1896-1974)

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This material has been adapted in large part from Chris Fantuzzo’s course notes for Prophetical Books at Westminster Theological Seminary.