The Journal of Theological Studies Advance Access originally published online on August 11, 2009
The Journal of Theological Studies 2009 60(2):381-402; doi:10.1093/jts/flp038
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Eyes and Spectacles: Wellhausens Method of Higher Criticism
University of Göttingen
Correspondence: reinhard.kratz{at}theologie.uni-goettingen.de
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Julius Wellhausens work on the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and early Arabic sources had and still has a fundamental impact on how modern scholarship portrays Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In this article I consider his methodology of Higher Criticism. Wellhausens motto was: Not only the spectacles are important, but also the eyes. Following this motto I first describe what Wellhausen saw with his eyes and how he used them. Secondly, I consider Wellhausens spectacles and ask how the nineteenth century determined his viewpoint. Lastly I address the legacy of Wellhausens Higher Criticism in current scholarship.