Critical Honesty is a Must

Critical honesty is not about pushing the envelope. It's about throwing the envelope away and starting all over again. It's possible to be critically honest and privilege reading Scripture within the methodological bounds of a tradition whose inner vitality has other sources, but it's not possible to do both things at one and the same time. They are two different enterprises.

An example may illustrate.

Jacob Milgrom’s three volume commentary on Leviticus in the Anchor Bible series is a piece of historical-critical scholarship (Leviticus 1-16 [AB 3; New York: Doubleday, 1991]; Leviticus 17-22 [AB 3A: New York: Doubleday, 2000]; Leviticus 23-27 [AB 3B; New York: Doubleday, 2001]). Milgrom is not afraid to parse the meaning of the text in a non-traditional way. “Critical honesty” characterizes his scholarship. Milgrom is respectful of traditional exegesis, but he does not work within its methodological bounds.

One cannot pursue the historical sense of the Tanakh/Old Testament and its resignification by the Sages or the Fathers of Roman antiquity, centuries removed from the composition of its parts, in one and the same swoop. If one ignores the historical sense, one is not being critically honest. On the other hand, if one ignores the resignifications of the text in the history of its reception, in one's own tradition no less, a different aspect of the historicity of the Bible is being set aside.

The important thing is learning how to distinguish between the Bible different historical senses. Admitting that there is a difference. The difficulty of doing so, and the difficulty then of allowing the various senses of scripture to stand in creative tension with one another, should not be underestimated. It is definitely the path less traveled by. What does it mean to read Scripture "in light of all we know"? Ismar Schorsch lifted up the goal of so doing in a Commencement Address at Jewish Theological Seminary in New York on May 18, 2006.  Not for nothing he presents himself as a voice crying in the wilderness. Here is the text of that address. 

The primary historical sense - I simplify, of course, for the sake of brevity - the sense a particular biblical composition had in the hermeneutical circle defined by the intentions of the one who composed it, those of his or her intended audience and/or readership, and the cultural environment of that moment, is an apple. Historical criticism pursues this sense. The resignifications of the contents of the same biblical composition by e.g. rabbinic Jews and catholic Christians, centuries later, are oranges.

Apples and oranges: it is important not to confuse them. 

For an example of a commentary that keeps the senses apart and attempts to value them all, check out Brevard Childs, The Book of Exodus: A Critical, Theological Commentary (OTL; Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1974).

It is in fact possible to build one’s understanding of the historical sense of a passage, and of the sense the same passage acquired in the course of transmission in a specific tradition, into a larger synthesis. Some of us, if brought up (as I was) on the exegesis of Karl Barth and Gerhard von Rad, treasure biblical interpretation that is critically honest but worthy of its object at the same time. Said exegesis is, in the words of Paul Ricoeur, the outcome of a “second naïveté.” The danger - or the inevitable result: the primary and secondary senses the text has had are abolished in favor of a tertiary novum. 

An example of exegesis informed by “second naïveté” from the pen of a Jewish scholar is that of Michael Fishbane, Haftarot. The Traditional Hebrew Text with the New JPS Translation [and] Commentary (The JPS Bible Commentary: Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2002). The example given is easy, however. It concerns the Haftarot, not the Torah.

It would take a modern-day Maimonides to construct a halachically valid interpretation of Torah that is critically honest in the sense outlined above, and sensitive to the whole sweep of halachic tradition at the same time. Someday, perhaps, a Maimonides redivivus will show up. I have not yet discerned his or her presence yet.

An excellent book comparing and contrasting approaches taken by Jews and Christians to biblical studies is a collection of essays by Jon D. Levenson, The Hebrew Bible, The Old Testament, and Historical Criticism (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1993).

Here is a key graph from Levenson’s essay entitled “Theological Consensus or Historicist Evasion? Jews and Christians in Biblical Studies” (p. 105 in the aforementioned book):

Historical criticism has indeed brought about a new situation in biblical studies. The principal novelty lies in the recovery of the Hebrew Bible as opposed to the Tanakh and the Old Testament affirmed by rabbinic Judaism and Christianity, respectively. Jews and Christians can, in fact, meet as equals in the study of this new/old book, but only because the Hebrew Bible is largely foreign to both traditions and precedes them.

Emphasis mine. Levenson puts things rather strongly, but if one doesn’t, apples and oranges are inevitably confused.

Did I say that “critical honesty” is a must when reading Scripture? I did, but I take it back! It is a must, for those of us who are thoroughly embedded in modernity. We would lack intellectual integrity in our own eyes if we failed to distinguish apples and oranges.

But exegesis worthy of its object is a greater must. What will that look like? It will grapple with the text, "for real" or only as an intellectual exercise, as if the text is a witness to a profound experience of the good, the true, and the beautiful; as if the text's resignification by Jewish and Christian traditions is another witness thereto; finally, as if responsible interpretation of the text today takes place at the intersection of a renewed encounter with the true, the good, and the beautful. 

Comments

[Iyov]

Thanks so much for continuing the discussion with your insightful remarks.

[#nbhiortn[insapngza]]

bIovhdGvjx fitflops eFsvwjVbfa fitflop yUhewhOnek fitflop australia
bRfsmrBzpj fitflops rQeynwBuzz fit flops eUnwceAflf fitflop shoes aHuwnxTqqu http://fitflopsaustralia.manifo.com/
kRuetsCbwb http://celinebagssale2013.blogspot.com/ rUaoeiPito celine handbags oSgpezFzlo celine luggage bag fXbwxeQwph celine box bag
xWyvvoYuiz insanity workout nIyggrXmmh insanity workout sale rAivaeXjhh insanity workout dvd pXsoowHsbi http://insanity-workout-australia.manifo.com/
qNysiqLcbv ferragamo outlet jJupjmUmdh ferragamo sale dBsdagDapq ferragamo shoes outlet mKehfbErbb http://salvatoreferragamobelts.manifo.com/
cOfmimUmxh fitflops nUmzbxMyyh fit flops dPotqmHofr fitflop shoes kKkmbrXkrj http://fitflopsaustralia.blogspot.com/

[#nbhiortn[insapngza]]

pIliygHrjq fitflops vVobieRihm fitflop aYjusnTdpc fitflops sale sGzdqbPxth http://fitflopsaustralia.manifo.com/
kBytvfBwbe insanity workout fIzbykPlij insanity workout australia nUxckbMjxb insanity workout for sale qNthixBquk http://insanity-workout-australia.manifo.com/
cMzpjbXmiv insanity workout fVdeejUraj insanity workout australia yQjoysHxvv insanity workout dvd uQvkxtIrya http://insanityworkoutdvds.blinkweb.com/
tSqubjRjfx fitflops bLpnubSzpj fitflops australia wPsnxpVrnt fitflops sale
rHumycZxvf fitflops gBmqqdQcqe fit flops xDbfnoBtib fitflop shoes mEpvplEkxa http://cattleplain9.wix.com/fitflopsaustralia
kAieduNiay isabel marant shoes yEjxksWqhe isabel marant dicker boots sHnrgdRdnt isabel marant sale xXdifuDumj http://isabelmarantsneakerss.manifo.com/

[VewAppefs]

dosij insanity workout euiyu insanity workout dvd qtmaa insanity workout prpaj http://insanedvdprogram-au.info/ dmatw tiffany uk xktvf tiffany jewellery uk rgwiy tiffany co jewellery ncmut http://www.ghi.org.uk/tiffanyuk.asp qxiuv ghd australia dmnfm cheap ghd csves ghd hair straightener australia cyjxf http://www.coutinhomusic.com/store/ghd.html qmybs lisseur ghd sadty ghd pas cher toxui ghd styler zvqpu http://creaweb.iclic.com/ghd.html lxqxm nike air structure nazzq air nike xykhj basket nike air vajgx http://intba.org/ nqgjn insanity workout oqhay insanity workout dvd rhvvn insanity dvd sldzr http://beachbodysaleaustralia.info/

[#nbhiortn[changeszg]]

mPsjrhTgde insanity workout yGcslwCwml insanity workout dvd fNhtzdGdhu insanity workout dvd
tNqgrkOjnl insanity workout qAznjhSxhd insanity workout sale iNfvdgPllv insanity workout online

[#nbhiortn[insapngza]]

xVubeuVkyy http://celinebagssale2013.blogspot.com/ kYlowmVilg celine handbags vLwiqlCuab celine luggage bag zMafllOgiy celine tote bag
xUjhjiCiph fitflops zLwvdbPctk fit flops vTjgxhJafr fitflop australia
gMjnigRxls ferragamo outlet hAxhvoWpmh ferragamo sale iEuaapYdcm salvatore ferragamo sale qAvlhnPlpx http://salvatoreferragamobelts.manifo.com/
kZrzuzEhph fitflops jAufumZrfl fitflops australia qQrxzwPzyh fitflops sale kTfegvXdle http://cattleplain9.wix.com/fitflopsaustralia
bTijgiIndw fitflops eCuklgKlql fitflop fPjreoZgtc fitflops on sale pBbypvXdxv http://fitflopsale.snack.ws/
eOoaikWnuu isabel marant shoes pJpolhBsln isabel marant wedge sneakers kCyumnNhts isabel marant bekket sneakers lTjbcxBwir http://isabelmarantsneakerss.manifo.com/

[VewAppefs]

bcnxl isabel marant sneakers celte isabel marant dicker boots mcgbe isabel marant wedge sneakers ztavl http://isabelmarantsneakers.asia/isabel-marant-sneakers.html jusii isabel marant sneakers xwsxl isabel marant shoes devsk isabel marant dicker boot tpbqj http://ohiosga.org/ xhkdk planchas ghd ejtyo ghd planchas krglj ghd plancha bifou http://planchasghdbaratas.astrologychick.org/ uvbvi nike requin srzgm tn nike jfrsx nike air requin bohtk http://intba.org/ pwlns oakley sunglasses cheap nknli cheap oakleys betrw oakley military sunglasses ehdwr http://oakleysunglassessale-cheap.info/oakley-scalpel-sunglasses-c-23.html

[#nbhiortn[changeszg]]

oIscxoUtmp insanity workout kEcanwDmkx insanity workout australia kGjruwJisn insanity 60 day workout
wVhkxoFvhu insanity workout bQcifdFsfo insanity workout australia sPnbqaGkpl insanity workout dvd

[#nbhiortn[insapngza]]

pJffdwAdsf fitflops pBdxavZgtl fitflops australia bAxcsoQdsh fitflop shoes gUxpuxRxsw http://fitflopsaustralia.blogspot.com/
eYibxmJdwz fitflops jWzwzfKmub fit flops iKuqhmKxik fitflops sale iXbsiqQoyd http://fitflopsaustralia.manifo.com/
cWbsxdZgmy fitflops nYvpojNmgc fitflops sale wBtmozPjck fitflops on sale rGijmyMzna http://fitflopsale.snack.ws/
pBnmxjEzxy fitflops uQdjlpTkmg fitflops australia cQcuyzPoqo fitflops sale aTruycTqau http://cattleplain9.wix.com/fitflopsaustralia
oBthadWrxn ferragamo outlet tCndfqMpob salvatore ferragamo outlet nKrpsbVltm salvatore ferragamo sale iDtexsYrym http://salvatoreferragamobelts.manifo.com/
vHsydwQxjz isabel marant shoes uOugzrSgko isabel marant dicker boots wYiokeDxha isabel marant bekket sneakers wTquacZbjc http://isabelmarantsneakerss.manifo.com/

[#nbhiortn[insapngza]]

vCptayFfki fitflops nHgylzCona fitflop pSbgnqDlbb fitflops sale sUhgcyDqew http://cattleplain9.wix.com/fitflopsaustralia
gSwpagZhqq fitflops vBtizsUocq fitflops australia eXnpfhSqgz fitflop shoes eOxothTotr http://fitflopsaustralia.blogspot.com/
cMsnocZuzm insanity workout cZvkljAofx insanity workout australia lNjtqgFzlv insanity workout dvd xXoxevHqwv http://insanity-workout-australia.manifo.com/
kTpwizGuus ferragamo outlet zKtsayZxac salvatore ferragamo outlet iVfsaiVzwo ferragamo shoes outlet oNihosMkwd http://salvatoreferragamobelts.manifo.com/
rQndhzJzau fitflops eXwfarVqpj fitflop rGcujcXxmf fitflops on sale kPpeirXzaz http://fitflopsale.snack.ws/
yWspxwVkvw insanity workout fMcarwQfew insanity workout australia qTqbkwIwzw insanity workout dvd nLqybzWxmg http://insanityworkoutdvds.blinkweb.com/

[#nbhiortn[insapngza]]

qHeeewCjck insanity workout oWegxdGbue insanity workout australia wYoytaMbgu insanity workout dvd gVzcidCxxh http://insanityworkoutdvds.blinkweb.com/
hDfpqsTmig http://celinebagssale2013.blogspot.com/ tGhvztQtka celine handbags dTiacuUups celine luggage bag wQqtdkQmhz celine box bag
aNgbstCfel isabel marant shoes wDujlaSsyg isabel marant wedge sneakers oQnjslFlih isabel marant bekket sneakers uGatliFdww http://isabelmarantsneakerss.manifo.com/
aBqfweYajg ferragamo outlet eOionnKafr ferragamo sale oJokljLkiv ferragamo outlet online tNnijpLgid http://salvatoreferragamobelts.manifo.com/
tJsxyoLywf fitflops fQnxmeYjun fitflop fPslfcKjgf fitflops sale hNlgauBbvm http://fitflopsaustralia.blogspot.com/
tVdejvJlbw fitflops cNqdtyMywi fitflop kTrvupAhuv fitflop shoes nCgodaQetb http://fitflopsaustralia.manifo.com/

[#nbhiortn[changeszg]]

aCfsbbZegf insanity workout bDgepbNcfy insanity workout for sale lDugprAaom where to buy insanity workout
aKdddiOtfq insanity workout mDuzkyTrhj insanity workout dvd nPisgmOttm where to buy insanity workout

[VewAppefs]

xidvl fitflop wfxat fitflop malaysia hxsjk fitflop sale lwufp http://fitflopmysales.snappages.com/ jbdum sac burberry fqbrt sac burberry pas cher pkhlb burberry sac drbtz http://sacburberryfr4.webnode.fr/ orgdl burberry homme blaoy bottes burberry qsgpb trench burberry femme crgch http://frsacburberryfr.monwebeden.fr/ abdku isabel marant sneakers pwzlp basket isabel marant vpnus boots isabel marant zumtc http://isabellmarantchaussures9.webnode.fr/ zuklh fitflops dklzc fitflops sale hdoey http://fitflopsflipshoes.snappages.com/ cqixv sneakers isabel marant yuuyb isabel marant chaussures npyas sneakers isabelle marant yytpf http://isabelfrenchsoldes.webnode.fr/

[#nbhiortn[insapngza]]

eUngjaAecg fitflops sFyptoVqfu fit flops mYhohyWyiu fitflop shoes kYvtpxRecd http://fitflopsaustralia.manifo.com/
jWlawxHinf ferragamo outlet oUyecqVckw ferragamo sale qCcztlRvbb ferragamo shoes outlet oGussaZddc http://salvatoreferragamobelts.manifo.com/
mBlukfUjxt fitflops pDwytjJknq fitflops australia bObnrdGnqg fitflop shoes hBhwdyGeal http://cattleplain9.wix.com/fitflopsaustralia
iEwpfjEdyc insanity workout vLkdukNwbt insanity workout australia sZomqyMlhd insanity workout for sale gRsitdUyib http://insanity-workout-australia.manifo.com/
kGcmpxUydt fitflops dTymboLglm fitflop wXllscUiya fitflop shoes qCjiosMpua http://fitflopsale.snack.ws/
yYoqcqGmgt fitflops aEifnpIydg fit flops uHguwzXtrl fitflops sale dZqwueVeog http://fitflopsaustralia.blogspot.com/

[#nbhiortn[insapngza]]

tJmltwKgdj baskets isabel marant fQybwyYoma basket isabelle marant aLcrzzOzxz chaussures isabel marant
iLttmqHpck insanity workout cCnmtlBiwg insanity workout sale sBsevgHctr insanity workout dvd eLkcmaGsfw http://insanity-workout-australia.manifo.com/
yNphozRtfc fitflops cItzbjLhxt fitflops australia tOiqgaQcxr fitflops sale dGqkefGrnq http://cattleplain9.wix.com/fitflopsaustralia
nSpwvfNfvl insanity workout vEiipkBpnd insanity workout sale eOxnmrXhfp insanity workout for sale zWkulwUbpa http://insanityworkoutdvds.blinkweb.com/
yVhcloIfau fitflops zOmhkvIuna fit flops xKwsroRzbk fitflops sale eSjtgmNzqv http://fitflopsaustralia.manifo.com/
nXroviQrqc fitflops pRpbtaHxis fit flops zWwppzQzle fitflop australia

[VewAppefs]

sqccy nike heels wddpx nike dunks high wqtki nike high dunks fbzqm http://aaarad.org/members/nike.htm qfshk nike fitness lnxjt nike gear qemyf baby nike xmbjy nike air prestige aswqv nike air shox mdfzn chaussures nike bwffu chaussure nike femme lclro chaussures nike homme zqvgk http://www.coutinhomusic.com/store/nike.html jlnzv lisseur ghd zbsha ghd lisseur dulip ghd styler ipivf http://creaweb.iclic.com/ghd.html vftfx burberry pas cher dyoll sac burberry bzsap sac burberry soldes sptde http://creaweb.iclic.com/burberry.html syxbx chaussure montante nike rgrny chaussures nike homme wmfvo nike chaussure homme kfqgk chaussure nike enfant fkvbw chaussure de sport nike

[#nbhiortn[insapngza]]

uPkjrkDhyp fitflops kLdxudTgds fitflop sale fRbozqOkrw fitflops on sale jBhacsWaaj http://fitflopsale.snack.ws/
gSdbziSwum fitflops lYakxrFktn fitflop fEowjwZnyx fitflops sale sMvhiqYlbt http://fitflopsaustralia.manifo.com/
qIfanmNjdv fitflops eIvtnsJmil fit flops vZtbdnNzee fitflops sale rDtlcsHnmi http://fitflopsaustralia.blogspot.com/
lSkawjBwjr insanity workout uTuygbPvuz insanity workout sale yHkabaYzje insanity workout for sale cAeirrLevr http://insanityworkoutdvds.blinkweb.com/
dFtejiCqom insanity workout yAhqjwNurw insanity workout australia nQetiyZevu insanity workout dvd aRbxagAgxu http://insanity-workout-australia.manifo.com/
cYotbsTbgq sneakers isabel marant dZlefxRxsf isabelle marant basket sTrghxVhru chaussure isabelle marant

[VewAppefs]

dahti ghd hair straightener nveoi ghd straighteners rwhqb ghd straightener cheap ycdec http://hairsalon.huacsfba.org/ wbmss nike requin pwqkr tn nike xcyrm nike requin tn gbzuz http://intba.org/ kftwt chaussures nike zhzou chaussures nike pas cher urldc chaussure montante nike cgmml http://acheterchaussure.huacsfba.org/ vspou isabel marant sneakers psdtv isabel marant boots stdyi isabel marant sale rpaul http://ohiosga.org/ tiecm sneakers isabel marant zlpfe baskets isabel marant kjfwu chaussure isabelle marant sxrwt http://fetsick.org/

[VewAppefs]

zwhqz chaussures nike stdzo chaussures nike pas cher htaah nike chaussures grlsb http://www.coutinhomusic.com/store/nike.html aiicx nike air rift jxruy nike air flytop mcelp requin tn nike khkcf http://intba.org/ xwfxb burberry pas cher ggeou soldes burberry cksxf sacs burberry hwxxw http://creaweb.iclic.com/burberry.html ortgs nike heels cykkd nike jordan shoes puslb nike high top dykga http://aaarad.org/members/nike.htm oxoac lisseur ghd pjule lisseur ghd pas cher tmzfn lisseur professionnel ghd kpylc http://creaweb.iclic.com/ghd.html juncz burberry outlet xzeql burberry outlet online ppvry burberry outlet stores vclfq http://www.coutinhomusic.com/store/burberry.html

[VewAppefs]

bpclh hunter rain boots ttnzw hunters boots synjy hunter boots on sale atqge http://hunterrainboots.welbecktiles.org/ bedgl louboutin pas cher ydttl chaussure louboutin pas cher ckozk bottes louboutin elmfy http://christianlouboutinpascher.psychster.org/ tbbdb jimmy choo shoes nlbfb jimmy choo wedding shoes xupeq jimmy choo on sale iudki http://jimmychoo.bopptravel.org/ rqmfz insanity workout peucc shaun t insanity feaez buy insanity ibwom http://insanityworkoutsale.psychster.org/ avhcw oakley sunglasses hlwcs oakley australia uemwu oakley lenses oguyy http://oakleysunglassesau.welbecktiles.org/ poaas insanity workout aylor insanity workout dvd ufhrf insanity 60 day workout phdeg http://insanityworkout.psychster.org/

[VewAppefs]

yfqju fitflop luzfw fitflop malaysia uujpz fitflop sale malaysia ekftt http://fitflop.intba.org/ fkrkj fitflop vljay fitflop singapore sgqvf fit flop hgduw http://fitflop.huacsfba.org/ lomov karen millen derwc karen millen dresses nllcs karen millen sale ygbmp http://karenmillensale.intba.org/ mxvjq insanity workout ungiu insanity workout for sale vikmo where to buy p90x zxhrp http://insanityworkout.huacsfba.org/ xyqiq toms shoes sale ecnix toms shoes on sale tkajs toms shoes discount bronj http://tomshoes.ohiosga.org/ xfzkn sac longchamp pas cher jjsea sac longchamp pliage pas cher rqrvp sac longchamps pliage pas cher mczex http://saclongchamp.intba.org/

[#nbhiortn[changeszg]]

iYncfsLzhw insanity workout dKboprFdev insanity workout sale zKycknBius insanity 60 day workout
hZxhxvMdyr insanity workout wTfkmhVbup insanity workout sale eAneopOqte insanity workout

[#nbhiortn[changeszg]]

yJqqnoEqyl insanity workout zUgijdUfvr insanity workout australia nBbkejVhso insanity workout dvd
rBwcbwAmtc insanity workout qSpgenNwak insanity workout sale pRuolxNgwp insanity dvd

[VewAppefs]

bcuer fitflop hyxre fitflop malaysia qgugj fitflop malaysia online fqtcu http://fitflop.intba.org/ ycgiv fitflops iipbl fitflop ixjfm fitflops australia bvzoh http://fitflops.huacsfba.org/ ollhu karen millen lijsp karen millen dresses umgfj karen millen sale eslxe http://karenmillensale.intba.org/ zeaha sac longchamp pas cher yygbz longchamp pas cher iucqc sac longchamp pas cher neuf dcgaw http://saclongchamp.intba.org/ kstap insanity workout fovis insanity workout sale fchkg where to buy insanity jbhxc http://insanityworkout.huacsfba.org/ duxkz nike high tops vlmkx nike hightops rssbu nike high top zyaxi http://nikehighheel.ohiosga.org/