The Old Testament and the Critics by J. Coppens (review)

BOOK REVIEWS The Old Testament and the Critics. Translated from the French of J. Coppens, Professor at the University of Louvain, by Edward A. Ryan, S. J., and Edward W. Tribbe, S. J. (Paterson, N. J.: St. Anthony Guild Press, 1942. Pp. xiii + 167. $2.00.) This excellent work of Father Coppens consists of three chapters, dealing respectively with the beginnings of critical exegesis, recent developments, and the future outlook. In the first chapter the author traces the evolution of critical methodology and exegesis from its first faint glimmerings down to Wellhausenism and its subsequent development. He mentions briefly the various intellectual move­ ments that affected biblical criticism, such as, the new outlook on natural sci­ ence, the humanist conception of history, the theory of evolution, and the new ideas on the study and teaching of ancient literature. He shows how the critical method reacted against the relatively rigid traditional exegesis, which did not take into consideration the cultural milieu reflected in the Scriptures or their "situation in life.” He then gives an excellent and thorough account, without descending into minutiae, of the documentary hypothesis, propagated by Eichhorn, in its strug­ gles against the rival hypotheses of fragments and complements, and its tri­ umphant emergence in its third form, to which Wellhausen gave the classic expression. Here is shown also the spread of the critical principles of Wellhausenism in one country after the other. Briefly and well explained are the presuppositions of Wellhausen’s hy­ pothesis, namely, absolute skepticism in regard to the sacred books, the scien­ tific theory of evolution as applied to the religious history of the Hebrews, and the denial of the reality of any supernatural intervention in the origin and development of the religion of Israel. He then treats of the criticoliterary conclusions of the school, the chief of which was the reversal of the chronological order of the books of the Law and the prophetical writings. Lastly, the further development of the school after Wellhausen is treated until definite reactions set in against it. The second chapter deals with these reactions. It is here that Gunkel and Grassmann come in for favorable comment. A new world has arisen since 1876, the year of triumph for the critical school. The history of ancient Israel and the Near East, through the study of archeology and linguistics, has shattered presuppositions of Wellhausenism. The effect has been felt in the field of literary criticism itself. Although the various documents are con­ sidered in general, they are given an earlier dating and looked upon in a different light from that of classical Wellhausenism. The new literary results among various categories of books are put forth by the author. He then outlines what he thinks may be the future approach to a new synthesis of the history of Israel. In the third chapter the author looks into the future, both in regard to the critics and to the position to be taken by Catholic Scripture scholars. He explains the attitude of the Church in this respect and comments upon the 321 322 FRANCISCAN STUDIES decrees of the Biblical Commission concerning the Old Testament, giving the reason for them and their necessity, nature, and purpose. He also deals with historical criticism of the Old Testament and biblical teaching in our sem­ inaries and higher institutes of learning. This chapter is very enlightening and has special interest and utility for the professor of scripture. Throughout the book the bibliography is copious, set in footnotes of smaller type, which do not at all detract from the readableness of the text and are very handy for reference. To this bibliography the author adds bio­ graphical notes which are very helpful in understanding the critical school. An excellent index of names is also appended. The work is not to be considered a direct refutation of Wellhausenism or the critical school. For the greater part the author lets the critics speak for themselves and among themselves, as the title of the book indicates. In­ directly, however, the fallacies and exaggerations of Wellhausenism are brought out in bold relief. In the third chapter the Catholic scholar will find directives for his attitude towards the critics and the work...