The Fundamentals - Torrey - I - Chapter 1 (The history of higher criticism) commenced

Required reading
The Fundamentals edited by R. A. Torrey (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 1 'The history of higher criticism' by reading up to the heading 'A discredited Old Testament'.

My summary
This week we start an important new work that will keep us busy for a while.

The first chapter is an overview of higher criticism which is defined as 'study of the historic origins, the dates, and authorship of the various books of the Bible, and that great branch of study which in the technical language of modern theology known as Introduction.'

Then Hague explains that higher criticism is identified with unbelief because of:
(i) subjective conclusions;
(ii) German fancies;
(iii) anti-supernaturalists.

Next Hague teaches us that higher criticism has passed through three great stages:
(i) the French-Dutch;
(ii) the German;
(iii) the British-American.

Then we are given a right view of the Pentateuch followed by some of the critics' positions.

What grabbed me
I appreciated the succinct orthodox view of the Pentateuch: 'According to the faith of the universal church, the Pentateuch, that is, the first five books of the Bible, is one consistent, coherent, authentic and genuine composition, inspired by God, and, according to the testimony of the Jews, the statements of the books themselves, the reiterated corroborations of the rest of the Old Testament, and the explicit statement of the Lord Jesus (Luke 24:44, John 5:46-47) was written by Moses (with the exception, of course, of Deut. 34, possibly written by Joshua, as the Talmud states, or probably by Ezra) at a period of about fourteen centuries before the advent of Christ, and 800 years or so before Jeremiah. It is, moreover, a portion of the Bible that is of paramount importance, for it is the basic substratum of the whole revelation of God, and of paramount value, not because it is merely the literature of an ancient nation, but because it is the introductory section of the Word of God, bearing His authority and given by inspiration through His servant Moses. That is the faith of the Church.'

Amen!

Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 1 'The history of higher criticism'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.