II. Method of Exegetical Theology. — 1. Philology. — As the Bible comes to us in ancient languages (He- brew, Chaldee, Hellenistic Greek), the first requisite of exegesis is the knowledge of these languages, both as to their grammatical structure and their vocabula- rv. Tliis branch is called Sacred Linguistics, or Sa- cred Philology. The knowledge of classical Greek is of course presupposed, while Syriac, Samaritan, and Arabic are cognate and auxiliar3% For details, see
EXEGETICAL THEOLOGY 393
EXERCISE
the separate articles in this -work on the various topics named.
2. -1 rchxology. — Not only does the Bible come to us in ancient languages, but it was also written at vari- ous times, in various countries, and under various con- ditions of life (social, political, religious, etc.). Thus arise the various branches of Bible history (belong- ing partly to exegetical and partly to historical the- olog}'), Biblical geography, chronology, ethnography, natural history of the Bible, laws, usages, domestic economy, agriculture, sacred rites, and worship. All these branches are summed up under the general title Antiquities, or Archa;ology. See both these heads in this Cyclopasdia, and also the other topics named, for the details and the literature.
3. Canon.— As these books come to us claiming to be authoritative, we must be able to answer the ques- tion, What books belong to the Bible as a sacred book.' The answer to this question gives rise to that branch called the science of the Canon of Scripture. It is di- vided into canon of the 0. T. and canon of the N. T. See the article Canon of Scrii'tuke.
4. Criticism. — Granting that we have certain books admitted to be canonical, the farther question arises, Have we these writings in their original and correct forms ? The answer to this question gives rise to Crit- icism, which is divided into the lower or text-criticism, which seeks to ascertain the true and original reading of the text as accurately as possible, and the higher criticism, which examines into the integrity, genuine- ness, and authenticity of the books. The higher criti- cism sacks to distinguish the true from the lalse, and forms, to a certain degree, the basis of Apologetics (q. v.); the text-criticism distinguishes the original from the altered or corrupted. See Criticism.
5. Interpretation. — All the studies heretofore named are preparatory to the work of getting at the meaning of the sacred Scriptures, which is the function of In- terpretation, or Ilermeneutics {ipinjvtviji)). The general principles on which any other writings would be inter- preted arc of course applicable here (General Ilerme- neutics) ; but the special character of these writings as sacred gives rise to an enlargement of tliose gener- al principles of interpretation (Sacred Ilermeneutics). When the sense of Scripture is sought simply by the use of linguistics or criticism, the interpretation is called Grammatical. Wlien not only linguistics and criticism, but also all the knowledges embraced above under archteology are employed, the interpretation is called Grammatico-Historical. Wlien, in addition, the traditional sense of the Church as to the substantial facts and doctrines of revelation is brought to bear upon the Word, the interpretation is called Doctrinal, or Dogmatical.'' Finally, when a farther sense than that conveyed in the words of the writer is sought, the interpretation is called Allegorical. For the nature, history, and value of these, see Hermeneutics ; In- terpretation.
III. Results or Products of Exegetical Theology. — The application of the laws of hermeneutics, and of the pre- paratorj' or propaedeutic sciences mentioned aliove, in practical work, is Exegesis. The fruit of this labor may appear, within the sphere of exegetical theology itself, in translations of the Bible, or of any of its parts [see Versions] ; or in commentaries on the Bible, or on separate books of the Bible, or on separate passages in any of the books. See Commentaries. The prin- ciples and rules of exegesis are also to be used b}' the preacher in the preparation of his discourses for the coihgregation. See Homii^etics ; Sermon.
Most of the topics of exegeticul tiieology are em- braced in what is called Introduction to the Scriptures, a vague title, formerly mucli in use, but now giving way to more scientific and distinctive terms, such as Literary History of the Bible, for a gcnernl name, and the several titles mentioned above for special branches. The books on Introduction are often rather useful
collections of propaedeutic knowledge than scientific treatises. See Introduction. There are no books in English treating exegetical theology as a separate branch in scientific form ; but English literature abounds in excellent works on the several branches, which will be found indicated under the several titles in this Cyclopaidia. The most important general works are the so-called books of " Introduction," such as Home, Introduction (new ed., London, 1860, 4 vols. 8vo) ; Davidson, Introduction to N. T. (Lond. 1848-51 [Dr. Davidson's later writings are not so trustworthy as his earlier]); Westcott, Introduction to the Study of the Gospels (reprinted, Bost. 1807, 12mo). On the liter- ature, see farther under the head Introduction. On the scope of exegetical theology, and its relations to the other branches of the science, see Hagenbach, En- cyklopddie uiid Methodologie (Leipsig, 18G4, 7th edit, § 34-5C); Marsh, Lectures on the Arrangement of the sev- eral Branches of Divinity (Cambridge, 1809, 8vo); Pelt, TheologiscJie EncyUopddie als System (Hamburg, 1843, 8vo), § 10-28 ; Clarisse, Encyklopccdiie Theologicm Epit- om,e (Lugd. Bat. 1835, 8vo), sect, i, ii ; and our articles Encyclopaedia of Theology ; TuEOLOCiY.