Historical Criticism of the Bible

The ideas contained in secular humanism, Enlightenment, and German idealism have shaped Western universities and indeed our society. But have they undermined biblical scholarship as well? Eta Linnemann, a former student of Rudolf Bultmann and Ernst Fuchs, asserts that they have. The author presents a telling analysis of the relation of scientific method and biblical interpretation within the context of the history of ideas. She offers a radical prescription for recovery. In his translator's introduction, Robert Yarbrough contends, "Linnemann's diagnosis and prescription have preemptive value, calling evangelicals to consider their ways before current maladies escalate to fatal proportions--assuming, of course, that is not already too late."