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Hoax of Higher Criticism

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If you're looking for a scholarly analysis and argument against Higher Criticism, you'll have to look elsewhere. North's "Hoax of Higher Criticism" is hardly worth the pages on which it was printed.

North's argument rarely ventures from quoting 2 Timothy 3:16 and saying that higher criticism is wrong, simply because "it is wrong". Ironically, he then goes on to accuse higher criticism of being "circular" in its logic.

At one point, he compares the higher-critics' complaint about the "text of the bible having a hard time keeping characters and events straight" to a novel being written which has character names changed and attributes altered for the final draft. I would consider that to be a self-defeating argument, comparing the bible to a novel that has gone through revisions and editing.

If you have read 2 Timothy 3:16 (North makes sure to include a few contextual verses with it), then you know exactly what this book is going to say. Beyond that passage, there is nothing that could even be conceived as "substance".

Some of Gary North's best writing can be found in the appendices of his (too-) huge economic commentaries on the Bible. This little book was originally an appendix to a much larger volume. A good alternate title might be, "Everything Anyone Needs to Know about Higher Criticism." If you have any interest in higher criticism, reading this book could be a very profitable way to spend an hour of your time.

Higher criticism is a system of biblical interpretation which believes that the Bible is a bunch of myths and legends which were crammed together into books, which contradict themselves and others. This is then heralded as the reason the BIble is great.

Dr. Gary North takes Higher Criticism to presuppositional task in this slim and very clear volume, demonstrating its origins (socialistic Germany) and discussing its problems. Highly recommended for anyone. Everyone should read this book!