Analysis of Biblical Criticism -Fourth-

The 19th and 20th centuries were a period when many drastic changes happened in theological field. One change occurred in the rise of the field of Liberal Theology. This new ideology based on the 17th-century continental rationalism had unique traits that traditional theology had not shown before. The most controversial approach of Liberal Theology is to scrutinize the content of Bible critically in order to gain the proper information academically and historically. The new movement peaked in 20^th-century Germany when a wave of German theologians challenged orthodox Christian beliefs. Around that time, even the crucifixion of Jesus began to become an academic question for those scholars. Eventually, the “Vision Hypothesis” was created as a new standard for the logical understanding of the miracle. The hypothesis was proposed in 1835 by David Friedrich Strauss who was well known for his extreme liberal views in the biblical interpretation field. In this theory, he denied the physical resurrection of Jesus, and instead, supported the idea of visual revelation, something, like hallucinations, by disciples. Many scholars, though, have opposed this opinion. For example, Pinchas Lapide, a Jewish theologian and Israeli historian, claims that ”if the defeated and depressed group of disciples overnight could change into a victorious movement of faith, based only on autosuggestion or self-deception—without a fundamental faith experience—then this would be a much greater miracle than the resurrection itself” (Overman, 162). According to Matthew and Mark, when Jesus was arrested by Roman soldiers, those disciples ran away in fear of getting caught with Jesus (Matthew 26:56[1], Mark 14:50[2]). In consideration of the unfaithful action toward Jesus by his followers, Lapide’s explanation seems rational. Even Strauss, who proposed the hallucination theory, conceded the singularity of the sudden conversion in the end. Intriguingly, Paul suggests over 500 people knew or witnessed the revival of Jesus (1 Cor 15:6[3]). If Strauss is correct and if we can rely on Paul’s post facto account, it would mean that those 500 people were all hallucinating. It surely sounds like a miracle. However, even now, there are many theologians who strongly support Strauss’s theory. For instance, one of my theological professors at Sophia University who is a well-renowned Catholic Japanese priest openly advocated this theory in his lecture. It is apparent that critical review might be essential for learning the proper biblical elements. However, those excessive theories like vision hypothesis seem to be self-advertisement rather than theology. Like Lapide said, their persuasions sometimes tend to be more ambiguous than biblical descriptions are and some of them cannot be regarded as rationalistic or academic at all.

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[1] But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

[2] Then everyone deserted him and fled.

[3] After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.