Redaction criticism

The term redaction criticism (even redaction criticism (Latin redactio " [ text ] revision "; gr kritiké techne " discernment " ) ) as part of the historical-critical method with respect to the exegesis of biblical texts goes back to Willi Marxsen in 1956 published Habilitationsschrift " Mark the Evangelist. studies redaction of the Gospel ".

The redaction criticism (or even editing history ) asks about the theological orientation of the author and may incur additional editors of a biblical text. It examines the concepts, the authors and editors in their choice of topics, their texts, the processing of the templates and the formulation of their lyrics and the composition of the complete works have passed. The view that has in text and form criticism focuses on details, widens in the redaction criticism back on the theological context in which and for which the final redactor writes, then to be able to understand some passages again in this context.

The redaction -critical method originated in the 1950s within the German exegesis and was to some extent already developed before Marxsen by Günther Bornkamm and Conzelmann, Hans, without those would have the term redaction criticism explicitly related. Insofar Marxsen applies by minting of this term and its introduction to the exegesis and internationally as the actual initiator of this method. So is spoken, for example, in the French exegesis untranslated La redaction criticism, analogy is the scientific use of language in English, Spanish and Italian. The editorial concerns historical research, it is particularly to examine the vorfindlichen biblical writings on the work of the editors who brought together with their own theological positions texts or collections of texts, edited and have it changed in their statement. The Old and New Testament Scriptures sees the editorial history as works by various editors that they have composed with each particular theological interests.

Some starting points for the editorial historical investigation:

• Stylistic improvements ( Historicum present in Mk, past tense in Luke )
• Remarks ( supplements for a specific readership )
• Omissions ( the editor seems somewhat superfluous or inappropriate )
• Reformulation of an image ( images must be understandable to the audience )
• Changes in procedures (temptation of Jesus in Matthew: Desert - Jerusalem - Berg, in Luke: Desert - Mount - Jerusalem )
• Supplement the material from other traditions
• Streamlining and reduction
• Composition first independent statements
• Dramatization of a story

As the editorial history requires knowledge of different traditions, it is mainly used in the Gospels exegesis, where the synoptic tradition offers rich material. Their methodology can be applied by analogy to other texts, if several lineages are tangible. By way of example, the tradition of the Old Testament creation stories are called, in the confrontation with the Babylonian ideas have been incorporated. ( Epic of Gilgamesh )

Diversified approach in the field of Old Testament: In order to methodically investigate editors on a text, first of all the passages have been identified and isolated, which were added later into an existing text. Redaction criticism is thus possible only after voraufgehender literary criticism. This was pointed out toward W. Richter ( " exegesis as Literature ", 1971). Thus, it should not be general and imprecise spoken of " traditions," which are subsequently joined together, but it is precisely them to " text " or parts. For each previously isolated editorial contribution to both the technique of insertion as well as the motivation for engagement can be captured via stylistics.

Standard is that an editorial intervention - especially in an artistically sophisticated text - there disturbs the literary structure ( decomposed ), conflicting information enters, makes for irritation. All this is the opportunity for ' literary criticism to isolate the editorial contributions. - After extensive analyzes of the Joseph story (Gen 37-50 ) H. has raised the following Swiss motivations of editors. Called each is an illustrative example text. However, it could be called more often:

• Killing of narrative tension by anticipations (as secondary gene 37.4 " hated " the brothers Josef, whereby narrative, this can not yet understand, but at best only after his dream narrative 37.6 to 8 / original.
• Zerdehnung of the text by filling in narrative gaps (Gen 41.36 to 40 / original arrives Josef stunning on the tip of the Egyptian state, in this 41.41-43 has an editor still decorated with signet ring, gold necklace, ornate dresses and cheers.
• Of parasitic abuse by adding accents and corrections (Gen 47: the " whole" land of the Egyptians became the property of Pharaoh over, but - now the editorial article starts ( 47.22 ) - not the priest)
• Curse of the evil deed: drafting a tight spot ( in the original dreams of the Pharaoh in Genesis 41 only once a editor makes him dream V.5 -7 a second time This forces him to emphasize below, but I have been only a single dream.. be doubled ) - and it must be the dream narrative - V.22 - 24a - and then the interpretation of dreams - V.25 - 28; V.25bc:
• Emotional leveling ( 45.24 cd: can sometimes editors violent emotions that are actually literary course, not stand and steaming, leveling, therefore, " do not be excited !")
• Forcible integration of the religious level - ignoring the narrative fiction ( the lostness of Joseph in Egypt - early gene 39 -, the uncertainty of the further fate did not honor editor and added several times, adding that the LORD was with him The original text can be at this point the reader. / listener through the life prospects of Joseph, he also offers no comforting view of the Saviour in the background.
• Headteacher gorgeous reinforcements, false dramatizations (anything that causes a subsequent pathetic / quantitative charge of the original text. Thus, in 50.7 to 10 the funeral for the late Israel / Jacob be dramatically expanded )
• Non - enduring poetic imagery and provocative ( in gene 41 complements the redactor the original, but it stranger " cows " picture to the more familiar of the " ears " )

See also: Biblical exegesis, form history form criticism, historical- critical exegesis