אבנימ

Biblical Hermeneutics Part Third Chapter 7

The fresh spirit of inquiry into the Scriptures that was ignited by the Protestant Reformation continued to burn with vigor through the seventeenth century. The Scriptures were translated into many tongues, and this endeavor was aided by copious philological research and supplemented by much exegetical labor. In addition to the many new translations such as the Authorized Version of 1611, the seventeenth century produced many worthy works of biblical research, exegesis and commentary, which have proven to be of lasting value. Among these are Brian Walton’s London Polyglot, Castell’s Lexicon, the Critici Sacri and Matthew Poole’s Synopsis Criticorum, to name just a few. A number of divines from the Westminster assembly produced works of exegesis, commentary and practical devotion. [Aside: Though Terry mentions the Westminster Assembly several times due to the notable contributions of her divines, he says nothing directly about the Assembly itself, and the formulation of the Westminster Standards.]

On the Continent, the Reformation found its most fertile soil in the Netherlands, and the University at Leyden became the center of learning for all Europe. It was here that professor of theology Jacob Arminius came into controversy by opposing the biblical doctrine of predestination. [Aside: Terry is perhaps showing his colors when he characterizes Arminian theology as “grounded in a comprehensive and rational exegesis of the Scriptures.”] There were capable exegetes on the both sides of this debate, which culminated in the Synod of Dort. Noteworthy on the Arminian side was Hugo Grotius, and on the Reformed side, John Cocceius. The work of the former tended toward rationalism, while the latter stressed the organic unity of the Bible. Hence arose the saying “Cocceius finds Christ everywhere in the Old Testament, but Grotius nowhere.” Through this and other similar debates, as well as the general trends in philosophy and literature, the seventeenth century brought forth an increasing interest in freedom of inquiry and thought, which would serve to promote deeper study into the history of the Bible, and a more scientific interpretation of its books.