The author of this article endeavoured to remove this vagueness by furnishing a firm definition of Biblical introduction. In his work, Einleitung in dos .Areue Testanzent, von Dr. K. A. Credner, th. IIalle 1836, he defined Biblical introduction to be the history of the Bible, and divided it into the following parts : I. The history of the separate Biblical books.
2. The history of the collection of these books, or of the canon.
3. The history of the spread of these books, or of the translations of it.
4. The history of the preservation of the text.
5. The history of thc interpretation of it.
This view of the science of introduction has re ceived much approbation, and is the basis of Reus's Geschichte der Heilzgen Schriften des Neuen Testamentes, Halle 1842 [3d ed. enlarged, Braun schw. IS6o]. The results of the critical examina tion of the books of the N. T. arc comprehended in the following work, Das Neue Testament 'tack seinem Zzeteck, Unfirunge una' Inhalt, von A. R. Credner, Giessen 1841-43, in two volumes.
The critical investigation which prevailed in Ger many after the days of Michaelis, has of late been opposed by a mode of treating Biblical introduc tion, not so much in the spirit of a free search after truth as in an apologetical and polemical style. This course, however, has not enriched Biblical science. To this class of books belong n number of monographs, or treatises on sepamte subjects ; also the IIana'buch der Histarisch-krz tischen Einleitung in das A lte Testament, Erlan gen 1836, by II. A. C. Havemick, of which there have been published two parts, in three volumes, and of which The General Introduction and the In troa'uction to the Pentateuch have been translated into English, Edin. 183o, IS52 ; and also H. E. Ferd. Guericke's Einleitung das Neue Testa ment, Halle 1843, in which too frequently an anathema against heretics serves as a substitute for demonstration. The apologetical tendency pre.
vails in the work of G. IIamilton, entitled .4 Gene ral Introduction to the Study of the Hebrew Scrip tures, etc., Dublin 1814; in Thomas Hartwell Horne's Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, etc., London 1818, four volumes [the tenth edition of this work was issued in four large vols. 8vo, in 1856, of which the second vol. on the O. T. was pre pared by Dr. S. Davidson, and the fourth on the N. T., by Dr. P. Tregelles. For Dr. Davidson's vol., one by Mr. Ayre has since been substituted] ; and in J. Cook's inynhy into the Books of the New Testament, Edin. 1824.
The Roman Catholics also have, in modern times, written on Biblical introduction, although the unchangeable decrees of the Council of Trent hinder all free, critical, and scientific treatment of the subject. The Roman Catholics can treat Biblical introduction only in a polemical and apo logetical manner, and are obliged to keep up the attention of their readers by introducing learned archmological researches, which conceal the want of free movement. This latter mode was adopted
by J. Jahn (who died at Vienna in 18'6) in his Einleitung in die Grittlichen Biicher des Alten Bundes, Vienna 1793, two volumes, and 1802, three volumes ; and in his Introductio in Libros Sams Veteris Testansenti in epitome's redacts', Viennm 18o5. This work has been republished by F. Ackermann, in what are asserted to be the third and fourth editions, under the title of ban, ductio in Libros Sacros Veteth Testaments; usibus academicis accommodata, Viennm 1825 and 1839. But these so-called new editions are lull of altera tions and mutilations, which remove every free ex pression of Jahn, who belonged to the liberal period of the Emperor Joseph.
Johann Leonhard Hues Einleitung in das Neue Thtament, Stuttgart and Ttibingen 1808, tvvo volumes, third edition, 1826, surpasses Jahn's work in ability, and has obtained much credit among Protestants by its learned explanations, although these frequently swerve from the point in question. Hug's work has been translated into English by the Rev. D. G. Wait, LL.D. ; but this translation is much surpassed by that of Fos dick, published in the United States, and enriched by the addenda of Moses Stuart. The polemtcal and apologetical style prevails in the work of J. G. ' Herbst, Historirch-kritische Einleitung in die Schriflen des Alten Testanzentes, completed and edited after the death of the author, by Welte, Car/sruhe 184o ; and in L' introduction Historique et Critique aux Livres de PAncien et du Nouveau Testament, par J. B. Glaire, 6 vols., 2d ed., Paris 1843. The work of the excellent Feilmoser, who died in 1831, Einleitzeng in die Bucher des Neuen Bundes, in the second edition, Tiibingen 183o, forsakes the position of a true Roman Catholic, inasmuch as it is distinguished by a noble ingenuousness and candour. All these last-men tioned works prove that the science of introduction cannot prosper in ecclesiastical fetters.—K. A. C.
[To the works above enumerated may be added —Collyer's Sacred _Interpreter, 2 vols. 8vo, zry4.6, last edit. 1815 (` a good popular preparation for the study of the Holy Scriptures,' Bp. MARSH) ; Lardner, Credibility ; and History of the Apostles and Evangelists, Works i.-vi. ; Scholz, Einleit. in die Heiligrn Sr/trifle': des d4.und N. T.. 4 vols., of which only three had appeared before the author's death in 1852 ; Hengstenberg, Beitnige zur lett. ins A. B.,I. Authent. des Danid u. Integritrit des Sachaviz Ber. 1831 ; II. III. Au& des Penta teuch: 1836'-39 • Maier, Einleit. in die Schriflets a'es N.' T., Freib. 1852 • Keil, Lehrbttch der Hist. Xrit. Endes?. in die K'anon. Schriften des A. T., in 3 parts, formino- 1 vol., Frankf. and Erlang. 1853 ; Davidson, introduction to the O. T., 3 vols. 8vo, Lond. 1862-63 ; introduction to the N. T, 3 vols. 8vo, Lond. 1848-5o ; Scholten, Hist..
Ein4 in a'ie Schriften des N. T., 1853, 2d ed. enlarged 1856 ; Bleek, Einleit. in a'. A. T., Berl. 1860 ; in das N. T., 1862.]