This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Henige, D. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

In Good Company: Problematic Sources and Biblical Historicity

Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Advocates of robust biblical historicity often express concern that critics of this view act from partisan purposes, and should instead treat biblical testimony as innocent until and unless it can be demonstrated otherwise—virtually an impossible task in light of the exiguity of the evidence. These claims are seldom undergirded by a canvas of extra-biblical materials and even then, never beyond the ancient Near East. This article draws a small sample of examples from a variety of times and places to argue that the incidence of error, fraud, and misplaced trust is well beyond the point that would justify this deferential treatment. It urges those who would too readily accept the reliability of the biblical account of early Israel to canvass more widely before committing themselves.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?