1. Types of Modern Criticism
inevitably followed that regarding the
Acts. The hypothesis that the two
books are from different authors is
very seldom put forth and even then
in a very guarded manner,
while it is easily refuted
by
the many-sided similarities which are found in
the books. Modern New-Testament criticism takes
two principal directions in its discussion of the
Lucan writings. In one case it asserts that they
are "tendency writings," taking a part in the assumed burning contest between Pauliniam and Judaism and endeavoring to furnish a middle ground
upon which both could unite, blending the dogmstica, ethics, and practicality of Judaism with
Pauline universalism. Thin makes the writings a
peace proposal from a Pauline Christian. Of
course, various forms of this hypothesis have been
put forth. The other direction of modern criticism proceeds from a literary basis, and supposes
that the books embody the editing of earlier sources,
which expressed various tendencies and were of
different origin and value, by a man who was not
near enough to the facts to have complete mastery
of them. Indeed, it is asserted that the interests
of a later time than the authorship of Luke would
admit appear in incidental details, that the report
often shows that the time of Jesus and his apostles
was already long past, while there is silence as to
matters of importance which would not be expected
from a man in the position of Luke. The question
is, whether the objections are so grounded as to demand the rejection of a strong and conaentient tradition, or whether, either by means of a more correct
exposition or by a more exact appreciation of the
intentions and situation of the traditional author,
the possibility of the Lucan authorship may be more
conclusively established. In order to gain securer
results, an attempt must be made to delineate as a
whole the historical and literary processes of apostolic times in order satisfactorily to examine the
critical hypotheses with reference to their probability
or possibility-an attempt which is excluded by the
purposes of
this article, which can give merely the
indications.
The starting-point of
any discussion is, of course,
the Gospel, to which there is a preface. A prior
question is whether this preface belongs only to
the Gospel or also to the Acts. Although the
question has been answered both ways, prima
facie
the
preface belongs to the Gospel only.
