Sign-In
Cart
From Sacred Text to Religious Text
Hardcover
Bible StudiesGeneral ChristianityOther Bible Translations
Publisher: Kept Pure Press
Published: Mar 17 2026
Pages: 362
Weight: 1.41
Height: 0.94 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
A religious belief in verbal inspiration gave the Christian Bible its sacred text status within the matrix of the Church. The lower, or textual criticism, first practiced outside the sanction of the Church by Erasmus and developed further by non-Trinitarians initially, offered the first significant direct challenge to this belief in the early modern period. This, the dissertation argues, was the proper beginning, phenomenologically speaking, of the process of desacralization.
Moreover, it is argued that the desacralizing role of the lower criticism was further manifested when it was discovered that certain theologically significant passages, perceived by those in the Erasmian school to have resulted from later interpolation into the text of Scripture, illegitimately lent support to dogmas such as the Trinity, the deity of Christ and the virgin birth. The practice of lower criticism set in motion, well before the arrival of the higher criticism, a rather significant awakening of a historical consciousness about the developmental stages of the NT text, which in later recensions reflected a more full-blown orthodox expression of Christological themes. The role that the lower criticism played in introducing this historical consciousness has not been readily acknowledged by either historians or practitioners of the discipline of lower criticism.
The dissertation argues that this is because of an ideological framing of the historical details of the discipline in development. This ideological component and the historical circumstances prompting it are brought into relief revealing why two schools arose during the English Enlightenment and carried on into the Victorian era, responding to the data of text criticism in two directions: one interpreting the data as affecting dogma, the other interpreting the data as not affecting dogma. In answering why this came about the dissertation helps to explain how the quest for the historical text culminated in the quest for the historical Jesus.
Also from
Letis, Theodore P.
Today's Christian & the Church's Bible: A Time to Return to the Authorized Version
Letis, Theodore P.
Paperback
The Ecclesiastical Text: Criticism, Biblical Authority & the Popular Mind
Letis, Theodore P.
Paperback
Also in
Other Bible Translations
The 210-Book Holy Bible, Apocrypha, and Ancient History Master Collection: Surpassing the Ethiopian Bible
Coalition, Covenant Christian
Press, Covenant
Hardcover
Orthodox Study Bible-OE-With Some NKJV: Ancient Christianity Speaks to Today's World
Thomas Nelson
Hardcover
The Complete ETHIOPIAN BIBLE in English: Groundbreaking Translation and Critical Commentary Including Apocrypha, Enoch, Jubilees, and Other Rare Texts
Thompson, Michael Haile
Paperback
Nvi, Santa Biblia, Revisión 2022, Edición Económica, Tapa Rústica
Vida
Nueva Versión Internacional
Paperback
Biblia Reina Valera 1960 Letra Grande. Tapa Dura, Tela Rosada Con Flores, Tamaño Manual / Bible Rvr 1960. Handy Size, Large Print, Hardcover, Pink (Large Print Edition)
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible: The Oldest Known Bible Translated for the First Time Into English
Ulrich, Eugene
Flint, Peter
Abegg, Martin G., Jr.
Paperback
The complete Ethiopian Bible: unveiling the world's oldest and most complete biblical canon
Vale, Seren
Paperback
The 120-Book Holy Bible and Apocrypha Collection: Literal Standard Version (LSV)
Coalition, Covenant Christian
Press, Covenant
Hardcover
Streams in the Desert: 1925 Original 366 Daily Devotional Readings
Cowman, Lettie B.
Cowman, Chas E.
Paperback
The Complete Jewish Study Bible (Hardcover): Illuminating the Jewishness of God's Word
Rubin, Rabbi Barry
Hardcover
PAPERback 15th Edition MARCH 2026 MIRROR STUDY BIBLE 516p VOLUME 3 OF 3 John's Writings; Gospel; 1st Epistle & Apocalypse
Du Toit, Francois
Paperback
Biblia Reina Valera 1960 Letra Grande. Tela Rosada Con Flores, Manual Con Índice / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960, Large Print, Pink Floral Cloth with Index
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
Ancient Eastern Text Bible-OE: George M. Lamsa's Translations from the Aramaic of the Peshitta
Lamsa, George M.
Paperback
Bible Study Guide for Beginners: Each of the 66 Books Explained for Getting Started
Gugas, Brian
Paperback
Biblia Rvr 1960 Letra Grande Tamaño Manual, Tapa Dura Leã3n de Juda Con Ã-Ndice / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960 Handy Size Large Print Hardcover Lion of Juda
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
Nbla, Santa Biblia, AMA a Dios Grandemente, Interior a Cuatro Colores Leathersoft, Oro Rosa, Comfort Print
Nbla-Nueva Biblia de Las Américas
Vida
Hardcover
The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible
Muecke, Chrissie
Pittman Morrell, Jasmin
Kim Pecinovsky, Teresa
Hardcover
The Passion Translation New Testament (2020 Edition) Hc Peony: With Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs
Simmons, Brian
Hardcover
Biblia Rvr 1960 Letra Grande León de Judá Edición Especial Bronce / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960 Large Print Imitation Leather Lion of Judah Special Edition
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
La Historia NVI: La Biblia En Un Relato Ininterrumpido Acerca de Dios Y Su Pueblo
Lucado, Max
Frazee, Randy
Paperback
Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible: With Prefaces to 1st, Revised, & 3rd Editions
Young, Robert
Paperback
Bible Word Search Puzzle Book (Large Print): Verses of Encouragement: Scripture Verses on Hope, Faith & Strength - For Adults & Teens (Large Print Edition)
For His Glory Publications
Paperback
The Living Bible Large Print Red Letter Edition (Large Print Edition)
New Living Translation
Hardcover
Niv, Nkjv, Nlt, the Message, (Contemporary Comparative) Parallel Bible, Hardcover
Zondervan
Hardcover
Graded Reader of Biblical Hebrew, Second Edition: A Guide to Reading the Hebrew Bible
Van Pelt, Miles V.
Pratico, Gary D.
Paperback
Biblia Rvr 1960 Letra Grande Tamaño Manual, Piel Rosada Con Índice / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960 Handy Size Large Print Leathersoft Pink with Index
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Paperback
Geneva Bible 1560 Edition (Annotated) with Apocrypha: The Complete English Scriptures with 80 Books of the Old Testament, Lost Apocrypha & New Testame
Gilby, Anthony
Wittingham, William
Paperback
Biblia Reina Valera 1960 Letra Grande, Tamaño Manual, Tapa Dura Rosas Rosadas / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960 Handy Size Large Print Hc Pink Roses
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
Biblia Compacta Ntv de Zíper, Con Filament (Sentipiel, Jardín Coral)
Nueva Traducción Viviente
Hardcover
The Holy Bible: Oldest Manuscripts in English: The Leningrad Codex and The Codex Sinaiticus
Simmons, Matthew
Paperback
Bible Translations for Everyone: A Guide to Finding a Bible That's Right for You
Wildsmith, Tim
Paperback
The Ethiopian Complete Bible Decoded: Definitive English Edition Revealing Hidden Biblical Symbols from the 88-Book Canon, Including the Book of Enoch
Amanuel, Yared Tesfahun
Paperback
Rsv2ce, Thinline Large Print Catholic Bible, Brown Leathersoft, Comfort Print
Catholic Bible Press
Hardcover
Rsv2ce, Thinline Large Print Catholic Bible, Black Leathersoft, Comfort Print
Catholic Bible Press
Hardcover
Biblia de la Mujer Conforme Al Corazón de Dios (Bible for a Woman After God's Own Heart): Tapa Dura
George, Elizabeth
Hardcover
Biblia Inspira Ntv, Letra Grande Con Filament (Sentipiel, Primaveral) (Large Print Edition)
Nueva Traducción Viviente
Hardcover
Streams in the Desert: 1925 Original 366 Daily Devotional Readings
Cowman, Lettie B.
Cowman, Chas E.
Hardcover
Biblia Valor Prémium Ntv, Letra Grande Con Filament (Sentipiel, Rosa)
Nueva Traducción Viviente
Hardcover
The Chosen Presents: A Blended Harmony of the Gospels
Jenkins, Amanda
Jenkins, Dallas
Laube, Steve
Hardcover
Biblia Bilingüe Reina Valera 1960 (Esv) Letra Grande Símil Piel Marrón Con Índice/ Bilingual Bible Rvr 1960 (Esv) Large Print Brown Leathersoft with T
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Paperback
Interlinear for the Rest of Us: The Reverse Interlinear for New Testament Word Studies
Mounce, William D.
Paperback
Latest PAPERback MAY 2026 Edition TEXT ONLY Mirror Bible Including complete ACTS [Without Commentary & Study notes]
Du Toit, Francois
Paperback
Biblia Rvr 1960 Letra Grande Tamaño Manual, Piel Gris Con Índice / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960 Handy Size Large Print Leathersoft Gray with Index
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Paperback
Biblia Católica, Edición Económica, Tapa Rústica, Comfort Print
Biblia, La Casa de la
Católica, Editorial
Paperback
Rsv2ce, Thinline Large Print Catholic Bible, Crimson Leathersoft, Comfort Print
Catholic Bible Press
Hardcover
Beautiful Wisdom [Teal Butterfly]: The Refreshingly Approachable New Life Version of the Bible
Compiled by Barbour Staff
Hardcover
Biblia Reina Valera 1960 Letra Grande, Tapa Dura, Tamaño Manual Corazón (Rosada) / Spanish Bible Rvr 1960. Handy Size, Large Print, Hardcover, Pink
Reina Valera Revisada 1960
Hardcover
Bible Day by Day: Minute Meditations for Every Day Based on Selected Text of the Holy Bible
Kersten, John C.
Hardcover
ESV Spanish/English Parallel Bible (La Santa Biblia Rvr 1960 / The Holy Bible Esv, Paperback)
Esv Bibles
Paperback
Amplified Bible-Am-Compact: Captures the Full Meaning Behind the Original Greek and Hebrew
Zondervan
Hardcover
The Ave Catholic Notetaking Bible: Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (Rsv2ce)
Ave Maria Press
Hardcover
Rvr60, Santa Biblia, Premio Y Regalo, Letra Grande, Tapa Dura, Negro, Palabras de Jesús En Rojo, Comfort Print
Vida
Rvr 1960- Reina Valera 1960
Hardcover
The Passion Translation New Testament (2020 Edition) Hc Espresso: With Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs
Simmons, Brian
Hardcover
Trimorphic Protennoia: The Three-Formed First Thought - An Essential Gnostic Text of Mystical Revelation, Divine Wisdom, and Ancient Spiritual Mysteri
Anonymous (Early Gnostic Writers)
Paperback
Amplified Bible-Am: Captures the Full Meaning Behind the Original Greek and Hebrew
Zondervan
Paperback
Rvr, Biblia de Estudio Trasfondo Cultural (El Contexto Lo Cambia Todo), Tapa Dura, Interior a Color, Comfort Print: Explora El Mundo Antiguo de la Esc
Revisada, Reina Valera
Hardcover