Covenants and criticism: Deuteronomy and the American founding

Biblical Theology Bulletin, Spring, 2002 by George E. Connor

While biblical criticism and the historical treatment of Deuteronomy may be part of the canon of religious scholarship, their implications for the American founding have largely been ignored or rejected by traditional scholarship. In its utilization of biblical historical criticism, then, this analysis departs from traditional scholarship. However, while the application of biblical historical criticism illuminates our understanding of the influence of Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomist on the American founding, it does not supplant traditional scholarship. By applying the methods of historical criticism to the Bible, this analysis serves to complement the work of covenant scholars such as Lutz and Elazar.

The evidence outlined above suggests that a historical contextual echo, beyond the verbal textual echo, unites the American founding and the Book of Deuteronomy. More specifically, with respect to independence, reformation, and medium, the American founders demonstrate a Josianic understanding of Deuteronomy. It is also apparent, however, that their Josianic understanding was stayed by the hand of the Deuteronomist with respect to the "King's call to justice" and covenant theology. While the American founders could not have been cognizant of the distinctions between biblical text and biblical history or between biblical author and biblical editor, the prominence of Deuteronomic citations, all bearing the mark of the Deuteronomist, suggests that the application of biblical historical criticism to the American founding era deserves further intellectual exploration.

The author would like to thank Professors Timothy Sedgwick and Donald Lutz for their original inspiration and Professor Victor Matthews for his help with the development of this manuscript.

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