Authenticity

Authenticity a term frequently used in reference to the literary history of the Holy Scriptures.

(1.) In a broad and loose sense, by the authenticity of the canonical books is meant that they were really written by the authors whose names they bear; that those which are anonymous were written at the time in which they profess that they were written; and that their contents are credible.

(2.) In careful and scientific language, authenticity implies authority; an authentic account is truthful, and therefore credible. A genuine book, on the other hand, is one written by the person whose name it bears, whether it be truthful or not. Thus, for instance, Alison's History of Europe is genuine, because it was written by Alison; but it is not authentic, because it looks at facts with partisan eves. — Horne, Introduction, 2, 1.