Bible Scholarship

The Need for Study

Religious surveys indicate a serious and growing ignorance among lay Christians about their faith and signal the need for better education. On the other hand religious scholarship has not diminished but has increased to new levels of understanding using improved modern research tools and study techniques. The key reason why people do not study is that they have become set in their beliefs thinking there is nothing more to learn. Church clergy by and large contribute to this ignorance attempting to keep the status-quo.

While there are probably many motives for Bible scholarship it should not be characterized as a contest between opposing views to see whom wins or who is right and wrong, but rather an objective unbiased study to better understand and appreciate the value of its history, mythology, literature, and underlying theology as it relates to the ancient and modern world. It would be naive to believe that all Bible research and study is objective but largely most academic and professional scholars are fair and balanced in their study and use similar tools and methodologies in their search to uncover the mysteries of the Bible. Most scholars and theologians have accredited academic university degrees in theology, have conducted credible research over a number of years, and are constantly under scrutiny by their peers in the theological academy. There are of course fringe scholars who are trying to promote their own particular theories.

Propagandist vs. Scholar

Throughout these essays, you will encounter the word ‘scholar’. When most folks think of an academic scholar, they think of a ‘learned’ person with a scholastic educational degree earned from an accredited university. However, a scholar can simply refer to a student or pupil. Some people purport to be a scholar when in fact they are really just a propagandist. A propagandist is one who possesses conclusions that he or she seeks to defend. A true scholar is one who searches for the truth without the boundaries of preconceptions and are willing to follow their investigation no matter where it leads; an open-minded approach.

There is probably a greater risk of scholarly bias from scholars depending on where they received their education. A bible student trained in a theological seminary sponsored by a particular Christian denomination generally become ordained clergy and would naturally have a bias towards the faith tradition he or she represents as opposed to a graduate from a secular theological university. It is natural for ordained theologians to defend their faith tradition, which does not make them right or wrong but perhaps less objective towards contrasting viewpoints. On the other hand, secular scholars are not exempt from their own hidden bias, especially if they are atheist or have an antagonistic view of one faith tradition over another. The best defense against a prejudiced point of view is to read a variety of authors with different perspectives before drawing any definitive conclusions.

Bible scholars draw from a number of scientific disciplines and tools in their studies like linguistics, archeology, anthropology, sociology, ancient history, geography, mythology, comparative religion and so on. One valuable tool called “form criticism” is a method of biblical criticism that classifies units of scripture by literary pattern (such as parables or legends, proverbs, epistles, and love poems) and then attempts to trace each type to its period of oral transmission. It seeks to determine a unit's original form and the historical context of the literary tradition. It is but another form of criticism that is not meant to find fault but rather to unlock and better understand the mysteries of the Bible.

Bible Criticism

A common argument for gun rights advocates is that guns do not kill people; people kill people. In other words, inanimate objects do not think or act on their own and certainly have nothing to do with the motive or intent behind a killing. In a similar way, the Bible is also an inanimate object and beliefs that spring from it or about it whether they are right or wrong, peaceful or militant, loving or hateful, stem from the mind of the reader. The power of the Bible lies within its interpretation, meanings, and the beliefs derived from it. Admiration or criticism of it is directed at its perceived meaning. The Bible in and by itself is not innocent or guilty of anything. Yet, any critical analysis of it is considered by many as an ‘attack’ against it. Nothing has any meaning at all, save the meaning you give it, so any perceived attacks are not against the bible but rather the meanings derived from it.

A scholarly criticism of the bible is not an ‘attack’ on it nor is it a value judgment to imply that Christianity is somehow right or wrong. Bible criticism is a method of study not an opinion or judgment about it. It may ultimately lead a scholar to an opinion one way or another but if sincere begins with no preconceptions. The term ‘criticism’ in the minds of many has a negative connotation in that to criticize is to find fault. However, ‘Bible Criticism’ is an accepted scientific methodology or form of critical or analytical thinking, which is really just a mental process of discernment, synthesis, and evaluation. It includes possible processes of reflecting upon a tangible or intangible item in order to form a solid judgment that reconciles scientific evidence and the truth with common sense. Healthy criticism, like skepticism is a good thing otherwise, people would have the tendency to accept and believe everything they read, or were told. On the other hand, when the subject is faith, it is virtually impossible to measure truths that cannot be proven and is one reason why intelligent people tend to avoid faith based religious debates to avoid the frustration.

Criticism of the Faith

Earlier the comment was made that the Bible in and by itself is not innocent or guilty of anything and that academic forms of criticism should not be generally considered an attack against it. The bible is one thing but Christianity, and all religions for that matter, are continually under attack, and have been since their inception. This is certainly not a new revelation and attacks come from a variety of sources; other religious traditions to non-believers, skeptics; even from denominations within the faith. If you were to ask a variety of ‘Christians’ their definition of Christianity you may get totally different answers depending upon their particular denomination. With the ever-increasing number of new denominations and adherent splinter groups and flavors of Christians, the term Christianity has taken on different meanings. Yet, interestingly enough this has always been the case and is one reason why the traditional orthodox Christian Church attempted to define Christianity with the creation and adoption of the Nicene Creed and other subsequent doctrines and articles of faith in addition to a defined set of canonical scriptures. So for the most part, attacks against Christianity are in reality an assault against these various underlying dogmas, doctrines, creeds, and articles of faith and to a lesser extent the canon of Christian Scriptures.

There is a wide spectrum of Christian beliefs from liberal to conservative each representing their own theological interpretations and Biblical perspective as it relates to inerrancy, literalism, and infallibility. Consciously, and sometimes unconsciously some of these beliefs can become extreme, lead to religious discrimination, bigotry, and even physical violence and abuse because they are somehow justified by Holy Scriptures. This occurs when unfounded faith and religious zeal overrules reason and common sense. In light of the death toll and human suffering that religious fanaticism and extremism has caused humanity in the past several years and throughout history we can no longer afford “faith without reason”. This cannot happen without a focused critical study of the Bible and the long history surrounding it. It cannot happen without considering historical documents that are external and separate from the Bible. It cannot happen until each believer determines what they believe based on their own volition and study of the Bible and not accepting everything, they are told by their clergy in blind faith without question.

The purpose of these past few essays were to lend credence to biblical scholarship and the need for critical reason in the establishment of religious beliefs.

TJA