Over the past several years there has been movement in two direction in general Christianity. The first is the direction toward viewing God as a Being that adapts Himself to our needs and views. This is the view in the book and movie “The Shack,” which I will deal with in a post sometime soon. The second is the direction that biblical scholarship takes the Bible and “ripping it apart" so deeply that understanding it requires vast quantities of education, IE critical text supporters believing that those who stand for the King James being preserved are uneducated and stupid because they do not understand the Greek language and thus King James supporters are less than what God intended. This second direction can also be seen in Calvinists scoffing at the concept of free will, because those who believe in free will are simpletons who do not understand the vastness of God as Calvinists do. This second “direction” claims they are being scholarly in their handling of the Word of God. But are they truly doing that?
That is the purpose of this post to answer the question, what is true biblical scholarship?
First, biblical scholarship should simplify truth not complicate it. In 1 Corinthians 1:18-29, Paul write under inspiration of God that God has chosen the foolish (absurd), the weak (physically feeble), the base (low social standing), and the despised (culturally worthless). In choosing these things God was sending a clear signal as verse 29 says, “That no flesh should glory in his presence.” God never intended for the truths He wants us to have to be complicated or incomprehensible. To be honest the greatest truths in the entire Bible are the “simplest” truths, such as God’s love (John 3:16) and salvation by grace through faith (Matthew 18:1-6 & 2 Corinthians 11:3). We must understand that EVERY truth of God is complicated to the lost and that EVERY truth that God wants us to understand becomes understandable by faith. However, there are those who feel that the more scholarly a person, the more deep their understanding of God and thus the greater their walk with Him. But that is not the way God describes it as Jesus Himself said, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Little children are NOT looking for deep answers and thus simple is always best and that is biblical scholarship.
Second, biblical scholarship accepts that some truths are beyond our ability to comprehend and beyond what God wants us to understands at this time. There is no doubt that God is vast and beyond our understanding in EVERY area. Isaiah 55:8 & 9 tell us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Though it is true that God’s ways are vast, we must accept that God has given us all that He wants us to have and we MUST be satisfied with that. As an example of this, John tells us in John 21:25 that there things not written down about Jesus, and that should not be a problem to true biblical scholarship. But some would say that God wants us to grasp everything and that it just takes more study. Let me quickly add here that often current biblical scholarship implies that men’s understanding of God is the real foundation of their faith and not their reliance upon the Holy Spirit. For example, just recently I was a part of a group that was discussing Calvinism and one man made this statement, “No one can get Calvinism from the Bible. You have to get it from a commentaries’ dissemination of the Bible.” In other words, if you read the Bible alone, Calvinism will not be seen, but if you read a man’s view of those Scriptures then you might find Calvinism. (By the way Calvinism is not a Bible word and according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:4 basing your pedigree upon a man is carnal.)
Third, biblical scholarship MUST rest in Holy Spirit reliance not mere education or learning. When you actually look at the Bible verses that discuss studying God’s Word, you will find that PERSONAL study is first and foremost for our PERSONAL growth not for really for “teaching" purposes (1 Thessalonians 4:11 & 2 Timothy 2:15). The things we are to teach others come mainly from our receiving them personally from the generation ahead of us sharing their hearts and messages of the Word of God as 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” This does not mean the things we study cannot be shared, but that the things we share with others must NOT be based upon our single interpretation of the Scripture but in the mouth of two or three witnesses. Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit “shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). Biblical scholarship MUST NEVER be based upon ourselves alone!
I love the simple truths from a complex God, and I will gladly study the rest of my days what He has given me in His Word and thus seek to be satisfied walking in those “simple” truths.
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