Link: What Makes Someone a Bible Scholar

Rev. Jeremiah Gibbs provides an interesting answer. I tend to be more restrictive in my use of the term “scholar.” I use it to describe those who do research and writing that is read and used by other scholars. On that basis, I regard myself not as a scholar, though I would attempt to do all the things Rev. Gibbs indicates, but rather as a consumer of scholarship.

In addition, it strikes me that those points are a rather good list of how one should interact with information generally. The comparison to what has gone before helps prevent one from making errors already discovered, though I should note that an excessive concentration on what has gone before can prevent one from correcting errors that have become engrained in the past. Being available for criticism in many ways describes a good, open life and testimony. And the search for evidence? That seems pretty useful as well.

So do these points distinguish the Bible scholar? They should certainly characterize a scholar. But distinguish him or her?