Do We Need Bible Scholars? with Jeremie Beller

Are Bible scholars and Bible experts necessary for Christians to understand Scripture? Some feel that the Bible is simple and does not require scholarly interpretation, while others find the Bible intimidating due to its ancient languages, historical context, and complex meanings. This episode explores whether “average” Christians today need Bible scholars or can simply read scripture for themselves.

The conversation examines what the Bible is, looking at it as a collection of books written in particular historical contexts. It discusses how to discern reliable and formative biblical scholarship, considering the scholar’s life, motivations, and willingness to challenge tradition. The biblical concepts of taking scripture seriously, reading it in context, and interpreting it in community are emphasized. The ultimate goal of biblical study is growing in love for Jesus.

The guest for this episode is Dr. Jeremie Beller, Dean of the College of Bible at Oklahoma Christian University. Dr. Beller has studied biblical languages and literature extensively. However, his focus is not on technical precision but on teaching scripture for spiritual formation and community application. His desire is for Christians to read the Bible holistically, let it shape them into Christ’s image, and apply it in life-giving ways.

Links and Resources:

* Watch This Episode on YouTube

* Male and Female God Created Them: A Biblical Review of LGBTQ+ Claims by Rubel Shelly

* Revelation (New Cambridge Bible Commentary) by Ben Witherington III

* The Strength to Be Weak (Podcast Episode with Jim Martin)

Note: Some links may be affiliate links. Meaning, if you choose to buy something through these links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Transcript (Credit: Beth Tabor)

WES: Welcome to the Radically Christian Bible Study Podcast. I’m your host, Wes McAdams. Here we have one goal: Learn to love like Jesus. There are some Christians who feel like Bible scholarship or Bible training at an academic level is completely unnecessary, that Bible experts ‑‑ or so‑called Bible experts ‑‑ are unnecessary and are usually leading people astray. They feel like scripture is so simple that anybody ought to be able to just pick it up and read it, understand it, and obey it. And on the other hand, there are a lot of Christians who feel like the Bible is too complicated to understand, that they couldn’t possibly understand the meaning and the purpose of scripture because they’re not a Bible expert or a Bible scholar. Should we trust biblical scholarship? Should we distrust biblical scholarship? Or is there somewhere in between where we ought to land? 

Today I’m going to visit with our guest, Dr. Jeremie Beller, who is the Dean of the College of Bible at Oklahoma Christian University, a wonderful follower of Jesus, and I know that you will enjoy and appreciate the things that he has to share with us and to teach us about studying scripture. I want to start today by reading 2 Timothy 3:14‑17. It says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from child...