Ronald Hendel’s Biblical Views Column Critical Biblical Scholarship—What’s the Use?
According to Ronald Hendel, there is actually no strong reason that exists for people to be unreceptive toward good learning, especially the Bible, which is the Lord’s word to mankind. It is also very difficult for anyone to define a good scholarship, but yet, it is something that is extremely balanced as well as honest. Good scholarship tends to assess both the sources as well as confirmations in an extremely balanced way by comparing them in an unbiased manner. But Hendel is of the belief that critical Biblical scholarship accompanied by a practical and procedural qualm or uncertainty are actually highly cherished tools for getting a better and greater understanding of the Holy Bible.
However, in case of critical scholars, typically tend judge things by relying upon a few specific preset standards that helps them in their judgement. It has also been argued that interpreting the Bible is something that is akin to painting a huge house using just a toothbrush and it is a mere waste of time as it is strongly believed that the Bible being the Lord’s word is flawless and is absolutely perfect in all means. This notion is held by many traditional Biblical commentators like Alvin Plantinga. Critical biblical scholarship is not founded on the muses on the Holy Spirit.
Hendel goes on to claim that unlike the confidence and faith that the views of Plantinga and other Evangelical scholars have on the flawlessness of the Scripture, critical scholarship of the same is something that offers a better clarity and understanding of the Scripture, eventually resulting in increased faith in it. I completely agree with Hendel’s view as there are a quite a few instances in the Genesis as penned by Joseph that continues to raise a number of questions and methodical analysis of the Scripture would yield answers to many such questions, which are vehemently slammed by Evangelists.
Works Cited
Hendel, Ronal S. Biblical Views: Critical Biblical Scholarship—What’s the Use? July 2012. Web. 15 February 2016. <http://members.bib-arch.org/publication.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=38&Issue=4&ArticleID=14>.
Millard, Alan. Critical Biblical Scholarship—A Response. 10 October 2012. Web. 15 February 2016. <http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/archaeology-today/archaeologists-biblical-scholars-works/critical-biblical-scholarship-a-response/>.
