Intellectual Biblical Scholarship

Readers are leaders

C.S. Lewis

Nothing is harder to digest than an “intellectual snob,” that is, unless it is an “ignorant slob!” When the Bible says that some of Jesus’ followers were “unlearned and ignorant men,” it does not mean illiterate, but simply that they were void of any formal education. Between Peter and John they wrote seven books of the New Testament. That Spiritual and intellectual giant A.W. Tozer, had only a ninth grade education. But he was known as the “Master Wordsmith.”

I was associated for years with a group that felt that anything that had the smell of intellect or scholarship associated with it should be viewed suspiciously. In fact, in most cases, it was just downright rejected from the first. It must be wrong, they reasoned, for it had “brains.” To them, God had rejected any and all great thinkers. This is, no doubt, the reason that little comes from this group that is worth reading. They equate scholarship with liberalism. To be sure, when one opposes godly scholarship they’re allowing their insecurity to show through!

I, for one, thank God for humble, Spirit-filled scholars. For example, where would we Bible students be without some of their reference books? And who would defend our Christian position before the intellects of the world? Usually, this type (worldly intellects) only give ear to their equal, or one who is superior. Intellectual scholarship has been used of God to bring many an intellectual infidel into the Kingdom of God. Thank God for men such as Cornelius Van Til, C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, etc., who have influenced thousands from among the worldly wise to join Christ’s Blood-bought band.

Scholarship without the Spirit is like having an arrow without a bow; it can’t get the point across…while ignorance is like holding a bow without an arrow; you have no point to make.~ rds

by an Old Disciple

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