Jessica van ‘t Westeinde on “What makes a good Biblical Scholar or Theologian?”

Although a tricky question for one primarily self-identifying as an ancient historian or historian of religion at best, my impression of what should qualify a biblical scholar or theologian as good should be what is applicable to what in general makes one a good scholar of humanities.

It comprises yet transcends the study of source-texts and knowledge of languages ancient and modern. Obviously Quellenforschung remains core, yet a good scholar should be open-minded towards other disciplines, willing to see the wider picture of contexts of a text or person studied, thereby critically assessing one’s own discipline.

Creativity, curiosity, and a critical eye are key. Appreciate academic freedom, use it, and be not paralysed by dogma.

Jessica van ‘t Westeinde, Postdoctoral Researcher, Universität Bern

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Tavis Bohlinger

Dr. Tavis Bohlinger is Editor-in-Chief of the Logos Academic Blog and Creative Director at Reformation Heritage Books. He holds a PhD from Durham University and writes across multiple genres, including academia, poetry, and screenwriting. He lives in Grand Rapids with his wife and three children.

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Written by Tavis Bohlinger
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