Rick Brannan on “What makes a good Biblical Scholar or Theologian?”

A good biblical scholar realizes that others are smarter than he is.

At least, this is true for me. Because of this, I find it incredibly valuable to have two or three people — colleagues, friends, teachers, mentors, whatever — to run crazy ideas past. Run drafts of articles past them. Run book proposals past them. Run SBL paper proposals past them. Require them to be brutally honest. And promise them you won’t get (too) upset. And let them — encourage them — to do the same with you. Your work will be sharper. Your writing will be sharper. And you will be sharper.

Finally, master the data.

~Rick Brannan, General Editor of the Lexham English Septuagint, Independent Scholar and Information Architect, Logos Bible Software


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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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2 comments
  • Absolutely true, and thank God daily for those people who you can soundboard off of. Everyone does not have that luxury.

  • A good biblical scholar realizes that others are smarter than he is.

    At least, this is true for me.
    Me too Rick ! Well-said and thanks for sharing. It reminds me of the biblical principle from the book of proverbs… Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored. Powerful!

Written by Tavis Bohlinger
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