We can benefit from modern Bible scholarship, because so much has been discovered and learned over time, and ever more so is this true! While modern Bible scholarship is very helpful in many ways, we need to be cautious, as Jesus advised, “be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16 NASB), and test all things by the scriptures that Bible scholars teach. Why do we say this?

THE PROBLEM IS NOTHING NEW

In Jesus’ day there were many Bible among the Jews, especially in Jerusalem.

“The Pharisees and the scholars of the Law rejected God’s purpose for themselves” (Luke 7:30 LSB). These scholars rejected some of God’s word as applying to them.

“Jesus answered and spoke to the scholars of the Law and Pharisees, saying, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?'” (Luke 14:3 LSB). Why did Jesus ask the scholars this question? Because, “they were watching  Him closely” “to see if He would heal Him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him” (Luke 14:1; Mark 3:2 LSB). These scholars had an agenda to discredit Jesus.

“Now one of the scholars of the Law answered and said to Him, ‘Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us too.’ But He said, ‘Woe to you scholars of the Law as well! For you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you, scholars of the Law! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering’” (Luke 11:45-46,52 LSB). These scholars resisted Jesus, and were  offended by his chastising him. Jesus further pointed out how these scholars added to people’s burdens with their human rules, and unscriptural teachings.

“And one of them, a scholar of the Law, asked Him a question, testing Him” (Matthew 22:35 LSB). This scholar was trying to trap Jesus in his speech and prove him wrong.

Obviously, many of the Bible scholars that Jesus encountered were not helpful to other people.

THE PROBLEM WITH SOME MODERN DAY SCHOLARSHIP

The following is excerpted from AI reseach:

Modern biblical scholarship often requires caution because it frequently employs a naturalistic approach that questions miracles, authorship, and the historical accuracy of Scripture, often reducing it to mere ancient literature rather than divine revelation. This academic focus often sidelines faith, . . .  and prioritizes subjective critical theories over traditional belief. 

• Naturalistic Bias: Many modern methods (e.g., historical criticism) are rooted in a philosophy that excludes supernatural elements, meaning miracles or divine intervention are interpreted as legends or myths.
• Challenges to Authenticity: Scholars often argue that key texts, including the Gospels and Paul’s letters, were not written by their traditional authors and show inconsistencies, sometimes labeling them as later creations or propaganda.
• Shift in Focus: Academic study often aims to produce “new” or “groundbreaking” findings to gain notoriety, sometimes disregarding the spiritual or theological message aimed at believers.

Ultimately, while some historical study is useful, over-reliance on it can weaken faith by transforming the Bible from the Word of God into a complex puzzle of human invention

TWO EXAMPLES OF BRILLIANT MODERN SCHOLARS —WHY BE WARY?

N. T. Wright

The following is excerpted from the Christian Post, April 15, 2026

Theologian NT Wright claims Adam and Eve were ‘human-like creatures,’ Jonah and the great fish a ‘folk tale’
By Ian M. Giatti
Famed New Testament scholar and Anglican bishop Tom “N.T.” Wright says he’s not sure whether some of the most famous figures in the Holy Bible actually existed.
In an April 5 episode of the “Ask NT Wright Anything” podcast, the 77-year-old Wright either deferred comment on or outright denied the historicity of four key figures in the Bible, including Adam . . .  it’s not the first time Wright has suggested a Bible character is fictional . . . 

Bart Ehrman

The following is excerpted from Wikipedia:

Bart Denton Ehrman (born October 5, 1955) is an American biblical scholar whose research focuses on the textual criticism of the New Testament, the historical Jesus, and the origins and development of early Christianity. He is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the author or editor of more than 30 books, including six New York Times bestsellers, and has created nine lecture series with The Great Courses

Ehrman has said he progressed from evangelical belief to agnosticism, identifying the problem of suffering as decisive. He has written, “the problem of suffering became for me the problem of faith” and has said, “I no longer go to church, no longer believe, no longer consider myself a Christian”. In a 2008 interview he said, “I simply didn’t believe that there was a God of any sort”, a view he arrived at starting around 2000.

These men are two of the leading Bible scholars of the first half of the 21st century, and, in contrast to Jesus, neither one of believes “the scriptures” are “the word of God” (John 10:35 LSB). 

It’s OK to read and consider what Bible scholars say about the Bible, but we must weigh what they say against the scriptures. The following subsection gives us Bible principles to follow in so doing.

“TEST”, “EXAMINE ALL THINGS” BY THE SCRIPTURES

Let’s consider Bible principles that apply to this subject.

“Examine all things; hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21 LSB LSB). “The Greek word for “test” (δοκιμάζω) implies a rigorous examination, akin to testing metals for purity” (Bible Hub Study Bible). This involves some effort and work on the part of the individual, but eternal life is well worth it.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1 LSB).“Testing the spirits involves discernment and evaluation of teachings and prophecies” (Bible Hub Study Bible). We’re to not believe everything that is taught about the Bible, even by Bible scholars, but we’re told to “test” the teachings. What do we test the teachings against? — We have an example for us in the scriptures:

“These people were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive the message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if those things were so” (Acts 17:11 ISV). “The Bereans’ daily examination of the Scriptures highlights their diligence and commitment to truth. This practice of daily study is a model for believers, emphasizing the importance of regular engagement with God’s Word. The Bereans did not take Paul’s teachings at face value but sought to verify them against the Hebrew Scriptures, which were the authoritative texts for them” . Most people do not want to out forth the time and effort to ‘examine the scriptures carefully every day’, and prefer to have someone else tell them what to think. Unfortunately, this, no doubt, is one of the reasons most people are on the figurative “road to destruction” (Matthew 7:13-14).

 CONCLUSION

A lot has been learned about the Bible, including accurate Bible translations, through the work of Bible scholars, which is much appreciated. However, while modern Bible scholarship is very helpful in many ways, we need to be cautious, and test all things by the scriptures that Bible scholars teach. Indeed, as with some of the teachings of ancient Israel’s prophets “were false and misleading” (Lamentations 2:14 NIV), so it is with some things taught by modern Bible. May we heed Jesus’ warning, “Beware of the teachers of the law” (Luke 20:46 NIV).