@GratefulDisciple How to select and use scholarship in development and study of theology? I believe those gifted and inclined in that area (not everyone is) must rely upon the Holy Spirit in ensuring that what is being written or read harmonizes with the whole council of Scripture. Without the Spirit that inspired the Word it simply cannot be rightly divided.

@GratefulDisciple It feels ambiguous to say but the ambiguity comes from the instability of the flesh. Reading any 'insights' into Scripture by Bart Ehrman should be enough to demonstrate that point. Scholarship in development needs to be heavily peer reviewed and, by the nature of denominationalism, reviewed within denominations.

@GratefulDisciple While this will serve to preserve denominational error I can't see any other course of action as long as denominational and theological allegiance trumps the mere word. I know a fair few folks who twist Scripture in order to strengthen a theological position. I probably do it myself, maybe we all do.

@MikeBorden I agree with all your 3 points, but yet a Christian may ask you and me on HOW to resolve the ambiguity in a reasonable (to ourselves, so not to create cognitive dissonance) and faithful (to God) way. The 3 responses below highlight what I mean.

@MikeBorden "those gifted ... must rely upon the Holy Spirit" Yes, this represents the camp that says a scholar has to be a Christian as well. But then the Catholic church uses this in their councils too. "with the whole council of Scripture" So this is appeal to canonical interpretation, which most do. Yet the result is unity in diversity, each seems valid to me, because there are several ways to do canonical interpretation, most obvious example is Reformed vs. Catholics.

@MikeBorden Agree with "needs to be heavily peer reviewed". Disagree with "ambiguity comes from the instability of the flesh" since what I see is faithful Christian scholars of different denominations in the academia today showing more honesty in acknowledging differences and magnanimity in burying historical hatchets, which is healthy. I'm encouraged to see the spirit of cooperation and communication among authors of 21st century journal articles and books I skimmed.

But yes, agree that scholars like Bart Ehrman and liberal scholars who distort main traditional Christian doctrines should be "excommunicated" and their writings to be heavily filtered so we only appropriate what is good.

@MikeBorden "Maybe we all do". I agree, but I can separate those who are CONSCIOUS of what they are doing and those who are not. It's good to be conscious of one's theological position guiding certain Bible interpretation. And this is how I separate which scholars to read.

Even in evangelical circles the trend is for Theological interpretation with the guidance of classic creeds. Example: Daniel Treier's 2019 non-seminary college textbook Introducing Evangelical Theology.

He was interviewed in a Church Grammar podcast by host Brandon Smith, a fellow professor with similar duties: Daniel Treier on Evangelical Theology in Biblical, Trinitarian, and Creedal Perspective.

I'm encouraged to see evangelical intellectuals like Brandon Smith, Daniel Treier, and @curiousdannii himself who introduced me to the Church Grammar podcast. Thanks, Dannii !

@GratefulDisciple I think we're pretty much on the same page. The creeds are important and useful guardrails for theological thought but, it's important to remember that the creeds coalesce and distill what is contained in Scripture. Remembering this helps protect from an over-emphasis upon tradition and the creeping in to theology of ideas presented in uninspired writings (such as Jesus not passing through the birth canal, for example).

@GratefulDisciple I know some dispensational theology fans who go so far as to claim that the new covenant and even the Lord's supper is not for gentiles and they back it up with lots of extra-curricular reading. Sometimes I'd rather be less informed and safe :)