Is there a doctor in the house? : an insider's story and advice on becoming a Bible scholar / [print]
Ben Witherington III.
- Grand Rapids, Michigan : Zondervan, 2011.
- 156 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
The illustrated guide to a PhD -- Fast forward -- 1. "In principio erat verbum" : preliminary considerations -- 2. Seek and ye shall find : choosing a school, a program, a mentor -- 3. "Ad fontes" : back to the source(s) -- 4. Priming the pump : original context study -- 5. Are you literate in literature? : the importance of literary sensitivity -- 6. "Summa theologica" : knowing your theology and ethics -- 7. The write stuff : the ability to research and write -- 8. Rightly dividing the word of truth : the art of interpretation and hermeneutics -- 9. Honing your rhetoric : the ability to lecture and teach -- 10. The character of the biblical teacher or scholar -- 11. Counting the cost : surveying the sacrifices -- Appendix 1. Planning ahead : what to do during graduate school -- Appendix 2. Wesley's series of classic Christian works for his preachers.
Many people assume that becoming a serious student of the Bible merely requires diligent study of English Bible translations, but biblical scholarship is much more complex. Is There a Doctor in the House? demonstrates what it takes to be a responsible Bible teacher, a well-published Bible scholar, or even a good student of the Bible: exacting knowledge of biblical languages and the languages in which most Bible scholarship is done; a love for history and archaeology; a sensitivity for literature and literary genres; and an understanding of theology, ethics, and ancient religions and philosophies. In one sense, every Bible scholar has to be a general practitioner-the foundation of biblical scholarship must be both broad and well built. Through the course of this book, Witherington invites would-be Bible experts to pursue excellence for the sake of the Bible's world-altering message. From students considering a Ph.D. to lay Bible teachers, Is There a Doctor in the House? promises to be an informative, engaging, and often humorous resource. https://www.amazon.com/there-Doctor-House-Insiders-becoming/dp/0310493021/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=9780310493020&qid=1569253599&sr=8-1