Direct Answer
According to Bercot, Christians can subtly trust human authorities more than Scripture when they accept commentaries, study Bible notes, sermons, or theological explanations that soften, reinterpret, or contradict the plain words of the biblical text. This happens especially when readers prefer a commentator’s opinion over the literal language of Scripture.
Support from Transcript
- Bercot says study Bible notes “will influence the average Bible reader as much as Scripture.” - He states from experience, “I have sat in enough Bible studies to know that invariably people will take the commentator's opinions over the literal language of Scripture.” - He gives the 1 Corinthians 11 example, where a commentator explains Paul’s teaching as Greek custom rather than Paul’s delivered tradition. - He says similar examples can be found in many interpretive study Bibles, not just one. - Later he adds that churches often include “rationalizations of why we do not have to literally obey what's taught in Scripture.”
Discussion Follow-ups
The transcript does not reject all teachers or sermons, but it warns against letting them overrule the text they claim to explain.