Direct Answer
Serious Christians should respond by becoming more honest, objective, and willing to examine evidence, not by becoming cynical. The transcript calls for detachment from preconceived beliefs and a sincere desire to know what Scripture really means.
Support from Transcript
- Bercot warns that “scholars do slant their translations of scripture to fit their own preconceptions.” - He also says believers “choose translations that fit our biases or those of our pastors.” - But his solution is not suspicion of everything; it is to approach Scripture with “no other desire than to know what scripture really means.” - He says a person must believe “that he has nothing to fear from truth.” - He compares proper Bible reading to “the same objectivity and detachment with which a title lawyer reads a deed.” - The main barrier he identifies is “preconceived beliefs,” not scholarship itself.
Discussion Follow-ups
The transcript does not provide a method for evaluating translations. However, it does give a spiritual posture: do not manipulate evidence, do not hide from difficult passages, and do not let loyalty to a pastor or tradition decide what Scripture must mean.