Our Conversation Partners
The Berean Bible Study Project studies Scripture in conversation with faithful interpreters from many centuries and traditions. We do not regard any individual as infallible. Rather, we listen carefully, weigh every interpretation against Scripture, and seek to learn from those who have devoted themselves to understanding God’s Word.
The Biblical World
- Moses and the Prophets
- The Apostles
- The Early Christian communities reflected in the New Testament
Ancient Jewish Voices
- Philo of Alexandria — Hellenistic Jewish interpretation
- Flavius Josephus — Jewish history and the Second Temple period
- The Mishnah and Talmud — Rabbinic interpretation
- Rashi (1040–1105) — Classical Jewish biblical commentary
- Maimonides (1138–1204) — Jewish philosophy and biblical thought
The Early Church (2nd–5th Century)
Medieval Christianity
The Renaissance and Reformation
- Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam — Greek New Testament and Christian humanism
- Martin Luther
- Philipp Melanchthon
- John Calvin
- Jacobus Arminius
- Huldrych Zwingli
The Age of Enlightenment
- Thomas Jefferson — Enlightenment rationalism, religious liberty, and the “Jefferson Bible”
The Evangelical Revival
Modern Voices
- B. B. Warfield Presbyterian Theologian, Biblical Scholar, and Defender of Scripture
- Karl Barth — Christ-centered theology and the sovereignty of God
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer — Discipleship, Christian ethics, and the church’s responsibility in times of political and moral crisis
- Martin Niemöller – Lutheran Pastor, Confessing Church Leader, and Postwar Advocate of Christian Responsibility
- C. S. Lewis — Christian apologetics, moral theology, and the Christian imagination
- C. H. Dodd – New Testament Scholar and Interpreter of Realized Eschatology
- F. F. Bruce – New Testament Scholar, Historian, and Evangelical Commentator
- John Stott – Anglican Pastor, Biblical Expositor, and Evangelical Leader
- N. T. Wright – Anglican Bishop, New Testament Scholar, and Historian of Early Christianity
- Richard Bauckham – New Testament Scholar, Historian, and Theologian
- Tom Holland – Historian, Author, and Interpreter of Christianity’s Cultural Legacy
- Dorothee Sölle (1929–2003) — German Protestant theologian, poet, and activist whose work joined political theology, feminist and liberation theology, post-Holocaust reflection, pacifism, and mysticism
- Rudolf Bultmann (1884–1976) — German Lutheran New Testament scholar known for form criticism, existential interpretation, and his program of “demythologizing” the New Testament.
Post-evangelical and critical voices
- Jim Palmer — Former evangelical pastor, author, and advocate of spirituality beyond institutional religion.
- A. C. Grayling — British philosopher, author, and public intellectual known for his defense of secular humanism, rationalism, ethics without religion, and criticism of traditional religious claims.
- Uta Ranke-Heinemann (1927–2021) — German Catholic theologian and outspoken critic of traditional church teaching, especially on sexuality, clerical celibacy, women, and the virgin birth.
Voices from the Wider Christian Tradition
We also seek to understand how Scripture has been interpreted within:
- Eastern Orthodox Christianity
- Roman Catholic Christianity
- Lutheran Christianity
- Reformed Christianity
- Anglican Christianity
- Wesleyan and Methodist traditions
- Baptist traditions
- Contemporary evangelical scholarship
- Post-evangelical criticism
Historical and Linguistic Companions
In addition to theologians, we regularly consult the work of:
- Historians
- Archaeologists
- Biblical linguists
- Textual critics
- Historians of Judaism and early Christianity
These disciplines help illuminate the historical setting, languages, manuscripts, and cultural world of the biblical text.
Who is missing?
This list is intentionally selective rather than exhaustive. We welcome thoughtful suggestions for additional conversation partners whose work has made a lasting contribution to the study of Scripture. New names may be added as the project develops, at the editors’ discretion.
Scripture as Our Final Authority
Every conversation partner enriches our understanding, but none replaces the authority of Scripture.
Following the example of the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and Pauls letter to the Thessalonians (1. Thessalonians 5:21) we gladly learn from faithful interpreters across the centuries while examining every interpretation in the light of the biblical text itself.