How Bible Literacy Equips the Church to Defend the Faith, with Jen Wilkin

Sep 12, 2023

Jen Wilkin, a prominent author and Bible teacher, dives into the significance of Bible literacy as an essential tool for defending the faith. She distinguishes between simply knowing about the Bible and truly understanding it, emphasizing how this knowledge combats threats like instant gratification. The discussion touches on the lack of female apologists and the importance of mentoring women in theology. In a lighthearted moment, Jen playfully expresses her desire to jam with Queen, showcasing her vibrant personality amidst serious topics.

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INSIGHT

Bible Literacy Versus Biblical Literacy

Bible literacy means owning and learning the Bible as a book, not just knowing about it.
Jen Wilkin urges applying general literacy skills to Scripture for true understanding.

INSIGHT

Secondhand Belief Fails Under Scrutiny

Shallow secondhand beliefs crumble when challenged because people repeat others' understandings.
Jen warns that lacking firsthand Scripture knowledge weakens faith under pressure.

ADVICE

Commit To Long-Term Scriptural Formation

Resist instant-gratification learning and commit to long, disciplined study of Scripture.
Leaders should articulate compelling reasons for Bible literacy to motivate sustained effort.

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In this episode, your intrepid cohosts learn why they need to get literate.

"Bible literate," to be exact.

According to author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin, Bible literacy is a vital tool when it comes to apologetics—and "Bible literacy" is not the same thing as "biblical literacy."

Biblical literacy means knowing about the Bible. Bible literacy requires knowing the Bible itself, and Bible literacy is part of what every Christian needs to be able to defend the faith.

In the process of getting themselves some Bible literateness, Garrick Bailey and Timothy Paul Jones talk with Jen Wilkin about why there are so few women apologists, why Timothy will never write another book about the end of time, and whether or not it's possible for there to be too many extended guitar solos. (Spoiler alert: there is no such thing as too many guitar solos or a guitar solo that's too long.) Jen offers to play xylophone with the rock band Queen, and Garrick reveals a heretofore-unknown secret about Jen's singing abilities.

In the segment known as Indiana, Jones, and the Raiders of Church History, the dynamic duo places a domesticated feline into battle against a king's shield. The cat survives, but only because of its longstanding concordat with Old Scratch himself. Timothy and Garrick also learn the word "strapwork," and "Strapwork" would be the perfect name for a New Wave of British Heavy Metal band.

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS AND GUEST

Jen Wilkin is an author and Bible teacher from Dallas, Texas and the Executive Director of Care, Family, and Next Gen Ministries at the Village Church in Flower Mound, TX. She has organized and led studies for women in home, church, and parachurch contexts. An advocate for Bible literacy, her passion is to see others become articulate and committed followers of Christ, with a clear understanding of why they believe what they believe, grounded in the Word of God.

Timothy Paul Jones, Ph.D., is C. Edwin Gheens Professor of Christian Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He teaches in the areas of family ministry and applied apologetics. He has authored or edited more than a dozen books, including Why Should I Trust the Bible?, The God Who Goes Before You , Perspectives on Family Ministry, In Church as It Is in Heaven, and Christian History Made Easy.

Garrick Bailey is a Ph.D. student in systematic theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, studying Herman Bavinck and Roman Catholicism under the supervision of Gregg Allison.

LINKS TO CLICK

Jesus (Queen, 1973)

More Than a Feeling (Boston, 2011)

Misquoting Truth (Jones, 2007)

Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen, 1975)

Patreon Support

theapologeticspodcast.com

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CLOSING CREDITS

Music for the podcast has been licensed through Artlist.io and performed by Cunningham Manor. Brief excerpts of music played in each program are included solely for the purposes of comment and critique as allowed under the fair-use provision of U.S. copyright law. “The fair use of a copyrighted work … for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, … scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright” (U.S. Code § 107, Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use).