Cwic Media- LDS Podcast / Latter-day Saints Here It Is, Dave Butler - How To Study The Gospel
Mar 19, 2026
Dave Butler, a religious scholar who focuses on scripture study and Latter-day Saint theology, outlines two dominant commentary styles and proposes a third way. He explains scholarly tools like textual criticism and archaeology, discusses how the Book of Mormon supplies unique data and clear authorship, and argues that blending study methods can deepen reading while keeping a faith perspective.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Two Archetypes Of Bible Commentary
- Bible commentaries split into two archetypes: critical scholars who treat the text as a puzzle and preachers who treat it as scripture for discipleship.
- Dave Butler contrasts Type A's focus on authorship, dating, and archaeology with Type B's pastoral aim to make readers better disciples.
Archaeology Changed Biblical Criticism
- Critical scholarship uses languages, textual criticism, and archaeology and often writes as if God is methodologically out of scope.
- Butler notes archaeology shifted from confirming the Bible to complicating or contradicting surface readings, pushing historical re-evaluation.
Use Ministerial Tools For Pulpit Ready Lessons
- Preacher-style commentaries aim to edify believers and give practical application rather than solve historical puzzles.
- Butler recommends using ministerial tools like parable, personal stories, and targeted explanation for pulpit-ready lessons.