Berean

English

Etymology

From Berea +‎ -an. Protestants adopted the name in reference to the Bible, Acts 17: "These [Berea] were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so."

Noun

Berean (plural Bereans)

1. (historical) An inhabitant of the ancient city of Berea in what is now northern Greece.
2. (historical) A member of an 18th-century Scottish Protestant sect who derived all knowledge of God from the Bible.

   Synonyms: Barclayan, Barclayite

3. (Christianity) Someone who is meticulous in the study of the Scriptures.
   • 1663, Samuel Bradley, The Afflicted and Retired Mans Meditations, Concerning the Excellency of the Spirit, London:

     Even ſo, although many things herein contained, may be counted rediculous or erroneous; Yet courteous Reader, let me deſire thee to prove thy ſelf a Berean in this matter, Search the Scripture, and ſee whether it be ſo or not.

   • 2018, Daniel Plunkett, Learn to Discern: Recognizing False Teachings In the Christian Church Today, Cambridge, Ohio: Christian Publishing House, →ISBN, page 30:

     Once again, this^{[sic – meaning this is]} a case where being a Berean would clear up a lot of confusion. I once heard another WOF teacher, Andrew Wommack, teaching the same thing, and then going on to say that Isaac was conceived because Abraham's faith-filled words spoke him into existence. You will have an impossible task supporting this with scripture, yet most WOF teachers repeat this falsehood as if it were common knowledge.

Adjective

Berean (comparative more Berean, superlative most Berean)

1. (Christianity) Meticulous in the study of the Scriptures.
   • 1880, W. H. Maynard, “The American Church and Our Heterogeneous Population”, in The Baptist Review, volume 2, number 5, page 148:

     The evangelical Church of America is not rationalistic. It is becoming more Berean, not accepting the dicta of theologians, but searching the Scriptures.

   • 1909 July 16, William H. Ridgway, “Iron Rose Bible Class”, in The Hamilton Spectator, page 13:

     Crowds of men all over the land are flocking into adult Bible classes. This is a sign of nobility. This is the Berean way.

   • 1998 February 6, Dale Ogilvie, “May women teach in the church?”, in soc.religion.christian.bible-study‎^[1] (Usenet):

     Lately however, this disturbance in my spirit has been enough of a concern to awaken a more Berean attitude.

   • 2006, Roy E. Ciampa, “Toward the Effective Preaching of New Testament Texts That Cite the Old Testament”, in Scott M. Gibson, editor, Preaching the Old Testament, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, →ISBN:

     By helping a congregation grow in their understanding of the ways in which the arguments and theology of the New Testament are dependent upon an understanding of the Old Testament, a pastor or preacher may both demonstrate a personal love and passion for the Old Testament as the Bible of the authors of the New Testament and develop such a love and passion in the church that it becomes more “Berean” and less likely to fall into Marcionite ways of thinking.

Anagrams

• beaner, bearen