Date

11-13-2025

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Leadership (PhD)

Chair

William J. Higley

Keywords

biblical illiteracy, biblical literacy, literacy, illiteracy, Baptist, pastors, church leaders, pastors

Disciplines

Religion

Abstract

Biblical illiteracy is one of the top issues facing the church today. Research shows that many Christians either do not read the Bible or do read it, but with little frequency. It also shows that those who do read the Bible often lack a fundamental understanding of what they are reading. To date, there is research, but not specifically related to whether churches are addressing this issue. In most churches, pastors are considered the lead person to train and prepare disciples for Christ; thereby, preparing and nurturing congregants' understanding is critical to this mandate. As such, this descriptive study examined whether churches and pastors prioritize biblical literacy. Due to the extraordinary breadth of this aim, a quantitative research method was employed. The quantitative research method enabled the collection of numerical and statistical data from a specific sample population of Baptist pastors in Virginia. The study yielded results that could be applied to those not included in this study. This study's findings are beneficial not only on a research level but also on an academic level, significantly contributing to the current conversation and awareness of biblical illiteracy. It is, however, recommended that further research be conducted on biblical illiteracy, its prevalence, and its prioritization by church leaders.

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