What are the minimalist and maximalist approaches to Scripture?

Answer

“Minimalism” and “maximalism” are terms used in Old Testament scholarship. In the realm of biblical studies, minimalists advocate a progressive approach to Scripture, while maximalists lean towards a more traditional and conservative perspective. The central issue revolves around the historical accuracy of the Old Testament: to what extent does the text reflect real history, and what criteria should be employed when examining it from a historical standpoint?

Minimalist scholars typically question the historical validity of the biblical text, whereas maximalists generally affirm its historical accuracy. Some extreme minimalists propose that the Old Testament writings are largely fictional, crafted between the Persian conquest of Babylon and the first century AD. These scholars also contend that the depiction of “Israel” as a nation in the Bible is not based on reality. Conversely, maximalists argue that the Bible is fundamentally trustworthy as a historical document and should be considered a primary source for the era it portrays unless compelling evidence suggests otherwise.

The fundamental divergence between maximalists and minimalists lies in their approaches to the historical authenticity of the Old Testament. Many maximalists assert that the Bible should be deemed historically reliable unless substantial external evidence contradicts it. On the other hand, many minimalists advocate for the dismissal of the Bible unless robust external evidence can support each specific claim it makes. The labels of minimalist and maximalist stem from their initial stances: minimalists advocate for accepting only the minimum biblical data as historical, while maximalists argue that the maximum possible biblical data should be regarded as historical. For instance, several prominent minimalists contend

That the biblical portrayals of King David and King Solomon are essentially fictitious. They would argue that there was no united monarchy of Israel at that time, certainly not to the extent described in the Old Testament. Maximalists would be more generous to the text, arguing that, when properly understood, the accounts of David and Solomon align with historical reality.

Many contemporary scholars do not align themselves with either camp, positioning themselves somewhere along the spectrum between maximalist and minimalist. Some acknowledge the historical basis of certain parts of the Old Testament. Others believe that the Old Testament was built on memories of historical events but heavily embellished and edited to the extent that it is no longer usable by historians or archaeologists. Some individuals refer to scholars near the center of the spectrum as “moderates.”

It is crucial to acknowledge that, most of the time, minimalists and maximalists are both working with the same data. It is their approach to the data that is being compared, not the data itself. Every scholar brings certain assumptions to the available data and organizes the evidence accordingly. Many minimalists assume that God does not exist, that miracles are impossible, and that the Old Testament is excessively propagandistic; therefore, any genuine history derived from the biblical text is unlikely. Many maximalists are devoted Christians and attribute additional historical significance to the text due to their beliefs about inspiration. To be discerning individuals, we must recognize the different starting assumptions of people, listen to a wide range of perspectives on any given topic, and gather as much relevant data as possible. As Christians, however, we do not have to approach these issues with a blank slate: we rely on our faith in God and His trustworthy Word as we navigate these challenging scholarly discussions.