Digital Logos Edition
Ernest Best was scholar-minister and his scholarly output was molded by his desire to effect change in ministry. From his work in Ephesians he emphasized the theological import of overcoming of ethnic and religious barriers, such as those that afflicted his Northern Ireland with conflict. In the Gospel of Mark, he found an understanding of faith and discipleship which provided an alternative to the over-confident certainties and intolerance. In Mark, Best argues, the disciples engage with the mystery of the Kingdom in a faltering manner, sometimes with insight and discovery, but other times with foolish questions and confusion. But all along the way they are led by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ernest Best (1917-2004) was Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow from 1974 until 1982. He was awarded an honorary DD there in 1999. Best studied Mathematics and then Divinity at Queen's University, Belfast, graduating BA (1938), MA (1939), BD (1942) and PhD (1948). He became a minister in Northern Ireland and in 1963 went to the University of St Andrews as a lecturer in Biblical Literature and Theology. He had acquired a high reputation as a New Testament scholar long before his appointment to the Chair at Glasgow in 1974.