Amateurs," or those deemed outsiders, renegades, imposters, have been responsible for the bulk of scientific and technological progress up until the mid 19th century. Think Darwin. Or think Galileo and Newton, whose "expertise" was in math, not physics or astronomy. Adam Bradford's expertise is in medicine, but he is one of those brilliant minds whose biblical research and reflections raise issues and perspectives scholars locked inside closed shops can no longer see. I don't always agree with him, but he's one of the few biblical scholars I always read and from whom I never fail to be illuminated and inspired. ---Leonard Sweet, best-selling author, university and seminary professor, and founder and chief contributor to preachthestory.com