Where Does Peter Enns See the Biblical Inerrancy Discussion Going?

In December Zondervan Academic was pleased to release a timely new resource for students of biblical theology: Five Views on Biblical Inerrancy. It showcases the spectrum of evangelical positions on inerrancy in order to facilitate an understanding of these perspectives, particularly where and why they diverge.

Contributors include Al Mohler, Kevin Vanhoozer, Michael Bird, Peter Enns, and John Franke. Each essay considers the relevancy of the term for evangelicalism; Scriptures own self-attestations in relationship to the term; theological assumptions regarding the nature of the Bible, God, and truth; and three biblical texts that illumine the issue further.

(You might be interested in reading five columns engaging each contributors' views: Mohler, Enns, Bird, Vanhoozer, Franke)

In our video today, one of the dialogue partners in this important discussion, Peter Enns, helps show the kind of irenic, intentional conversation these biblical scholars have in this book. He was asked, "Biblical inerrancy has been a hot-bed issue in recent years; where do you see this discussion going?" So in what direction does Enns see the biblical inerrancy discussion heading?

Enns says "the fact Zondervan is publishing a book on the five views of inerrancy is an indication of the lay of the land." Meaning, "you have people within roughly evangelical boundaries, who are within those boundaries, sensing the need to dialogue very seriously about, not simply what inerrancy is, but over whether it's really the best way to be talking about the Bible."

For Enns that's where the conversation is, not necessarily what the term means, but rather why even use the term at all? Does the Bible itself even self-attest using the language of inerrancy? is what concerns Enns' own position. And his reflection below on the term provides helpful insight into how many within evangelicalism are engaging inerrancy themselves.

(Can't see the video? Watch it here)