In this video Conversation, Joel Hunter explains why it is important that we decouple the view of scripture from the “either or” mentality, which stems from the culture’s polarization and politicization of the interpretation of scripture.
Hunter suggests that a view of scripture as the “inerrant Word of God” does not mean that the Bible should be read literally, but rather, it means that God is inerrant. Further, while scripture itself is revelatory, that does not imply that the person interpreting it is inerrant. The disconnect between the view of inerrancy and the liberal low view of scripture is a spectrum rather than a choice.
One can have both the highest view of scripture and a humble understanding of people searching for the best way to interpret the depths of what that scripture actually says more than the literal or “one plane” understanding of that scripture, says Hunter.
The same superintendent spirit of the writers of scripture should be in us when we learn more about how to best interpret the text—only then can God make those same words reveal even more to us. Once we have a more complete sense of the context in which scripture was produced and the context in which we should understand the text today, it will allow us to speak greater truths because the inerrancy will grow with our interpretation.