N.T. Wright and Pete Enns: What Do You Mean by Literal?

In this video Conversation, senior biblical fellow Peter Enns asks Rev. N.T. Wright to respond to a reader question about science and faith. Specifically, the reader asks, "If you take Genesis in a non-literal fashion especially the creation stories, why take anything in the Bible literally—such as the Gospels? Do you take the Gospels literally?"

[BucInExile]

I so appreciate Wright's willingness to engage a question without bowing down to easy, pat answers that give a soundbite to make people feel better. Nuanced answers may not satisfy the comments section on YouTube, but they are almost always more correct than answers with no nuance at all.

[PUAlum]

Great Q&A. I have several friends who love to say, "the Bible says it. I believe it. That settles it!". Of course that settles next to nothing except perhaps the dubious usefulness of carrying on any discussion with my friends.

[pclenglish]

Wow, someone who actually took the time to read "The City of God." Thank you.

[couerleroi]

I had never heard of that before— God building a temple for Himself and adding an image of himself as the last thing. Beautiful picture

[TheMichael]

Wright makes a very informative point as always!

[snowpharoah]

Makes you want to read more about what he says on a bunch of contentious topics...

[ChristianPodcast]

Dang, what a scholar. Has to completely deconstruct the question itself so he can answer it

[roolaing]

Something that unsettles me in my faith is the complexity and disagreement therein.

It is, of course, entirely in keeping with the rest of humanity. But it’s hard to reconcile when there are a billion different slivers of Christianity, all claiming truth with varying amounts of fervour.

[jjreddog]

The Key to understanding the Bible is what did Jesus say, "you must be born again" the Spirit of God speaks to the believer and when
I read Genesis, God tells me He created the Heavens and Earth in 6 Days and ceased from His work on the seventh, I just believe Him
When He tells me He created male and female I don`t question if there is a third kind and this even unlocks The Book of Revelation to
make it easier to understand. Jesus is coming back soon for His Born Again Church, I will be a part of that Bride, James in WA ST

[TheWeebs]

From the Oxford Dictionary. In a literal manner or sense; exactly.
‘the driver took it literally when asked to go straight over the roundabout’
‘tiramisu, literally translated ‘pull-me-up’’

[isaactheleeman]

What I just heard was: "yes, genesis is literally to be understood metaphorically."

[BloodCovenant]

Is it an open question as to whether Gen 1&2 is referring to creation in 6 actual 24 hour days? Is it an open question as to whether God intended the Jews to rest on the 7th-day 24-hour sabbath? I think not.

[TheFOei]

Pamela if you seriously want to learn and honestly want to know about the Subject, Please read the textbook on Dr Fee and Dr Stuart, "How to read the Bible for all its worth", or take Hermeneutic Class in the good seminary, who teach bible properly not doctrine. God Bless 

[perception]

Makes more sense than interpreting the bible "as is"

[wpankey]

Does anyone know if Pete is part of the Emerging Church Movement?

[MAPologeticsIPeter]

How can he come to this interpretation of Genesis 1? So the chapter is concrete (historical) or, metaphorical (figurative) or both?  What  hermeneutical principles does Rev. Wright apply to Genesis 1?

[davidpinheiro]

We should literally interpret the Bible metaphorically!

[scottbignell]

A pretty long-winded way of saying that he doesn't take Genesis literally.

[ElkoJohn]

It seems to me that wanting to be praised and glorified is not a noble reason for creating humans.
There are many rulers, in history, and down to the present time, who also want to be praised and glorified.
Perhaps, devotional love, between the Heavenly Father and the Anointed Son, is more appropriate.

[metalhead]

He got the parable of the rich and Lazarus wrong. Its meaning is not merely "give to the poor", but that the Word of God alone is sufficient and powerful to turn incredulity into faith...