NT Wright Archives - Redeeming God

In the last episode of Theology.fm, I mentioned that N.T. Wright is one of the scholars and authors who has influenced my thinking the most.

I emailed N.T. Wright about two years ago to inquire about doing Ph.D. work with him, and he gave me some valuable advice. My ultimate decision was that I didn’t have the time or the money right now to get my doctorate. Nevertheless, I would have LOVED to study under him.

So I was thrilled to see this past week that he has three courses available on Udemy. If you were going to take these courses from him at the seminary where he teaches in the UK, they would probably cost around $900 each.

But you and I can now take these courses from N.T. Wright online, at our own pace, in our own time, while saving a bunch of money in the process.

Online Courses with N.T. Wright

Choose from Three Courses:

The great thing about these courses is that they never expire for life, you can take them at your own pace, AND there is a 30-day money back guarantee.

I will probably start with Galatians. Let me know if you take one, and which one you take.

Words that DO NOT Refer to Eternal life (Part 1): Salvation and Kingdom of Heaven

By Jeremy Myers

22 Comments

One of the reasons people get so confused about the conditions for receiving eternal life is that they equate terms and ideas in the Bible with eternal life which do not refer to eternal life. Ever since the Black Plague swept through Europe, Western Christianity has had an unhealthy preoccupation with what happens to people after they die, and as a result, has often read the Bible through life-after-death colored glasses so that everything seems to be teaching about what happens to people after they die.

The truth is that there is relatively little in the Bible about what happens to people after they die, and most of the terms and ideas in Scripture which we think teach about heaven or the afterlife are actually teaching about how to live our lives here and now on earth. (Interestingly, not even “eternal life” means only life after we die…)

There are very few synonyms for eternal life

Numerous problems arise in the thinking of many Christians from the mistaken belief that the Bible has numerous synonyms for eternal life. It doesn’t. Most often, when the authors of Scripture want to write about eternal life, they use the words “eternal life” (or “everlasting life” in some translations).

However, there are numerous other terms and phrases in the Bible that modern readers often confuse with “eternal life,” and as a result, end up with confused theology as well. Below is a brief description of five of these terms with an explanation of what these terms actually mean.

Saved and salvation.

We have already discussed the words “saved” and “salvation” in previous posts but the misuse of this word as a synonym for eternal life is so prevalent, I thought it would be wise to mention it here again.

When the Bible uses the words “save” or “salvation,” it is almost never talking about eternal life, but is instead referring to some sort of temporal or physical deliverance from sickness, death, enemies, or other calamity.

Sin has disastrous consequences in our life, and when Scripture talks about being saved from sin, it is not referring to deliverance from hell and going to heaven when we die, but about being delivered from the damaging effects of sin in our lives here and now.

Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of God.

Many Christians believe that these terms refer to “heaven” itself, and more specifically, when Scripture talks of entering or inheriting the Kingdom, that this refers to going to heaven when we die.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God are two terms which refer to the rule and reign of God. God does reign, of course, in heaven, but God also seeks to rule and reign in our lives, and on this earth. This rule and reign of God is accomplished in various ways, but primarily as people start living according to the principles of God’s guidelines for how life is to be lived.

This begins in our own life, and moves outward from there. As such, entering and inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven is not about receiving eternal life or going to heaven when we die, but is concerned with how we live our lives right now on this earth as citizens of God’s Kingdom. If you want to read more on this subject, I strongly recommend How God Became King by N. T. Wright.

In future posts we will look at other terms that are often confused with “eternal life,” so stay tuned!

The Institution

By Jeremy Myers

4 Comments

Jesus’ attitude toward the Temple was not “this institution needs reforming,” nor “the wrong people are running this place,” nor yet “piety can function elsewhere too.” His deepest belief regarding the Temple was eschatological: the time had come for God to judge the entire institution.

—N. T. Wright, The Challenge of Jesus, p. 64.

I wonder what Jesus would say about the church institution?

The Best Christian Books Every Christian Should Read

By Jeremy Myers

113 Comments

I am an avid reader. While I read all sorts of books, people sometimes ask me what my recommendations are for the best christian books I have ever read. Click here to go to the list.

That list of my best Christian books are below. This list of the top Christian books that everyone should read is probably not like any other list of Christian books you have ever read.

I remember when I was in Bible college, I asked about 10 professors for their list of top 10 Christian books. I was shocked when they gave their lists to me to find that all the lists were nearly identical. I think that between the 10 of them, I ended up with only about 15 books that they recommended. Even more shocking was that I had already read every single one of the Christian books on their lists … and hadn’t thought that most of them were all that good.

So let me tell you how the top Christian books below made it onto my list. I use three main criteria for the best Christian books I have ever read.

1. A Top Christian book sets my mind on fire and my heart racing.

Have you ever read a book that set your mind and heart on fire? That radically changed the way you viewed life, read Scripture, or interacted with God and others?

All of the books below did this for me. These are the best Christian books which every serious student of Scripture and theology should read.

I previously called this list of books my “Burning Books List,” not because these books must burned, but because they branded themselves into my mind. These books set my mind on fire and my heart ablaze. The ideas they contain smolder in my bones, shed light on the Scriptures, and help bring life to the world.

2. A Top Christian Book is one I scribble in … A LOT

When I read, I underline key points and scribble notes in the margins.

With the Christian books listed below, it sometimes seems that every sentence gets underlined and every margin gets filled.

Some of these Christian books answered a Bible question I always had, solved a theological dilemma I was facing, or helped with an issue in a way I had not found elsewhere.

3. A Top Christian book brings about life change

While I have a very inquisitive mind, I don’t just read books to gain information. The best Christian books will change the way you think about God, about Scripture, about yourself, about your marriage, about life on this earth, or about other similar topics, and will inspire you to not just think differently, but to live and act differently.

The best Christian books will not just renew your mind; they will also renew your life.

The Christian books on the list below did this for me in one way or another. They changed the way I think, ignited my passion for a purpose, and gave me an “Aha!” moment that sent my life and my theology in a new direction. Often, they inspire me to write books of my own.

The books below are some of the Christian books that have helped form and change my theology. These are the top Christian books I recommend the most.

The Best Christian Books I Have Ever Read (and you should too!)

Note: more books will be added to the list as I think of them (or read them). If you have one you think should be on the list, let me know in the comment section below.

Click a Category to Jump to that Section:

Best Christian Books for Bible Study

Best Books on Bible Backgrounds

One of the best ways of learning what the Bible means is by studying the historical and cultural background of the various Biblical books. While I have read dozens of such books, here are some of the best Christian books in the area of Bible backgrounds.

Best Bible Commentaries

I own thousands of commentaries, and while it is difficult to recommend a commentary for pure “reading” enjoyment, every once in a while I run across a commentary that has far-reaching ramifications not just for the book which the commentary explains, but for numerous other passages in Scripture as well. The Bible commentaries listed below did that for me.

Old Testament Commentaries

New Testament Commentaries

Best Books on Christian Theology

The following list of theology books are divided up into the various categories of systematic theology. My theology is always in flux, due in large part to the wide variety of books I read on theology. The books listed below have changed my theology the most and caused me to see God, life, and certain key theological issues in a new light.

Best Books on General Theology

These books are not dealing with any particular area of theology, but present a new paradigm or a new way of looking at theology that really helped my theological development.

Best Books on the Bible

These books provide new insight into how to read and study the Bible, and what sort of book the Bible really is. As the Bible is a primary source for Bible knowledge and theology, these books are vitally important for my theological thinking.

Best Books about God

No theological system is better than its view of God. In my opinion, most theologies go wrong right from the start because they have a wrong view of God. The books listed below helped me learn about God in a new way, and come to see God in a new light.

Best Books about Jesus

Jesus is the center of our theology and the cornerstone of our life as Christians. Jesus reveals God to us, and shows us how to live as a true human being. The books listed below helped me learn more about who Jesus truly is, what He came to do, and how He reveals God to us.

Best Books about the Holy Spirit

There is so much confusion out there about the Holy Spirit, that we must make sure we know Him properly, and allow Him to function as He wants in our life. Sadly, I have not yet read any great books about the Holy Spirit. If you have any to recommend, let me know in the comment section below.

Best Books about Humanity

We tend to think that since we are human, we know everything there is to know about us. But this is not true. A large part of theology lies in understanding ourselves correctly.

Best Books about Sin

You typically don’t enjoy reading about sin, but these books on sin will help you understand what sin is and why Jesus came to deliver us from sin. Don’t assume you know what sin is!

Best Books about Salvation

This life is short, but what comes after this life lasts forever. As such, it is critical to properly understand issues related to eternal life, assurance of salvation, the role of faith and good works, and all related issues. The following books will challenge your thinking in these areas and provide much-needed clarity on the Gospel, evangelism, and eternal life.

Best Books about the Church

My views on church have radically changed in the last decade. The following books led to some of the greatest shifts in my thinking about church. If you have questions or concerns about what church is, how to function as the church, or what the Bible says about church, I recommend you read the following books. Also, I have written several books of my own on this topic (and am writing more), and while these didn’t make my “Best Christian books” list (how arrogant would that be?), you can go to Amazon to see these books.

Best Books about the End Times

Books about the End Times are a always a hot topic. If I ever read a book which provides some clarity to all the confusion about what is supposed to take place in the future, I will list those books here. So far, I have not found anything that is really worth recommending. If you know of a book or two, let me know in the comment section below.

Best Books about Angels & Demons

Somewhat like books about the End Times, books about Angels and Demons are quite popular. But I am typically not into popular books. I want books that push away the fog and bring some sanity to the hype and confusion about angels and demons. The books listed below helped do that for me.

Overrun by Demons/the Church’s New Preoccupation With the Demonic

Best Christian Books about Life

I do not just read books about Scripture and theology. In fact, since my goal on this site is to Bring Scripture and Theology to Life, I also read lots of books about how to live life, and how best to put my theology into practice. Scripture knowledge and theology should lead to changes in our life, or all that study is worthless and pointless. Here are a few areas of books that have been helpful for me.

Best Christian Books on Discipleship

Best Christian Books on Prayer

Best Christian Books on Marriage

Marriage is tough. In my experience, the marriage relationship of a husband and wife is the most difficult and demanding relationship two people will ever experience, but also the most rewarding and enjoyable. In a marriage, you will experience the highest highs life has to offer, and also the lowest lows. There is nothing more thrilling or depressing. And yet, most marriage books are relatively worthless. Every once in a while I read one that seems particularly helpful. These are listed below.

Best Christian Books on Parenting

Along with marriage, parenting is full of potential pitfalls. I am a father to three girls, and the books listed below have been most helpful to me as I learn to be a father and raise my girls to be the godly women God wants them to be.

Best Books on Christian Mission & Purpose

Having Bible and Theology knowledge is good, but it is even more important to put what we know into practice. Lots of Christians seem to think that this life is little more than a rest stop on our way to heaven. We are here to sit in Bible studies and Sunday services while we wait for the cosmic bus ride to heaven. Nothing could be further from the truth. The books below challenge Christians to get up off their couches and pews and get out into the world to follow Jesus into the dark and sinful places. If you are looking for books to challenge how you live your life as a follower of Jesus, these are the books I recommend.

Best Fiction Books

I read fiction too. Did you know that books of fiction can teach you theology? Believe it or not, certain aspects of my theology have been radically changed by what I read in some books of fiction. Here are the fictional books which changed or challenged my thinking the most.

Does the Resurrection of Jesus Prove He is God?

By Jeremy Myers

19 Comments

Many people believe that the resurrection of Jesus proves that Jesus was God. There is one main problem with this view and it is this: the resurrection of Jesus does not prove He was God.

At least, not directly.

Eventually you can get to the divinity of Jesus from the resurrection of Jesus, but it is a little less straightforward than most suppose.

No one would conclude—not then or now—that someone was God simply because they had been raised from the dead. If I came to you and said, “I died in a car accident yesterday, but now I have come back to life,” you might think I was crazy, but even if you believed me, you would not conclude that I was God. One does not logically lead to the other.

So does the Resurrection of Jesus prove He is God?

Well, it is not so much the resurrection of Jesus that proved He was God, but what Jesus said and did before the resurrection which was then verified by the resurrection of Jesus.

I’m not talking about His claims to be God. Critics say He never made such claims. While I believe Jesus did explicitly claim to be God, for the sake of argument, let us just concede the point and move on.

The means by which Jesus implicitly made His claims to be God incarnate was through His actions of replacing the Temple and fulfilling the Torah. In Judaism, the Temple was the closest thing to incarnation that they had. It was where heaven and earth came together as one, where God could meet with man, where sins could be forgiven.

Jesus Replaced the Temple and the Torah

Jesus, through many words and actions indicated that the Temple ministry—including the priesthood and sacrifices—was being relocated in Himself. In forgiving sins, pronouncing lepers clean, and announcing judgment upon the Temple, Jesus was showing that He was the replacement for the Temple.

The same thing happened with the Torah. While many Jewish teachers used tradition and consensus to determine what the Torah meant and how to live it, Jesus simply declared on His own authority what it meant and how to apply it. Furthermore, in many of His teachings, He went beyond the Torah, and offered new commandments and further instructions. In such a way, He not only made the claim of being an infallible interpreter of the Law, but the actual Lawgiver Himself.

Again, some critics will want to deny that Jesus ever said or did such things. But with their constant denials of anything and everything that Jesus did, they very soon leave themselves in a an impossible situation: they are left with a Jesus who does and teaches some nice things, but which would barely get noticed by the populace, much less crucified. Eventually, these critics must give up their denials, or come up with a believable scenario for why Jesus was crucified.

In other words, Jesus had to have said and done something to get people angry enough at Him to crucify Him. If He never claimed to be God, either implicitly or explicitly, and never challenged traditional Jewish thinking or theology, then what possible scenario is there which would have led to His crucifixion?

The Crucifixion of Jesus

I agree with what NT Wright has written. The primary reason for the crucifixion was that “Judaism had two great incarnational symbols: Temple and Torah, [and] Jesus seems to have believed it was His vocation to upstage the one and outflank the other” (NT Wright, Challenge of Jesus, p. 120).

For the early believers, the resurrection of Jesus vindicated these claims of Jesus. For Jesus to make such outlandish claims about God’s Temple and God’s Torah and then to die is not surprising (if He was wrong). That is the just judgment of God.

But for Jesus to make such outlandish claims, and then not only to die, but also to rise from the dead, proves once and for all that God was in what Jesus said and did, and therefore, Jesus was the embodiment, the manifestation, the incarnation of the one God of Israel.

So the resurrection of Jesus by itself does not mean that Jesus was God, but the resurrection of Jesus is one link in the chain that gets us there.

For more on this, read The Challenge of Jesus by NT Wright – Chapter 5. See a fuller treatment in Jesus and the Victory of God.

The cross of Jesus is CENTRAL to everything!

Transform your life and theology by focusing on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus:

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Online Courses with N.T. Wright

There are very few synonyms for eternal life

Saved and salvation.

Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of God.

1. A Top Christian book sets my mind on fire and my heart racing.

2. A Top Christian Book is one I scribble in … A LOT

3. A Top Christian book brings about life change

The Best Christian Books I Have Ever Read (and you should too!)

Best Christian Books for Bible Study

Best Books on Bible Backgrounds

Best Bible Commentaries

Old Testament Commentaries

New Testament Commentaries

Best Books on Christian Theology

Best Books on General Theology

Best Books on the Bible

Best Books about God

Best Books about Jesus

Best Books about the Holy Spirit

Best Books about Humanity

Best Books about Sin

Best Books about Salvation

Best Books about the Church

Best Books about the End Times

Best Books about Angels & Demons

Best Christian Books about Life

Best Christian Books on Discipleship

Best Christian Books on Prayer

Best Christian Books on Marriage

Best Christian Books on Parenting

Best Books on Christian Mission & Purpose

Best Fiction Books

So does the Resurrection of Jesus prove He is God?

Jesus Replaced the Temple and the Torah

The Crucifixion of Jesus

The cross of Jesus is CENTRAL to everything!

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