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4.8 ★★★★★
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★★★★★ 5
What is the chief goal of man?
Format: Hardcover
What is the chief goal of man?
This is the question that prolific scholar N.T. Wright addresses in After You Believe. According to Wright, the goal of human existence is to "become genuine human beings, reflecting the God in whose image we're made, and doing so in worship on the one hand and in mission, in its full and large sense, on the other; and that we do this not least by following Jesus." [Page 26]
After You Believe is the conclusion to the trilogy of Simply Christian and Surprised By Hope. In the preceding works Wright expounded on the subjects of why Christianity made sense, and subsequently on proper Christian hope for the future and afterlife. After You Believe represents the culmination of that series, dealing directly with the issue of putting into proper praxis orthodox Christian faith.
For Wright, the goal is virtue, which comes through a transformation of character. This transformation must be understood in terms of proper understanding of the eschatological nature of the promise and work of God. Through Jesus God has enacted a worldwide redemption plan, which transcends the simplistic, and dualistic understanding of salvation as merely heaven when you die. Wright persistently draws the readers' attention back to the idea that the work of God is transforming the entire cosmos. This transformation does not lie in the distant future, but rather is has been inaugurated in the life and death of Jesus.
Christians long for the day of glorification, when we shall be released from our bondage to sin and decay, however, it is important to recognize that the transformation process from depravity to glorification has already been enacted. This is the eschatological dimension of Wright's work. The Christian life is meant to be lived in anticipation of this future event, and evidence of that event is to be manifested in the here and now.
Wright contrasts the Aristotelian goal of virtue, with the Christian goal of virtue. One is accomplished in a Pelagian sort of manner, and leads to active service in ones polis, while the other results in the manifestation of Christian virtues in the life of the Christian results in being formed to more closely reflect the image of God.
The transformation of character, which leads to virtue, is not an instantaneous experience. Rather, it is the long drawn out process of making many small, important decisions about reflecting the image of God which leads those engaged with this process to make the right decision when faced with a crisis.
We are called to be rulers and priests. Wright surveys the vast, but often times overlooked Biblical passages that speak of the human race one-day ruling with Christ. Our calling is one of great privilege and responsibility, to be rulers and priests is a high calling, and one that we should be working out in the present in anticipation of that future vocation.
One of the most brilliant chapters of the book is the section on 1 Corinthians 13. Because of familiarity some passages require a fresh reading with new eyes. We have so often heard the passage read and expounded upon, that we miss the intensity of what love really is. For Wright, love is the chief of all the virtues. Love is not something that can be gained overnight, or that can be exercised without much learning. To obtain the true virtue of love is to partake in the long arduous process of transformation of the mind.
In this book Wright characteristically exegetes Biblical passages, his style is both readable and challenging. Fans of his work will enjoy his characteristic interpretation of the Scriptures. However, what sets this work apart from his voluminous other works is the tying of that exegesis to attainment of virtue, and right Christian action. In this book Wright closes out the circle of his trilogy by taking proper orthodox Christian belief and hope and connecting it with proper Christian praxis.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2010
★★★★★ 5
My Favorite N.T. Wright To Date
Format: Hardcover
In this third book of N.T. Wright's popular series that began with Simply Christian and was followed up by Surprised by Hope he continues with the theme that he believes was basic in Early Christianity. The theme of the creator God, through a process that was inaugurated by the Incarnation, crucifixion and subsequent resurrection of Jesus Christ, to restore Creation and bring Heaven and Earth together. As followers of Christ, Christians are to play a key part in this renewed Creation.
I've read a number of Wright's books, and I must say that I found this latest publication to be the best that I've read to date. After You Believe is not nearly as heavy on theology as it is on practical reasons why living a life of Christian virtue matters. Wright illustrates why virtuous living matters not just for the life to come when Christ's followers will co-reign as Rulers and Priests, but it also matters in the here and now as we ready ourselves for the glorious future that God has in store for us.
Wright lays the groundwork with the question "what am I here for?" He looks at two common contrasting views about virtue within Christianity. The first view is that of the person who feels that they must be "authentic" and therefore they disregard attempts at virtue for fear of being hypocritical and phony. On the flip side of the coin are those that are constrained by all of the "rules and regulations" that they find in scripture and are hopelessly chasing their tails trying to be "good enough for God." Wright considers both views to be anachronistic and spurious.
Wright holds that our goal is to be "truly human" in the way that God originally intended for us to be. Living out a life as a complete human means living a Spirit led life in which all of the fruits of the Spirit are exhibited and the three main Christian virtues of Faith, Hope and Love begin to flow naturally.
But Bishop Wright warns that it is not an automatic thing that happens after one accepts Jesus as Lord and joins in the body of Christ. This is a common fallacy that many in Western Protestantism fall for. Using examples like that of Captain Sullenberger, who made the miraculous landing on the Hudson River on flight 1549, Wright illustrates that building genuine Christian character is a process that takes many years of making thousands of tiny `correct decisions', so that when a serious test of Christian character arises, the response is "automatic."
Toward the center of the book, Wright spends a good deal of time doing what he does best, exegeting the Pauline corpus to explain the "how and why" of developing Christian character. He discusses the coming Kingdom and how we should begin preparing for the Kingdom by the "renewing of the mind." He then moves on to 1 Corinthians 13 and provides one of the best expositions of the "love chapter" that I've read to date.
He sums it up toward the end of the book by giving fairly clear (for N.T. Wright) instructions on how to carry the whole thing out. He uses a "grace" circle that incorporates scripture, stories, examples, community and practice. Again, he reiterates how Christian character doesn't "just happen" but is rather a lifelong process that one must work toward every day.
Throughout the book I was reminded of the earnestness of John Wesley and the warmth of C.S. Lewis. Of all of Wright's books that I've read to date, I found this one to be the most practical and helpful. I've come away from some of Wright's books feeling a lot more educated, but a little puzzled on how to apply what I had read to my personal Christian walk. With After You Believe however, I found much that I felt that I could take away to help me become a more mature Christian. I would encourage this book to everyone, and especially to those who might be asking the question "what do I do now that I've become a Christian?"
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2010
★★★★★ 5
17 – “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
Format: Paperback
Everyone should read this book! A very important redirection for Christians today. Though I wanted to address something I disagreed with Wright about, and that is COMMANDMENTS. I want to address the intriguing notion by Wright that the commands given by Paul and others in the NT are more or less guidelines to get them started on the right path of what Wright calls “habits of the heart” (198). Wright also sees the commands in the NT to be concerned with some imminent threat or immoral practice he sees about to happen in the church and puts rules in place (200). He would also say rules are more for the immature or newbies.
I am intrigued by it because I have thought that this might be true of what Paul is trying to say as well. Though now I am not so sure. If one reads Psalm 119 one sees that one should seek for God’s salvation and keep his commands. Verse 166 – “I hope for your salvation, O LORD, and I fulfill your commandments” (NRSV). 1 Corinthians 7:19 says that keeping the commandments of God is everything! But key to what is happening with Paul I believe is that 1 Cor. 7:19a says that circumcision is nothing! So obviously Paul is not here referring people back to the OT law. What is true of all believers is that we are “bought with a price”. Psalm 119:166 applies no matter what covenant we are under. It is the apostles who have authority and keys of the kingdom.
Wright underplays the authority of the apostles in this instance. The commandments of God are now, apostolic teaching. We can find in many places where obedience is a theme. “Romans begins and ends with the theme of ‘the obedience of faith’…Paul’s message has to do with obedience from the heart (Romans 6:17) to the truth (Rom 2:8, Gal 5:7), the gospel (Rom 10:16, 2 Thess. 1:8), or Christ (2 Cor 10:5,6)” (Rosner 129).
Wright does not need to talk about the idea of the commands in the NT being only guidelines, because for Paul if the “obedience under the old covenant was meant to lead to life, obedience under the new is the fruit of new life in Christ” (Ibid 130). All Wright needed to say about the difference between the old and new was what he said earlier on pages 46 and 47. The OT law was “designed to be restrictive”. It is just the opposite for the NT law. It is designed to be freeing. Gal 5:1 – “For freedom Christ has set us free”. Paul says this because some in the church wanted to run back to being slaves under the OT law. In fact Paul uses “obedience” to describe what they were doing right. Gal 5:7 – “You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth?” (NRSV).
The OT law is summed up by loving God and loving neighbor as well as the new, but the difference comes in the new maturity wrought by Christ. This new teaching has transformed the thinking. The Spirit is on all God’s people. So it is not “guidelines” versus “rules”, it is “liberating rules” vs “restrictive rules”. Romans 14:17 – “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. Let us then pursue what makes for peace…”(NRSV).
Rosner, Brian S. Paul and the Law, New Studies in Biblical Theology (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press 2013).
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Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2015
★★★★★ 5
Rethinking Christian Character: Virtue as the Future Character of Priests and Rulers of God's New Creation
Format: Paperback
N.T. Wright is author I have been meaning to read for a long time. I've heard a lot about him especially his book "Jesus and the Victory of God" (which is probably next on my list) and I'm an anglophile at heart so I'll give any british writer/theologian a chance. When this book came on sale for the Kindle I immediately got it and I am very thankful I did. Admittedly the book was much more theological and philosophical than full of "practical advice" but it gave me a lot of meat to chew on that I believe will lead to much practical action. Passion that lasts comes more often from knowing deep down something is true. What we believe determines how we act. Anyway, the book does start off a little slow with Wright's talk about Aristotle's view of virtue and the idea of virtue out in the world. They were some good anecdotes demonstrating how virtue is something developed beforehand that reveals itself in difficult situations, ex. one of the pilot who landed the plane in the Hudson river recently, but I wasn't completely drawn in to the book yet. However, I was sucked in once I hit Chapter 3: Priests and Rulers. The eschatological idea that Christians are going to be priests and rulers in the new creation is something that I often completely lose sight of. It's rarely taught in churches I've been too and it was incredibly intriguing to see Wright lay the biblical foundations for it. As he showed how the theme appeared through out the whole of scripture it was another "ah-ha!" moment for me as the Bible came together once again as coherent connected book that I really can trust. Also I learned a lot from Wright's elaborations on the idea that virtue is really just the character of the new humanity. So when God is calling us to act a certain way it is in light of the future, how things will be in the new creation. This really revolutionized the way I think about my character and is incredibly practical and encouraging. Act this way because that's how things are meant to be and will be! Its not just some random rules that God coming up with; it's the character of the new humanity which was ushered in by Jesus. Wright ends the book with a little more practical chapter, The Virtuous Circle, detailing five practices that help us develop virtue: scripture, stories, examples, community, and sacraments. My only criticism is sometimes the book is a little repetitive. Wright really wants to drive home the point that virtue is something that is a choice but its not just about following certain rules. He again and again shows how it is not legalism or spontaneity that is the solution. We make the choice to renew our minds with the scriptures and do what the scriptures command and slowly our character is changed and virtue comes more naturally. While I certainly will remember this he could have shorted a few passages and still had the same effect. In conclusion, if you are looking for a book that will give you great biblical, theological, and philosophical foundations for what you are supposed to do as Christian on earth this is the book for you.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2013
★★★★★ 5
Absolutely superb and greatly needed
Format: Hardcover
I have read quite a few N.T. Wright books, but this one sounds a cry for something that is most needed in the church today and that is Christian character formation. When virtue is spoken in other places it is most often done so from the wrong angle, but Wright gets it right. The whole idea that after we get "saved", we have done all that is needed, besides inviting a few others to come and join us is tackled by N.T. Wright in this book. Wright explains why Christian character matters and how it relates to God's eschatalogical plan of New Creation. Wright deals with virtue and what exactly it is and how to form Christian virtue. According to Wright, we should practice things like doing right, loving, forgiving, turning the other cheek, etc, until such practice becomes second nature. Wright does not leave out the Holy Spirit in the process, but calls us back to Spiritual disciplines. There is no cheap grace or legalism in this book. Somehow Wright has stuck the right balance between the two poles of liscense and legalism. I recommend this book for all Christians.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2011
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