Simply Christian Review
‘Simply Christian’ by NT Wright is a pleasure to read. That is not to say it can be recommended unreservedly, there are some things that he says (and doesn’t say) that tempered my pleasure. I will say more of this later. As a writer, however, Wright must have few equals. Although an academic, and a leading one at that, he can write books (like this one) for ordinary people and do so in ways that make for enjoyable reading. His style is conversational spiced with lots of illuminating images and illustrations. Wright simply carries you along with his easy prose. I doubt if he could write a boring sentence if he tried.
Before considering the book let me say a little about N.T. (or Tom) Wright for those who may not have heard of him, though few familiar with Christian literature will be unaware of him. He is a British theologian based at Durham. His magnum opus is three monumental tomes on the Life of Christ. He set himself the enormous task of demonstrating to sceptical Biblical scholars that the Christ of the Bible is not a theological construct of the early church but is in fact the historical Jesus. He writes prolifically and is undoubtedly a major figure in the Christian world. He considers himself to be an Evangelical and holds in the main to foundational evangelical beliefs, although in some areas, it has to be said, he takes independent, perhaps doubtful, paths. Some of his more ‘independent’ views mean that many moderate, conservative evangelicals, while admiring his abilities and insights, nevertheless read him with a degree of caution. Sometimes it appears as if issues he places in the foreground the Bible places in the background and vice versa. To some extent this tendency reveals itself in his book ‘Simply Christian’.
This entry has been viewed 67 times.
About John
Hi there - I am a member of Greenview and have been for over 20 years. For a number of these years I functioned as an elder, however, indifferent health forced me to take more of a back seat. I see this as an opportunity to do a little writing, often focussing on issues that are a matter of evangelical debate today. Naturally the views expressed are my own and may not reflect the views of the elders or church at large, though differences are likely to be in the detail and not the substance.
These articles and sermons were written partly to clarify my own thoughts and partly with the intention of provoking thought in others who may read them. If you read one I hope you find it stimulating. Please feel free to give me feedback or discuss my articles in the forums.
Subscribe to My Blog
Related Documents
Related Websites
- there are no related websites
Most Recent Articles
- He that endures to the End..
- Sermon: Romans 5:12-21 Two Humanities
- Sermon: The Fear of God
- Sermon: Romans 1:18-23
- Honest Hermeneutics
