Philosophy : The New Testament and the People of God Christian Origins and the Question of God
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- ISBN13: 9780800626815
- Condition: New
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 Love it.
Simply wanted to give this book the five star review it deserves. The first part of the book is a detailed analysis of method and epistemology, which though may come off as cumbersome and unneeded to some, only reveals itself as more and more foundational to the rest of the book as you read on. Indeed, both this and his chapter layout are truly ingenious - you can tell the man put a LOT of thought into how to organize/present material and it makes a WORLD of difference. On finishing the work I deemed this overarching structure and clear purpose something that many similar books either entirely ignore or only passingly acknowledge. The organization of this book, and the rest in the Christian Origins and Question of God series, deserves 5 stars by itself!
Concerning the material itself, it is simply wonderful. Wright's focus on Worldview-mindset-aims-actions illuminates so much of the first century it is staggering. Moreover the simplicity, explanatory power, and logic of many of his theses are a nice refresh in a world of scholarship that often loves conspiracy and imagination a bit too much.
Finally, Wright's writing is itself wonderful and very enjoying to read. His metaphors often illuminate points very well and he is rarely redundant or brief.
Cannot wait as he continues work on this series!
Solid.
I took a philosophy of Judaism this last semester in (secular) College, we didn't cover much history, but most of what we did wasn't much different from what was found in this book. This book is thick material; I had to read pretty slow (10pg/hr) in order to retain/follow what I as reading. I appreciated his dealings with different types of literary criticism and his criticisms of Q.
I'm no expert but it seemed like a attempt to put together the milieu of first century Palestine, and I look forward to his other books.fjzw
Essential Christian Reading...
NTPG is one of the most influential and illuminating scholarly Christian books that I have ever read. Wright has unlocked, by means of his critical realist methodology, a holistic view of 1st century Judaism and early Christianity. I believe this book to be essential Christian reading. I have just finished JVG and have begun reading RSG, and I cannot put them down. Wright is a first rate 1st Century historian, churchman, and scholar. I'm deeply indebted to him for this massive work.
Invest the time, Worth the return!!!!
This is by far the most thorough book I have read on the subject. I will admit the beginning is a bit dry with such a long discourse on epistemology ( still read it though, it'll make the book flow better), but worth every bit of the time and energy investment to read. I hope that the next generation(s) of Christians will marinade themselves in the bible, as well as understanding the context(s). This book is not for the academically fainthearted. If you are just beginning to investigate a narrative approach to reading scripture, I 'd recommend The Blue Parakeet by Scott McKnight. If you're too "big" for that one, try The Mission of God by Chrstiopher J.H. Wright ( no relation). If you're just starting to read N.T. Wright's work, I'd recommend beginning with The Challenge of Jesus, Simply Christian and Surprised by Hope. If you're just starting to study the Jewish context, try Our Father Abraham by Marvin Wilson. Another good basic introduction to Jewish context of Jesus is Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus. Anything by Abraham Heschel I've found helpful as well in understanding a Jewish perspective, even if more contemporary. I have yet to read something of his work that I have not thoroughly enjoyed.
If you're ready to put on the "big boy pants" , you can't go wrong here. Yes, its tedious at points, but follow it through. This will challenge much of the framework that Western Christianity ( forgive my stereotyping but lets me honest) has operated under. I think he and several others may be on to something here...
A ground breaking book on the New Testament!
This is arguably *the* major paradigm-shattering book on the New Testament since perhaps Bultmann's Theology of the New Testament. He addresses the existing divide between the modern positivist reading and the postmodern phenomenalist reading of the texts. In the one, there is a facile assumption of empirical evidence - 'bare facts' requiring no interpretation - as an absolute foundation of truth ('what you see is what you get!') and in the other, a silly notion of truth as completely subjective ('truth lies in the eye of the beholder'). In a classic Anglican middle-of-the-road fashion, he posits instead a hermeneutical method he calls critical realism or the epistemology of love (following the philosopher Bernard Lonergan) which advocates getting inside the worldviews of the times in which the New Testament was written in order to understand its message.
Worldview according to Wright corresponds to the inter-connected structure of story, questions (and answers), symbols and praxis. He applies this paradigm in his reading of first century Judaism and then of early Christianity, set within certain historical fixed points such as the crucifixion of Jesus and the martyrdom of Polycarp - events that are well-attested in the ancient documents. The outcome is a breathtaking perspective that shatters or revises just about almost every aspect of our cherished reading of the New Testament through other grids such as denominational confessions or certain momentous periods of church history, not to mention the fabricated versions of postmodern fantasies currently going around.
One begins to see Jesus the Messiah emerging out of the historical, cultural and theological issues that the New Testament writers engaged with and for once, we see how the often abstracted (or co-opted by anachronistic schemes) notions of biblical authority, hope, salvation, even god (rendered in small cases throughout for some very good reasons) and other essential Christian doctrines make sense in light of the narratival worldviews of the early church.
While we may not agree with all of Wright's conclusions, he gives us a grand narratival backdrop against which to read afresh the New Testament writings. This book is an important one to read in understanding his methodology which will shape the later volumes in the series on Jesus, Resurrection, Paul and the church. Essential reading for all serious students who wish to plunge the depths of the New Testament!
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