The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is (The IVP Signature Collection)

When you pick up a book and begin the "conversation" between the authors words and your thoughts - it doesn't take very long to understand or see the authors intent early on. With this book - I knew immediately that Wright is at a whole different level that what my mind can work. Now, don't get me wrong - I loved the book! But wrapped inside are nuggets that are so profound that you can't just breeze by them without them searching crevices of your mind.N.T. Wright's passion is to bridge the gap between the mystery and wonder of faith in Jesus - and the academic community that has shrunk the story of Jesus to the "facts." He believes that the church community has forgotten how important the historical "facts" are to understanding Jesus and his teachings. Yet, the academic community has been so infatuated with the facts that the power and soul significance of Christ is neutered.In this particular text he begins to unravel passages and teaching of Jesus to help the reader get a glimpse of his historical and spiritual message. It is going to take a reader who wants to read it! But, press on! The last two chapters are perhaps some of the most challenging and thought provoking thoughts on Christ in a post-modern world that I have ever read. In fact, I revisit them so that Wrights thoughts and questions stay alive in my heart.

The book arrived timely and as described. I would definitely purchase from thus vendor again.

This is an excellent book if you want a quick overview of Wright's thought, yet you are not ready to purchase and read the books in his Christian Origins series. For most Christians, the ideas expressed in this book will be unsettling.The goal of the book is to view Jesus (and the Gospels) from a first century Jewish perspective, not from a 16th century Reformation or 21st century Christian perspective. Wright attempts to peel away the theological and historical layers that have accumulated around the actual, historical figure of Jesus.The sections in the book are: (1) Wright's methodology used, (2) a 1st century view/understanding of the Kingdom of God, the Parables, the crucifixion, and the resurrection, and (3) how should a 20th/21st century Christian live now they have a historically more accurate view of Jesus.Though no biblical scholar, I have a background in theology, biblical studies, and history. I found Wright's methodology correct and refreshing. In my Interpreting the Bible class, we were pounded with the dictum that (1) we must first understand what the author of a book in the Bible thought they were saying, (2) what the intended hearers/readers thought was said, and (3) once 1 and 2 were completed accurately we should move to what does the biblical passage mean to us in the 21st century. This is exactly what this book does for the Gospel portrayal of Christ.Wright focuses on what a 1st century Palestinian Jew living in Galilee would think if they did and said what Jesus said and did. He also looks into what a 1st century Palestinian Jew living in Galilee would think when they heard and saw what Jesus said and did.Wright makes a good (though not obvious) point that what we Christians hear and think when reading/studying the Gospels is based on a long trail of historical interpretation of the Gospels. The Reformers interpreted the Gospels from a 15th century perspective and had very little evidence to understand the 1st century perspective. A pastor/preacher/priest giving a sermon today sees the Gospels from a historical perspective that has been changed by 20 centuries.Based on this, how can Wright know the real Jesus? Wright and other scholars have the good fortune of living in a time when 1st century documents have come to light. The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library are two examples. Both of these were discovered after 1940. Wright (and other scholars like Geza Vermes) are using these new discoveries to get a more historically accurate view of Jesus and the times he lived in.If you are an evangelical or have an interest in Jesus, read this book! It will be unsettling and disturbing as (like me) you may find many of your cherished, long held views of Jesus undermined and dismissed. Wright is not out to destroy Jesus or the Christian religion. Wright is not out to make a name for himself by putting forth crazy theories. He is very conservative in his thinking. I think his goal is to try to discover the true meaning of Jesus and the gospels. I don't agree with everything in the book, but I agreed with much of it.This is the rare book that makes you think. It does not contain the same re-hashed arguments and evidences. Also, the last two chapters examine what it means to live the Christian life today. Unlike most academics, Wright does not give generalities but goes into specifics where he can. This was great! I am always annoyed when I read a self-help or Christian living book and all they give are basic generalities that everyone knows. Wright does not do this, he lets the rubber hit the road and gives you much to think about on living the Christian life in the 21st century.

Excellent read

Wright has outdone himself in this work that is a capsule of his work "Jesus and the Victory of God", but here has has taken that massive work and laid it out simply for everyone to enjoy and be blessed by it. Recently I was asked for the single best book that I had read outside the Bible and I wanted to recommend something that everyone could read. I responded with Desmond Tutu's "No Future Without Forgiveness", but now I have found the book that reflects succinctly who Jesus was and is and I highly recommend this work. Wright takes the scriptures very serously, especially how the New Testament writers as well as Jesus, saw God acting and bringing the story of Israel and the world to its climax in Jesus life, death, resurrection and pouring out of the Spirit and how to implement the story of Jesus in today's world. He takes the story of Israel and Israel's symbols of Torah, Temple, Feasts, and Sabbath's and interprets them in light of Jesus the New Israel, New Temple, and New Man who is bringing about a New Creation. His thoughts on the eigth day or the first day of the week as the New Creatin of God are transformative. Wow! I will say it again backwards, Wow! What a book!Wright is a scholar of theology and history and has thought through and through the story of Jesus and has taken seriously the questions of why did Jesus die? Why did they crucify him? Why theologically did he die? What does it mean that he rose from the dead? What does Israel have to do with these questions and what if anything do the answers to these question have to do with our world today. You will not be disappointed with how Bishop Wright has worked all this out. Get this book!

N.T. Wright never fails to disappoint with much biblical and intellectual insights to chew on. While at times, I'm not sure he overcomes the liberal/conservative divide, however I truly admire his desire to achieve that end. The Church needs to move past the stagnation of the liberal/conservative camps of the 20th Century, and embrace a richer synthesis which will invigorate the Church.What I love most is that he provides solid challenge to liberals and conservatives such that some will surely pause and think, "Hhhmmm, I guess its not so cut and dried as I thought." For that, I love the school of N.T. Wright.

My view about Jesus and how to portray his life in today's world has so much changed. I truly think I can meet people and share the story about Jesus with fresh new perspective.

Enjoyed this book very much. Got a different perspective about the life and purpose of Jesus Christ with regards to Israel.