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Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church by N.T. Wright
bkoser's review against another edition
5.0
For a while I've been dissatisfied with the view that "going to heaven when you die" is the focus of Christianity. This book was written as a counterpoint to that view and resonated with me. I have to think through the author's points some more to decide what exactly I believe on the discussed topics.
I especially liked the application chapters.
N. T. Wright has been called "the modern C. S. Lewis", and I think that's a great description. His writing is clear and well-thought-out.
I especially liked the application chapters.
N. T. Wright has been called "the modern C. S. Lewis", and I think that's a great description. His writing is clear and well-thought-out.
sonofstdavid's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best popular theology books I have ever read. A stirring call to the Church to reclaim living forth in biblical hope.
Not only does Wright effectively combat the astonishingly prevalent unbiblical teachings about the intermediate state and the lack of emphasis on the coming resurrection, but he also casts a vision for what it means to be a resurrection people.
Not only does Wright effectively combat the astonishingly prevalent unbiblical teachings about the intermediate state and the lack of emphasis on the coming resurrection, but he also casts a vision for what it means to be a resurrection people.
adamrshields's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this was a very important book. As with some other articles of his that I have read, he tends to over play his argument a bit, but in summary he thinks that we spend too much time thinking about heaven and not enough time living on earth. He posits (and I think there is a good bit of support for) the fact that there will be a new Heaven and Earth and that the resurrection will have us on the new Earth living and working for Christ without sin, as God originally intended. He suggests that the work we do now is actually practice for the future work and that we in a real and spiritual way will impact the new Earth by our work in this earth. This isn't a "works" issue, it is a following Christ's commandments because we love him issue. From what I have seen people often really like the theology at the beginning or the practical examples at the end, but often not both.
I liked it enough that have I bought three other copies to give to friends.
I liked it enough that have I bought three other copies to give to friends.
crummeyforthewin's review against another edition
5.0
This book was fantastic, and changed the way I think about eschatology and the resurrection.
It's divided into three parts. In the first, Wright briefly traces some misconceptions around the content of the gospel message, particularly around the future hope of the Christian (a misconception which, as he points out, is unfortunately held by both Christians as well as non-Christians), as well as briefly address some of the arguments against the historicity of the resurrection, since the resurrection is the key to our future hope. He doesn't dwell to long on establishing the credibility of the resurrection (having done that in other books), but points out the resurrection fits in with Jesus' ministry, is novel enough that it wouldn't have been made up, explains the subsequent behaviour of the early church (as well as the content of the gosple it proclaimed), and could have easily been disproved.
The second part of the book details how the early church's message and life was shaped by their understanding of the resurrection, which also shaped their understanding of the future hope of Christians. Wright repeats, almost to the point of repetitiveness, that the future hope was, and is, a bodily resurrection within God's new created cosmos, and that this future new creation has already broken into the present through the resurrection of Jesus, and continues to break into the present through the lives of those who have been baptised into his death and resurrection, empowered by his Spirit. One of the most interesting teachings for me was his explanation of heaven, not as something "up there" which we go to when we die, but as a way of describing the place where God's will is done perfectly, which intersects with our world in beautiful and surprising ways (such as prayer, worship, the sacraments, mission, etc.).
In the third section Wright briefly outlines how a church shaped by this understanding of the resurrection and the future hope, a new heaven and earth which is already breaking into the present, should shape the life of the church. Here his ideas are a little more broad (although he does focus on working for justice, beauty, and the role of evangelism), but I sense it is because he is providing an overview rather than a step by step guide. I enjoy much of what he had to say here, particularly around the Christian's task of creating and celebrating beauty, but did feel that he was simply repeating himself a little bit here.
Therefore, I highly recommend this book to anyone, Christian or not, who wants to learn what the big deal about the resurrection is anyway. I especially recommend it for it's ability to help Christians form and articulate a fuller view of salvation; it's not just about saving souls for heaven, but inviting people to accept God's invitation to re-create them, through love, forgiveness, and the power of His Spirit, just as He is recreating the whole of the universe.
It's divided into three parts. In the first, Wright briefly traces some misconceptions around the content of the gospel message, particularly around the future hope of the Christian (a misconception which, as he points out, is unfortunately held by both Christians as well as non-Christians), as well as briefly address some of the arguments against the historicity of the resurrection, since the resurrection is the key to our future hope. He doesn't dwell to long on establishing the credibility of the resurrection (having done that in other books), but points out the resurrection fits in with Jesus' ministry, is novel enough that it wouldn't have been made up, explains the subsequent behaviour of the early church (as well as the content of the gosple it proclaimed), and could have easily been disproved.
The second part of the book details how the early church's message and life was shaped by their understanding of the resurrection, which also shaped their understanding of the future hope of Christians. Wright repeats, almost to the point of repetitiveness, that the future hope was, and is, a bodily resurrection within God's new created cosmos, and that this future new creation has already broken into the present through the resurrection of Jesus, and continues to break into the present through the lives of those who have been baptised into his death and resurrection, empowered by his Spirit. One of the most interesting teachings for me was his explanation of heaven, not as something "up there" which we go to when we die, but as a way of describing the place where God's will is done perfectly, which intersects with our world in beautiful and surprising ways (such as prayer, worship, the sacraments, mission, etc.).
In the third section Wright briefly outlines how a church shaped by this understanding of the resurrection and the future hope, a new heaven and earth which is already breaking into the present, should shape the life of the church. Here his ideas are a little more broad (although he does focus on working for justice, beauty, and the role of evangelism), but I sense it is because he is providing an overview rather than a step by step guide. I enjoy much of what he had to say here, particularly around the Christian's task of creating and celebrating beauty, but did feel that he was simply repeating himself a little bit here.
Therefore, I highly recommend this book to anyone, Christian or not, who wants to learn what the big deal about the resurrection is anyway. I especially recommend it for it's ability to help Christians form and articulate a fuller view of salvation; it's not just about saving souls for heaven, but inviting people to accept God's invitation to re-create them, through love, forgiveness, and the power of His Spirit, just as He is recreating the whole of the universe.
matthewwester's review against another edition
5.0
In this book, N.T. Wright suggests the popular view most Christians have of Heaven, that it is a spiritual place we are whisked off to when we die, is not accurate. Unfortunately, Plato's dualism of the flesh vs. spirit has had more of an impact on our perceptions of Heaven than the biblical account, which presents the Kingdom of God as the new creation, brought to the present by Jesus Christ's resurrection and building us towards the future when He comes again.
Our afterlives will be bodily, then, with all of time, and space, and matter, being transformed into the new creation. Until then, the things we do on this earth are important because they aren't destroyed, or completely scrapped by God as a mistake, but rather transformed when the new creation is "birthed." [If I'm doing a bad job explaining it then read the book(!), Wright is brilliant at communicating his thoughts]
Most of my Seminary friends have this book on their to-read list if they haven't read it already, yet I wouldn't think twice about recommending this to a non-reader, non-theologian either. Though the content is extremely thought-provoking, the arguments are clear and the book reads easily. So yeah, definite 5 stars from me -- if you have any interest in the afterlife, especially in an accurate Christian view of the afterlife, then I strongly encourage you to check out this book.
Our afterlives will be bodily, then, with all of time, and space, and matter, being transformed into the new creation. Until then, the things we do on this earth are important because they aren't destroyed, or completely scrapped by God as a mistake, but rather transformed when the new creation is "birthed." [If I'm doing a bad job explaining it then read the book(!), Wright is brilliant at communicating his thoughts]
Most of my Seminary friends have this book on their to-read list if they haven't read it already, yet I wouldn't think twice about recommending this to a non-reader, non-theologian either. Though the content is extremely thought-provoking, the arguments are clear and the book reads easily. So yeah, definite 5 stars from me -- if you have any interest in the afterlife, especially in an accurate Christian view of the afterlife, then I strongly encourage you to check out this book.
miragenoel's review against another edition
4.0
Still processing this one.
For me, listening to this book was difficult. Some things were hard to follow, and the concepts are so different from what I’ve always thought/believed that I needed to *see* it on the page, and then sit with a while before moving on.
Already ordered the study guide to hopefully become more familiar with this extraordinary work.
He is restructuring and completely changing everything I’ve (subconsciously and consciously) thought about resurrection and eternity. But in a way that keeps the core of my belief intact and thriving.
Highly recommend.
For me, listening to this book was difficult. Some things were hard to follow, and the concepts are so different from what I’ve always thought/believed that I needed to *see* it on the page, and then sit with a while before moving on.
Already ordered the study guide to hopefully become more familiar with this extraordinary work.
He is restructuring and completely changing everything I’ve (subconsciously and consciously) thought about resurrection and eternity. But in a way that keeps the core of my belief intact and thriving.
Highly recommend.
gbdill's review against another edition
2.0
I absolutely love N.T. Wright's theology, his blogs, writings, video messages, and audio clips. But, I have yet to read an N.T. Wright book that I have been able to finish. They start out good and then they simply get boring: heavy with theology, jargon, and stuff that just doesn't seem important and are negligible to me. In "Surprised by Hope" Wright starts out by vividly exploring what it means to bring God's kingdom to earth and how the message of Jesus wasn't about escaping to a future hope (heaven), but a hope that exists now... on earth, through God's kingdom that will be realized in a New Jerusalem when Jesus will come and reign. Then, he totally goes off in a different direction and detailed tangents about the historical understandings of the resurrection and the meaning of Easter. I just lost interest. I wish I could stay engaged in the content of his books, but I can't. And, I was told this was arguably his best work. Sorry, but once again I am disappointed. For now, I will give his books a rest.
christopherchandler's review against another edition
5.0
Pound for pound probably my favorite book by Wright. He does a great job of offering answers while knowing when to say we simply don't know. For people curious about what scripture says about life after death and resurrection this is a great place to start.